VZCZCXYZ0016
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #2255/01 3491504
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151504Z DEC 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0952

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002255 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: SAFETY AND SECURITY: GUIDANCE REQUEST ON 
STANDARDIZED ACCESS 
 
REF: A.USUN 1873 B.USUN 2932 
 
¶1. This is a guidance request. See paragraph 10. 
 
¶2. SUMMARY. In the coming weeks, the Fifth Committee will 
begin consideration of the reports A/61/531, strengthened and 
unified security management system for the UN, and A/61/566, 
standardized access control under agenda item 117 programme 
budget for the biennium. Per reftel B, in its resolution 
59/276, the General Assembly established the Department of 
Safety and Security (DSS) to create a strengthened and 
unified security management system for the United Nations, 
both at Headquarters and in the field. The 
Secretary-General's report, A/61/531 reports on the progress 
 
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made by DSS in implementing its mandate and offers proposals 
on how to improve operations across the UN system. 
Specifically, the report recommends that the GA approve 
reclassification of the D-2 deputy to Assistant 
Under-Secretary General while approving a D-2 position to 
continue as the Director of Headquarters Security and Safety 
Services, convert 134 temporary posts within DSS to 
established posts and endorse the establishment of a UN 
crisis management capability. The Secretary-General's report, 
A/61/566 outlines a two-phase process for improving safety 
and security on UN property through standardized access 
control. The report details the first phase of this process, 
which entails upgrading security at UN Offices so that 
minimum security standards are met and perimeter security is 
improved. The total estimated requirement for this proposal 
is $23,683,000. End Summary. 
 
¶3. Report of the Secretary-General, A/61/531. Upgrade D-2 
post to ASG and maintain the existing D-2 position of 
Director.  The report of the SYG contains a recommendation to 
upgrade the D-2 deputy post to Assistant Under-Secretary 
General so that the position is fully empowered to help 
manage the extensive demands of the Department and work with 
other UN entities as the Under-Secretary General travels 
frequently to deal with security issues around the globe. The 
report also notes that as the head of UN security service 
personnel, the D-2 position of Director of Headquarters 
Safety and Security Services is crucial to the operations of 
DSS. The report therefore contains a proposal to approve a 
D-2 position for that purpose. Comment: USdel will support 
the proposal for an upgrade of the D-2 post to that of ASG 
while approving a D-2 position for the Director of 
Headquarters safety and security. USdel will support the 
recommendations of the ACABQ regarding whether this should be 
considered under the budget for 2006-2007, or 2008-2009. End 
Comment. 
 
¶4. Conversion of 134 temporary posts to established posts in 
DSS. The SYG's report contains a proposal to convert 134 DSS 
posts from temporary to established posts, but there is 
little mention of this proposal in the report. There is 
however, mention of 99 vacant posts in DSS and since the 
report states that DSS has filled 84% of its posts worldwide, 
the focus should be on filling the vacant posts before 
converting temporary ones. Comment: USdel will maintain that 
filling vacant posts should take priority over upgrading 
temporary ones. End Comment. 
 
¶5. Crisis Management Capability. DSS is planning to gradually 
assume a leading role in crisis response and crisis 
management for the UN system. The report contains a proposal 
to develop a coordinated system-wide emergency response 
capacity. DSS aims to enhance its communications center 
capabilities, develop and implement global communications 
capabilities with the field and develop and implement 
departmental plans for continuity of operations in case of an 
emergency. A small-team will be formed within existing 
resources to begin planning for these capabilities, and 
ongoing requirements related to crisis management would be 
considered in the context of the proposed programme budget 
for the biennium 2008-2009. Comment: Unless otherwise 
instructed, USdel will support reverting to ongoing 
requirements in the context of the 2008-2009 programme 
budget. USdel will seek clarification on the role of Crisis 
Coordination Center in relation to local emergency response 
teams. End Comment. 
 
¶6. A/61/566 Standardized Access Control. The report of the 
Secretary-General on standardized access control outlines a 
 
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two-phase process for improving safety and security on United 
Nations property. The first phase involves meeting compliance 
with headquarters minimum operating security standards for 
perimeter protection and electronic access control. The 
second phase will ensure compliance with security standards 
regarding defined layers of security within perimeters. The 
proposal focuses on improving security around perimeters and 
at entry points, but is designed to allow for expansion in 
the future and is intended to resolve the remaining 
weaknesses in UN safety and security operations. 
 
 
 
¶7. The project is specifically designed for integration with 
existing security structures and activities. Because most 
previously funded initiatives were for urgent measures, 
standardized access control will help to fill security gaps 
in compliance with headquarters minimum operating security 
standards. Additionally, the capital master plan-managed 
security project at the main Secretariat building in New York 
has been designed for full compatibility with the 
standardized access control project. 
 
¶8. The projected plans for the duty stations and headquarters 
are based on assessments of the unique requirements and 
existing physical security measures at each station. 
Proposals include the installation of card reader devices on 
perimeter doors, hydraulic vehicle barriers, badge stations, 
cameras, perimeter lighting, and access control software for 
monitoring. The report states that currently, most properties 
(with the exception of the Economic and Social Commission for 
Western Asia and the UN Office at Geneva) have low to minimal 
technological security capacity, and therefore require more 
extensive improvement. 
 
¶9. The report states that $23,683,000 is needed to raise each 
duty station to a level of compliance with headquarters 
security standards. Specifically, $20,208,000 is requested 
under the program budget, $1,500,000 under the budget for the 
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia 
(ICTY) and $1,975,0000 under the budget for the International 
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). The report proposes that 
the GA grant commitment authority for this amount for the 
2006-207 biennium. Detailed cost estimates for the second 
phase cannot be made until the elements of the first phase 
have begun. It is estimated that the completion time for the 
entire project will be between 24 and 30 months (6 to 8 
months for designing and 18 to 24 months for implementation 
following the approval of the implementation plan by the 
General Assembly). Comment: The report states that the amount 
requested reflects the resources needed, without redundancy 
or waste of expenditure. Unless otherwise instructed, USdel 
will seek to confirm this statement during consultations and 
will support the proposal for the UN and the two tribunals if 
the amount requested of $23,683,000 is justified. End Comment. 
 
¶10. GUIDANCE REQUEST. Unless otherwise instructed, USdel will 
do the following: 
--Support the reclassification of the D-2 to ASG and support 
a D-2 post for Director of Headquarters Safety and Security 
Services. 
--Support the ACABQ recommendation on whether the commitment 
authority for this reclassification will be under 2006-2007 
or 2008-2009; 
--Oppose converting 134 temporary posts to permanent posts; 
--Support reverting to the ongoing requirements of the crisis 
management capability in the context of the 2008-2009 
programme budget and seek clarification of the roles of the 
Crisis Coordination Center in relation to local emergency 
services in the event of an emergency; 
--Support the proposal for $23,683,000 for the implementation 
of the first phase of the standardized access control 
project, contingent on confirmation from DSS during 
consultations that this amount reflects what is needed 
without redundancy or waste. 
WOLFF