UN - FIFTH COMMITTEE CONTINUES CONSIDERATION OF

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000261

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: UN - FIFTH COMMITTEE CONTINUES CONSIDERATION OF
BAN'S PROPOSAL TO STRENGTHEN DPA

REF: A. USUN 000246


B. USUN 000226

C. STATE 029449

D. 07 STATE 001013


1. The Fifth Committee of the General Assembly, following
formal introduction on March 17th of Secretary-General Ban's
proposal to strengthen the Department of Political Affairs
(DPA) (A/62/521 and Corr.1) and the related report of the
ACABQ (A/62/7/Add.32),continued its consideration of the
proposal, in informal consultations on March 18th and 20th,
with extensive Q and A. The Under-Secretary-General for
Political Affairs, Lynn Pascoe, attended the March 18th
meeting and responded to delegations' questions.


2. As previewed in the statements made by delegations during
the committee's formal meetings (REFTEL A),questions and
comments addressed: the lack of a clear division of labor
between DPA, DFS, DPKO and the Peacebuilding Support Office
and of an official Secretariat document explaining their
respective mandates; the possible creation of a special
political missions (SPM) support account similar to the
peacekeeping support account; the nature of "political
advice" conveyed by DPA; the linkage of efforts to achieve
economic development and peace and security; the proposed
structure of DPA's regional divisions; DPA's interaction with
regional organizations; the approval process for creation of
DPA regional offices; and management of SPMs by DPKO and DPA.
The committee also engaged in Q and A on the proposals
relating to specific regional divisions; focusing first on
the Asia and Pacific Division, with delegations concentrating
on the possible impact of the proposals on their individual
countries. The committee is scheduled to address the African
divisions on March 24th.


3. Questions and comments by G-77 members also focused on
their objections to the inclusion of certain "political
elements" or what were described as "inappropriate references
and judgments," in the report - on the Latin AMERICA and
Caribbean region and other regions. (See REFTEL B for
reporting on the letter sent to U-SYG Pascoe (A/C.5/62/24),
by the G-77 and NAM which called for issuance of a
corrigendum to the report to reflect these and other
concerns. In his response to the letter (A/C.5/62/25),U-SYG
Pascoe addressed the concerns of the G-77 and NAM but not in
the form of a corrigendum.)


3. At the request of Member States, numerous questions were
answered in writing. DPA also circulated responses to the
questions and concerns raised by the ACABQ and OIOS
(A/61/357, E/AC.51/2006/4, E/AC.51/2007/s and Adds. 1-5).
(These handouts have been sent to IO/MPR via email.) The
committee is scheduled to continue its informals on March
24th and 25th during the final week of this first resumed
session of the 62nd GA.
KHALILZAD