unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/25/89)
self-evaluation and its connection to the overall planning and
programming process.
The Twelve favoured extending the practice of issuing statements
of programme budget implications in conjunction with statements
of financial implications, and in general agreed with the
Secretary-General's realistic analysis of the situation, he
continued. They regretted, however, that the statements on the
budgetary implications of the Economic and Social Council's
decisions systematically called for deferring activities should
there be insufficient contingency funds.
NICHOLAS HILL (United States) said the Secretary-General's
report indicated that much remained to be done to ensure that
statements of programme budget implications were issued to
subsidiary bodies before they made decisions. He questioned the
practice of making decisions without any knowledge of the costs
involved and said the Secretary-General "must take immediate
steps" to rectify the situation.
Mr. Hill said the Secretariat appeared to be reluctant to improve
the monitoring, evaluation and management information systems of
the Organization. He believed the Assembly must take strong
action to ensure that its decisions in those areas were carried
out. The Secretariat should make a serious effort to provide
Member States with relevant information to make informed
judgements on programmes and budgets.
A.H. BADAWI (Egypt) said the main aim of the reform process
should be the increased efficiency of programme delivery. The
moral and political activities of the United Nations did not
lend themselves to a financial evaluation, but there was still a
need for continued reform.
The proposed programme budget should be the basis for a wide
convergence of opinion, he continued. Its improvement was
reflected in the small differences between the proposed
estimates and the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).
On the question of priority-setting, he said Egypt supported the
idea that it was important to find new mechanisms to monitor
activities. He asked
for the budgetary implications of implementation of the
recommendations of the International Civil Service Commission
(ICSC).
VASILE GALGAU (Romania) said his country was disturbed at the
discrepancy of $1.3 million between the level of the outline
approved by the General Assembly and the final estimates for the
next biennium. He urged the Secretary-General to reduce
administrative costs and costs associated with experts and
consultants, travel, external printing and equipment, which were
on the rise, for the benefit of substantive programmes.
Romania was somewhat disappointed that little progress had been
achieved in reducing the number and duration of meetings and the
volume of documentation, as well as in putting into motion the
reform process in the economic and social areas, he went on.
Further serious efforts were needed to prevent any unnecessary
expansion of the Organization's activities and budget, and to
achieve the 15 per cent and 25 per cent staff reductions. Staff
retrenchment measures implemented so far had not yielded the best
possible outcome. The lack of work-related standards, the
preferential and uneven distribution of staff cuts and the
failure to give due consideration to the principle of equitable
geographical distribution were only some of the issues that
needed to be given serious consideration by the Secretariat.
On the issue of programme planning, he said the various
intergovernmental bodies should become more closely involved in
the entire process so that Member States could have a greater
say in translating legislative mandates into planned activities,
and in establishing programme priorities and alternative courses
of action. Romania agreed with the Secretary-General that the
focus of priority-setting should be the medium-term plan, which
then would form the basis for defining priorities in the outline
and in the draft programme budget.
CHARLES A. SANGA (United Republic of Tanzania) said the fact that
the programme budget exceeded the budget outline by $1.3 million
reflected reality and the flexibility of the Secretary-General
in carrying out the demands of the General Assembly. The
methodology used to determine the negative growth rate needed
further refinement, and progress in that area might help clarify
the relationship between the outline and programmatic content of
the budget. He went on to say that the adequacy of the
contingency fund should be reviewed
Member States should become more involved in deciding on the
placement and utilization of extrabudgetary funds. That was
"only fair", he said. He stressed that the Secretary-General
should take the views of Member States into consideration as he
reduces the number of posts in the Organization.
MAHAND LADJOUZI (Algeria) said his country was one of the 66
nations to have paid in full its assessed contribution for 1989
and to have no arrears for the regular budget. The principal
means for ending the Organization's financial crisis consisted
in Member States respecting their financial obligations. Algeria
had begun paying its arrears for the United Nations Interim
Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
At a time when the Organization was increasingly involved in
finding solutions to conflicts threatening international peace
and security, and when the economic situation in Africa was more
critical than ever, he went on, the presentation of another
budget programme with negative real growth raised doubts as to
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
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