Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USUNNEWYORK804
2008-09-05 20:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

GUIDANCE REQUEST: COMMITTEE ON CONFERENCES, THE UN

Tags:  AORC KUNR UNGA 
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DE RUCNDT #0804/01 2492035
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R 052035Z SEP 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4912
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000804 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUEST: COMMITTEE ON CONFERENCES, THE UN
BODY ON CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT TO CONVENE SUBSTANTIVE
SESSION ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2008

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000804

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUEST: COMMITTEE ON CONFERENCES, THE UN
BODY ON CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT TO CONVENE SUBSTANTIVE
SESSION ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2008


1. This is an guidance request. See paragraph 13.


2. Summary: The Committee on Conferences (CoC),the
intergovernmental body mandated to make recommendations to
the General Assembly on all matters related to conference
servicing, will hold its substantive session September 8-12,

2008. USDel will work to pursue outcomes that reduce the
cost, frequency and duration of conferences and meetings.
Further guidance, if necessary, is sought from the Department
on specific measures to achieve the USG goals and objectives
in regards to this issues.


3. The CoC agenda and program of work for 2008 is contained
in document A/AC.172/2008/1. Particular areas of interest
for the USG include the approval of the calendar of
conferences and meetings (and intersessional departures from
this approved calendar, the provision of conference services
for the meetings of non-calendar bodies such as regional
groups, the utilization rate at all four duty stations (New
York, Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi),the impact of the capital
master plan on conference services at UN Headquarters and The
Department of General Assembly and Conference Management's
DGACM) progress in implementing integrated global management
system. End Summary.


4. INTEGRATED GLOBAL MANAGEMENT: The Secretary-General's
report is contained in document A/63/119. The report states
that DGACM is in the process of implementing its integrated
global management initiative, which will improve coordination
and harmonization of policies, practices and procedures
across the four duty stations. The report states that DGACM
has put increased emphasis on information technology
solutions to maximize the use of common processes in
reporting, meetings management and documentation planning and
processing. USDel will continue to support efforts by DGACM
to improve cost-effectiveness of UN conference services
through the use of new technologies and the implementation of
reforms and management improvements.


5. UTILIZATION RATE: The overall utilization rate for 2007
remained at 83 percent - the same as in 2006 - which
represents a 2 percent decrease form the 2005 rate. Vienna
registered the largest rate increase among the four duty
stations, from 85 percent in 2006 to 90 percent in 2007.
However, the rates decreased in both New York (from 81% in

2006 to 79% in 2007) and in Nairobi (from 100% in 2006 to 96%
in 2007). The utilization factor for Geneva remained at 87
percent - the same as in 2006.


6. INCREASE IN MEETINGS: The report states that there has
been a significant increase of meetings for "as required"
bodies due to the creation of new bodies such as sanctions
committees and the Peacebuilding Commission. Since most of
these meetings are informal and unpredictable, interpretation
services were not always provided. DGACM has put in place a
strategy reserve of three additional meetings per week
specifically to accommodate these bodies. The volume of
meetings by these bodies, especially the Peacebuilding
Commission, is continuing to expand.


7. MORE RESOURCES FOR RECRUITMENT: DGACM predicts an
increase in vacancies due to the impending retirement of
staff in language services. DGACM is therefore calling for
"additional temporary resources to the Examinations and Tests
Sections of the Office of Human Resources Management," which
is responsible for the recruitment of language staff. The
report states that high vacancy rates in the text-processing
units for some languages can only be addressed through
international competitive recruitment campaigns, meaning more
resources for OHRM. DGACM, however, has developed an
outreach program to universities and other training
institutions for language staff, and strengthened training
for current staff to prepare them for an increased workload
due to retirement of language staff. USDel will encourage
DGACM to continue to develop outreach programs and
recruitment strategies that are in accordance with human
resources rules and regulations and that can be implemented
using existing resources.


8. CONTINUED VACANCIES AT UNON: The report emphasized UN
Offices at Nairobi's (UNON) continued vacancies. At the time
the SYG report was being prepared, the overall vacancy rate
for the interpretation section of UNON was 35 percent. To
deal with the problem, the report suggests converting the
less desirable extrabudgetary language posts to regular
budget posts, which have a different contractual situation
with respect to job security and duration of contract.
Additionally, the report suggests creating language posts at
a higher level (possibly making them P-5 posts) to improve
recruitment and ensure retention in Nairobi. Comment: The
issue of vacancy rates at UNON is a perpetual one in the CoC.
The high rate of vacancy at UNON is due largely to the fact



that UNON is a less desirable posting than a posting at UNOV,
UNOG and/or NYHQ, respectively. It is unclear whether the
desirability of a posting at UNON will improve by converting
the posts alone. Unless otherwise instructed, USDel will
oppose such a conversion until the impact of such a
conversions can be adequately explored. End Comment.


9. MEETINGS OF REGIONAL AND OTHER MAJOR GROUPINGS OF MEMBER
STATES: The report noted that the percentage of these
meetings provided with conference services in the four main
duty stations decreased to 76 percent in 2006 from 87 percent
in 2005. However, the percentage of these meetings provided
with conference services significantly increased to 84
percent in 2007.


10. POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: SUMMARY RECORDS: Summary records
have been an issue of contention in the past that will most
likely come up again during this year's meeting of the
Committee on Conferences. USDel will not agree to any
language that detracts from General Assembly resolution
60/236 B which allows the Secretary-General to clear the
backlog of summary records only if no financial implications
arise. USDel will maintain that summary records should be
reduced or be completely eliminated; no other delegation has
shared this opinion.


11. DEDICATED FUNDING FOR THE MEETINGS OF REGIONAL GROUPS:
It is expected that the G-77 will once again attempt to
submit language that allows for dedicating of conference
servicing for non-calendar bodies like the G-77 and other
groups of Member States. The report states that there was an
increase in the percentage of meetings with interpretation
services from 76 percent in 2006 to 84 percent in 2007.
USDel will continue to oppose any move towards dedicated
conference services for regional groups. Providing regional
group meetings with such services could set a precedent that
would give regional and other major groupings the same status
as calendar bodies such as the General Assembly and Security
Council, with an allotted number of meetings and easy way to
request additional meetings.


12. VACANCIES IN INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SECTIONS:
The UN Office at Nairobi continues to have high levels of
vacancy in their interpretation section. The main reason for
this perpetual problem is due to the fact that individuals
who pass language examinations can choose the duty station
where they want to serve; Nairobi is the least popular of the
four. The SYG report has suggested establishing language
posts at a higher level, but that would incur more costs.
USDel will oppose such reclassification of posts without
sufficient justification.


13. GUIDANCE REQUEST: At a cost of approximately $600
million dollars, Conference Management is second single
largest budget line item after peacekeeping. Accordingly,
USDel will pursue negotiation strategies to include
initiatives to reduce the costs, frequency and duration of
conferences and meetings. USDel will also pursue efforts to
limit meetings with interpretation services and continue to
object to departures from established rules governing the
convening of meetings, especially those meetings of regional
groups. USUN welcomes further guidance from the Department.
Khalilzad