VZCZCXYZ0024
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0804/01 2492035
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 052035Z SEP 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4912

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000804 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUEST: COMMITTEE ON CONFERENCES, THE UN 
BODY ON CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT TO CONVENE SUBSTANTIVE 
SESSION ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 
 
¶1.  This is an guidance request.  See paragraph 13. 
 
¶2.  Summary: The Committee on Conferences (CoC), the 
intergovernmental body mandated to make recommendations to 
the General Assembly on all matters related to conference 
servicing, will hold its substantive session September 8-12, 
¶2008.  USDel will work to pursue outcomes that reduce the 
cost, frequency and duration of conferences and meetings. 
Further guidance, if necessary, is sought from the Department 
on specific measures to achieve the USG goals and objectives 
in regards to this issues. 
 
¶3.  The CoC agenda and program of work for 2008 is contained 
in document A/AC.172/2008/1.  Particular areas of interest 
for the USG include the approval of the calendar of 
conferences and meetings (and intersessional departures from 
this approved calendar, the provision of conference services 
for the meetings of non-calendar bodies such as regional 
groups, the utilization rate at all four duty stations (New 
York, Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi), the impact of the capital 
master plan on conference services at UN Headquarters and The 
Department of General Assembly and Conference Management's 
DGACM) progress in implementing integrated global management 
system. End Summary. 
 
¶4.  INTEGRATED GLOBAL MANAGEMENT: The Secretary-General's 
report is contained in document A/63/119. The report states 
that DGACM is in the process of implementing its integrated 
global management initiative, which will improve coordination 
and harmonization of policies, practices and procedures 
across the four duty stations.  The report states that DGACM 
has put increased emphasis on information technology 
solutions to maximize the use of common processes in 
reporting, meetings management and documentation planning and 
processing.  USDel will continue to support efforts by DGACM 
to improve cost-effectiveness of UN conference services 
through the use of new technologies and the implementation of 
reforms and management improvements. 
 
¶5.  UTILIZATION RATE: The overall utilization rate for 2007 
remained at 83 percent - the same as in 2006 - which 
represents a 2 percent decrease form the 2005 rate. Vienna 
registered the largest rate increase among the four duty 
stations, from 85 percent in 2006 to 90 percent in 2007. 
However, the rates decreased in both New York (from 81% in 
2006 to 79% in 2007) and in Nairobi (from 100% in 2006 to 96% 
in 2007).  The utilization factor for Geneva remained at 87 
percent - the same as in 2006. 
 
¶6.  INCREASE IN MEETINGS: The report states that there has 
been a significant increase of meetings for "as required" 
bodies due to the creation of new bodies such as sanctions 
committees and the Peacebuilding Commission.  Since most of 
these meetings are informal and unpredictable, interpretation 
services were not always provided.  DGACM has put in place a 
strategy reserve of three additional meetings per week 
specifically to accommodate these bodies.  The volume of 
meetings by these bodies, especially the Peacebuilding 
Commission, is continuing to expand. 
 
¶7.  MORE RESOURCES FOR RECRUITMENT: DGACM predicts an 
increase in vacancies due to the impending retirement of 
staff in language services. DGACM is therefore calling for 
"additional temporary resources to the Examinations and Tests 
Sections of the Office of Human Resources Management," which 
is responsible for the recruitment of language staff.  The 
report states that high vacancy rates in the text-processing 
units for some languages can only be addressed through 
international competitive recruitment campaigns, meaning more 
resources for OHRM.  DGACM, however, has developed an 
outreach program to universities and other training 
institutions for language staff, and strengthened training 
for current staff to prepare them for an increased workload 
due to retirement of language staff. USDel will encourage 
DGACM to continue to develop outreach programs and 
recruitment strategies that are in accordance with human 
resources rules and regulations and that can be implemented 
using existing resources. 
 
¶8.  CONTINUED VACANCIES AT UNON: The report emphasized UN 
Offices at Nairobi's (UNON) continued vacancies. At the time 
the SYG report was being prepared, the overall vacancy rate 
for the interpretation section of UNON was 35 percent. To 
deal with the problem, the report suggests converting the 
less desirable extrabudgetary language posts to regular 
budget posts, which have a different contractual situation 
with respect to job security and duration of contract. 
Additionally, the report suggests creating language posts at 
a higher level (possibly making them P-5 posts) to improve 
recruitment and ensure retention in Nairobi. Comment: The 
issue of vacancy rates at UNON is a perpetual one in the CoC. 
The high rate of vacancy at UNON is due largely to the fact 
 
 
 
that UNON is a less desirable posting than a posting at UNOV, 
UNOG and/or NYHQ, respectively. It is unclear whether the 
desirability of a posting at UNON will improve by converting 
the posts alone. Unless otherwise instructed, USDel will 
oppose such a conversion until the impact of such a 
conversions can be adequately explored. End Comment. 
 
¶9.  MEETINGS OF REGIONAL AND OTHER MAJOR GROUPINGS OF MEMBER 
STATES: The report noted that the percentage of these 
meetings provided with conference services in the four main 
duty stations decreased to 76 percent in 2006 from 87 percent 
in 2005. However, the percentage of these meetings provided 
with conference services significantly increased to 84 
percent in 2007. 
 
¶10.  POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: SUMMARY RECORDS: Summary records 
have been an issue of contention in the past that will most 
likely come up again during this year's meeting of the 
Committee on Conferences.  USDel will not agree to any 
language that detracts from General Assembly resolution 
60/236 B which allows the Secretary-General to clear the 
backlog of summary records only if no financial implications 
arise. USDel will maintain that summary records should be 
reduced or be completely eliminated; no other delegation has 
shared this opinion. 
 
¶11.  DEDICATED FUNDING FOR THE MEETINGS OF REGIONAL GROUPS: 
It is expected that the G-77 will once again attempt to 
submit language that allows for dedicating of conference 
servicing for non-calendar bodies like the G-77 and other 
groups of Member States.  The report states that there was an 
increase in the percentage of meetings with interpretation 
services from 76 percent in 2006 to 84 percent in 2007. 
USDel will continue to oppose any move towards dedicated 
conference services for regional groups.  Providing regional 
group meetings with such services could set a precedent that 
would give regional and other major groupings the same status 
as calendar bodies such as the General Assembly and Security 
Council, with an allotted number of meetings and easy way to 
request additional meetings. 
 
¶12.  VACANCIES IN INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SECTIONS: 
The UN Office at Nairobi continues to have high levels of 
vacancy in their interpretation section. The main reason for 
this perpetual problem is due to the fact that individuals 
who pass language examinations can choose the duty station 
where they want to serve; Nairobi is the least popular of the 
four. The SYG report has suggested establishing language 
posts at a higher level, but that would incur more costs. 
USDel will oppose such reclassification of posts without 
sufficient justification. 
 
¶13.  GUIDANCE REQUEST: At a cost of approximately $600 
million dollars, Conference Management is second single 
largest budget line item after peacekeeping. Accordingly, 
USDel will pursue negotiation strategies to include 
initiatives to reduce the costs, frequency and duration of 
conferences and meetings. USDel will also pursue efforts to 
limit meetings with interpretation services and continue to 
object to departures from established rules governing the 
convening of meetings, especially those meetings of regional 
groups.  USUN welcomes further guidance from the Department. 
Khalilzad