unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/25/89)
FIFTH COMMITTEE ENDS DISCUSSION OF PROGRAMME BUDGET AND PLANNING
Posting Date: 10/20/89 Copyright UNITEX Communications, 1989
UNITEX Network, USA ISSN: 1043-7932
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this
afternoon concluded consideration of the proposed programme
budget, programme planning and review of the Organization's
efficiency.
Statements were made by representatives of the Ukraine,
Bangladesh, Iran, the Soviet Union, Pakistan and Uganda. Some
delegations discussed the process of reforming the United
Nations; others expressed concern that the reduction of posts
would undermine the Organization's programmes and would also
undercut the representation of developing countries in
high-level positions.
When the Committee meets next at 10 a.m. Monday, 23 October, it
will hear statements on the scale of assessments for the
apportionment of the United Nations' expenses.
Work Programme
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this
afternoon to continue consideration of the proposed programme
budget for the biennium 1990-1991, programme planning and the
efficiency of the United Nations. (For background, see Press
Releases GA/7871 and GA/AB/2596 of 13 October.)
Statements Made
N.P. MAKAREVICH (Ukraine) said the proposed budget was an
important step in carrying out the process of reform and
reflected major world trends on the eve of the 1990s. It
allocated a significant place to the idea of priority-setting,
which, in his opinion was the prerogative of Member States. At
the present stage, however, there was no cost evaluation of
activities slated for reduction, nor any indication of the
purposes for which resources to be released would be used.
Additional measures were needed to reduce the clear tendency
towards an increase in administrative expenses and those
connected with experts and consultants fees, travel,
typographical work contracted out and procurement of equipment,
he continued. Ukraine was dissatisfied with the provision for
implementing post reductions, and with the proposed
reclassification of posts, most of them involving upgrading. The
Committee should carefully analyse the underlying justifications
of proposals in that regard, as well as the growing share of
extrabudgetary portions in the programme budget, in terms of
the requirements for reform. Monitoring machinery was also
needed for the expenditure of extrabudgetary resources.
AHMED AKHTARUZZAMAN (Bangladesh) recommended careful
consideration of a recommendation by the Group of 18 which sets
a target of 15 per cent in post reduction. This recommendation
should be implemented without any negative impact on
programmes. He considered the Secretary-General's proposed
target of 13.2 per cent overall post reduction by the end of
this year to be reasonable. He went on to say that, in the
process, the Secretary-General should try to correct the
existing imbalance in the representation of developing countries
at the higher levels of the Secretariat.
No amount of reform could significantly enhance the efficiency of
the United Nations unless "systemwide co-ordination" was
addressed, he continued. Co-ordination of the activities of
subsidiary bodies should improve their output and should aim to
avoid duplication, eliminate overlap and improve cost
effectiveness.
MOHAMMAD S. AMIRKHIZI (Iran) said although no growth in the
United Nations budget may sound desirable, it should not have a
negative effect on the activities of the Organization,
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