unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/11/89)
peace-keeping activities as well as demanded greater support from the Secretariat, not only in terms of substantive but also in terms of conference and administrative services. Significant changes had been effected in the form of the Calendar of Conferences for 1990-1991, which had been designed to be a flatter, more even meetings schedule, he stated. Nevertheless, there still remained peak periods of activity which would require expenditure of temporary assistance funds. While a modest reduction had been proposed in the amount of such assistance for the next biennium, the full level of funding requested was essential to the continued ability to meet the servicing obligations of the Department of Conference Services (DCS). In that period, conference services would face the full implications of a reduced staffing force. With regard to the 1992-1997 draft medium-term plan for conference and library services, he said that given the enhanced role of the Organization, an increase in the number of meetings and conferences during that period seemed likely. Although the general level of conference services might well balance out at the maintenance of current levels, the quantity of the Department's workload should be conceived as fluid, and the Department would therefore focus on enhancing its responsiveness while ensuring the judicious utilization of resources. Turning to the technological innovations the Department hoped to introduce to its work methods during the next biennium, he said they included a document recording and information tracking system and an integrated, computer-based information system database and network for meetings planning, meetings servicing and interpretation scheduling. A machine-assisted translation programme would be used, and on-line access to computer-based reference and terminology systems provided. Optical disc technology to permit full-text storage and high speed retrieval capabilities, as well as linkage with the computerized bibliographic information system of the Dag Hammarskjold Library, was also envisaged. The Department was preparing reports requested by the Advisory Committee concerning a review of workload standards and the present situation of conference services in Vienna, he went on. DCS continued to believe in a unified structure for Vienna conference services and remained dedicated to filling vacant language posts. IVAN KOJIC, Inspector of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), said JIU decided to look into the representation of organizations of the United Nations system at conferences and meetings, because in the past, organizations had sent several representatives to the same meetings; those representatives came unprepared; and the costs involved were not insignificant. The JIU had conducted two separate studies -- one of the United Nations and another of the specialized agencies, he said. The intention of JIU was not to discourage participation, but to decrease unnecessary participation without affecting the quality of attendance and the image of organizations. With respect to the financial and statistical aspects entailed in representational activities, he said JIU could not present that information since the Secretariat did not provide precise information. He said there was much to be improved within the organizations regarding co-ordination of arrangements for representation at meetings. There should be a strict rule that only the executive heads should receive invitations. He said the use of new technology, such as teleconferences, would contribute greatly to the efficiency and effectiveness of representation. Financial Reports SHAMEL NASSER (Egypt) said the Board of Auditors should have waited before expanding the scope of its reviews of audited organizations and programmes to include programmatic aspects, which were not within its mandate. He wondered what the legislative authority was according to which the list of organizations and programmes falling within the Board's mandate was established, and how the Board and the Secretariat interpreted the Board's terms of reference on the auditing of peace-keeping operations. It was disturbing that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) audit report was still a qualified one, he said, adding * Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501) --- Patt Haring | United Nations | Did u read patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | misc.headlines.unitex patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange | today? -=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-