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)
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