VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0168/01 0531920
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221920Z FEB 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3786

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000168 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC AFIN ABUD UNGA PGOV
SUBJECT: REGULAR BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM 2008-2009 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) We have received informally a copy of a note from 
the Controller to the SYG's Chef de Cabinet that identifies 
an additional potential $1.1 billion in "add ons" to the 
2008-2009 biennium budget.  (See Paragraph 2).  We understand 
that other Member States have also received the note or the 
attachment to the note listing the additional potential "add 
ons". 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Begin Text: 
 
Note To The Chef De Cabinet 
 
Regular Budget for the Biennium 2008-2009 
 
¶1.  The General Assembly, at its 62nd session in December 
2007 appropriated an amount of $4.17 billion.  At that time, 
it recognized that the Secretary-General would need to revert 
to the Fifth Committee in 2008 to secure funding for special 
political missions already approved, but not funded for 2008 
and subsequently for all approved special political missions 
for 2009.  In addition, the assembly had before it papers 
requesting some $50 million for business continuity and $22.2 
million for the Department of Political Affairs.  Further, 
there are outstanding reports sought by the General Assembly 
for submission by the Secretary-General with respect to the 
following items: 
 
(a) ICT/ERP 
(b) Development Pillar 
(c) Accountability/results-based management/enterprise risk 
management 
(d) OIOS 
 
Finally, there are routine reports expected of the 
Secretary-General at mid-point of the biennium, revising 
 
SIPDIS 
estimates for currency and inflation in the context of the 
first performance report. 
 
¶2.  While it is difficult to make precise projections of the 
evolution of the programme budget during the rest of the 
biennium due to the unpredictability of intergovernmental 
initiatives requiring programme budget implication 
statements, it is apparent that should requests of Member 
States, as reflected in reports of the Secretary-General, be 
approved in the course of 2008, an addition to the regular 
budget could amount to as much as $1.1 billion. 
 
¶3.  It is my understanding from the USG/DM that the 
Secretary-General has been recently approached by the 
 
SIPDIS 
Permanent Representative of the USA on this matter and will 
also be meeting with the Permanent Representative of Japan 
next week.  I further understand that the Secretary-General 
will be visiting Washington and at that time it is highly 
likely that the issue of the budget level will be raised.  It 
may further be predicted that Member States will propose 
increases which might be considered arbitrary as regards to 
the total level that the 2008-2009 budget may reach. 
 
¶4.  While the Secretary-General clearly needs to satisfy 
major contributors that budgetary discipline is in place and 
that only reasonable burdens will be placed on Member States, 
it is also important that the membership be reminded of the 
fact that expenditure requirements are generated strictly on 
the basis of mandates approved by Member States and within a 
budget that is traditionally adopted by consensus.  The 
Secretariat in large part has no control over the level of 
 
SIPDIS 
expenditures requirements to meet the programmatic wishes of 
the membership.  In particular, more than half of the 
projected increases are for actions taken by the security 
Council in respect of special political missions.  In 
addition, the effect of unanticipated inflation and exchange 
rate fluctuations in the region of $100 million is also 
beyond the control of the Secretary-General.  Other 
additional requirements in large part reflect emerging costs 
for modernizing the Secretariat as part of the management 
reforms already approved in principle by the General Assembly 
following the 2005 World Summit for investing in the United 
Nations. 
 
/s/ 
Warren Sach 
Assistant Secretary-General 
Controller 
 
8 February 2008 
 
 
Attachment: 
 
Potential add-ons to the programme budget for the biennium 
2008-2009 
 
 
                                             Thousands of 
                                             US Dollars 
 
Special Political Missions 2008                55,000.0 
 
Special Political Missions 2009               500,000.0 
 
Construction Baghdad                          100,000.0 
 
Information and Communications 
 Technology 
 
   Enterprise systems for the                  56,000.0 
   United Nations Secretariat 
   Worldwide 
 
   Revised estimates: Disaster                 50,359.9 
   recovery and business continuity 
   for the United Nations 
 
   Strategy and governance CITO                    tbd 
 
Human rights (Durban)                           6,794.7 
 
Strengthening of the Department     22,206.4 
 of Political Affairs (A/62/521) 
 
   ACABQ on Strengthening of the     (8,596.9)  13,609.5 
   Department of Political 
   Affairs (A/62/521) 
 
Development Pillar                              23,000.0 
 
Accountability/Results-Based                     1,500.0 
 Management 
 
Enterprise Risk Management                          tbd 
 
Security Panel                                      tbd 
 
Unforeseen expenses                              7,000.0 
 
Detailed proposals for streamlining              7,600.0 
 United Nations contractual 
 arrangements (A/62/274) 
 
Cuts non-absorption                                 tbd 
 
Associated costs to Capital Master Plan        184,000.0 
 
Revised estimates for currency and             101,000.0 
 inflation 
 
                               Total         1,105,864.1 
 
*Includes conditions of service and compensation for official 
other than Secretariat officials members of the International 
Court of Justice (A/62/538) 
 
Balance in the contingency fund:  $12,191,000. 
 
End Text. 
 
KHALILZAD