UN - GA STRENGTHENS THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000067 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC PREL UNGA SUBJECT: UN - GA STRENGTHENS THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AFFAIRS REF: A. 08 USUN 000877 ¶B. 08 USUN 000261 ¶1. Summary: The General Assembly, on December 24, 2008, took action on the SYG's proposal on strengthening the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) by approving 49 of the 101 posts requested by the SYG. USDel, working closely with U-SYG Pascoe's office and like-minded States, succeeded in significantly strengthening DPA, particularly in the areas of mediation and electoral assistance. All of DPA's regional divisions were reconfigured and significantly strengthened, except for the Europe Division. The Russian delegation succeeded in limiting action on the Europe division to one post focusing on Cyprus. End Summary. ¶2. Following deferral of action on SYG Ban's proposal (A/62/521) at the main part of the 62nd GA in December 2007 and at the first resumed session of the 62nd GA in March 2008, the GA, during the main part of its 63rd session on December 24, 2008, adopted draft resolution A/C.5/63/L.21 (to be issued as resolution 63/261). DPA's current roster of 233 posts was strengthened by 49 of the 101 posts requested by the SYG. The Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ),in its report (A/62/7/Add.32), recommended 60 of the 101 posts. ¶3. The following new posts were approved: -- Electoral Assistance Division - 8 - including to expand and diversify the roster of electoral experts to meet the increasing demand for technical assistance and advice; -- Mediation Support Unit - 7 - to strengthen DPA's support to the SYG's good offices missions and to UN and non-UN mediators; -- Africa I Division - 8 - including to strengthen the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa sections; -- Africa II Division - 6 - to strengthen the Central, West and North Africa sections; -- Middle East and West Asia Division - 5 - including to support the Israel-Palestine Unit -- Europe Division - 1 - to concentrate on the question of Cyprus - posts requested to strengthen the Balkans Unit were not approved; -- Asia and Pacific Division - 4 -- Americas Division - 3 -- Security Council Affairs Division - 2 -- UN Liaison Office in Addis Ababa - 3 -- Office of the U-SYG - 1 plus 1 D-2 inward redeployment -- Office of the A-SYG (Africa) - 1 -- Executive Office - 1. ¶4. Estimated costs for the 49 new posts - -- $6.2 million for the remainder of the 2008-2009 biennium. -- $17 million per biennium at full incumbency of all new posts, beginning in the 2010-2011 biennium. Rice