VZCZCXYZ0013
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1009/01 3091925
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 041925Z NOV 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5255

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001009 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/MPR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: UNGA: FIFTH COMMITTEE DISCUSSES PATTERN OF 
CONFERENCES 
 
REF: USUN NEW YORK 878 
 
¶1.  On Friday, October 31, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) 
Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) held formal 
consultations on agenda item 121: Pattern of Conferences. 
Member States considered  The Secretary-General's (SYG's) 
report on pattern of conferences (A/63/119 and A/63/119 
Add.1), and the Committee on Conferences (CoC) report 
(A/63/21), the audit of the Office of Internal Oversight 
Services (OIOS) on hiring temporary language staff (A/63/94), 
and a report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative 
Budgetary Questions (ACABQ)(A/63/509).   Member States 
addressed the draft resolution, measures to improve 
conference management efficiency, Integrated Global 
Management (IGM), official languages, language staff 
shortages, the impact of the Capital Master Plan (CMP), 
timely issuance of documentation, and the appropriate use of 
UN facilities for meetings, conferences, special events, and 
exhibits. 
 
¶2.  The CoC Chairman introduced his report.  (See reftel for 
relevant issues.) Under Secretary-General (USYG) for the 
Department of General Assembly Conference Management (DGACM), 
Mr. Shaaban M. Shaaban introduced the SYG's report and 
discussed specific initiatives to improving conference 
management.  These presentations were followed by 
interventions by representatives of Antigua and Barbuda (on 
behalf of the G-77), France (on behalf of the EU), the 
Philippines, Angola (on behalf of the African Group), the 
United States, Syria, Russia,Pakistan, Cuba, Iran, and China. 
 
¶3.  The representatives of Antigua and Barbuda and Angola 
reiterated the importance of IGM, an information technology 
initiative, and a balanced division of labor between HQ and 
other duty stations to improve language services.  France 
again reminded the Committee of the essential nature of 
delivering services in all six official languages.  The 
French delegation also announced that it would be ready to 
support the CoC resolution as it currently stands.  When the 
Cuban representative raised the issue of equal treatment of 
all Spanish-speaking countries, Shaaban indicated that this 
is the first he had heard on the subject from Cuba, and that 
the Secretariat already has a working group to assess 
language programs. 
 
¶4.  Language staff shortages: Retaining language staff 
(translators and interpreters) remains a serious difficulty 
for the UN.  The Philippine delegation cited that 25 percent 
of UN linguists are retiring between 2007 and 2011, which, 
according to Shaaban, renders the "demographic transition" 
more acute and may degrade the quality of service.  Although 
the shortage exists at all duty stations, the problem is most 
severe in Nairobi, where, according to the Angolan 
representative, 35 percent of linguist positions are 
perennially unfilled.  Shaaban encouraged the Member States 
to approve a temporary waiver on the earnings cap for 
retirees, increase workdays from 125 to 185, and raise the 
mandatory retirement age from 62.  (Reftel reports that 
significant retirements were raised in the September CoC 
session.)  The Angolan representative called for grade 
increases as incentives for staff to serve in Nairobi.  The 
representative of Cuba called for UN partnerships with 
linguistic institutions in Latin America. 
 
¶5.  Impact of CMP: Shaaban called the CMP "the mother of all 
renovation projects" and said the newly adopted strategy will 
shorten the time needed for completion.  The representative 
of Antigua and Barbuda called for uninterrupted continuation 
of its services during the multi-year project.  Shaaban 
warned that realistically there will be a somewhat of a 
disruption in some conference services.  Nonetheless, Shaaban 
reminded Member States that the Secretariat would do its best 
to ensure that the quality of conference servicing is not 
significantly impacted by the CMP renovation. 
 
¶6.  Late issuance of documents:  Representatives of Antigua 
and Barbuda and the Philippines expressed concern over the 
late issuance of documentation, which can often hinder the 
work of intergovernmental bodies and especially the Fifth 
Committee.  Shaaban reminded delegations that first documents 
must be submitted to DGACM on time before the Department can 
issue the documents.  If DGACM does not receive documents 
from their authors on time, the DGACM will necessarily have 
delays in issuance.  Shaaban emphasized that "We (DGACM) 
cannot issue documents we don't have." 
 
¶7.  Use of UN premises:  The representative of Antigua and 
Barbuda amplified a concern in the CoC report about the use 
of UN premises for private purposes not in harmony with UN 
principles, which may create the impression of misuse. After 
the not-for-profit United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI) held 
E 
 
 
two panel discussions on UN premises, Iranian representatives 
expressed concern about provisions granting limited use of 
conference rooms for non-governmental organizations.  Shaaban 
noted that there is a process for reserving space on UN 
premises.  If organizations are in compliant with the rules 
(ST/AI/416), they may be granted use of the conference room. 
(Comment:  Mission was not/not an event sponsor.  Secretariat 
and Shaaban confirmed that Mission and UANI complied with the 
Secretariat's policies.  End Comment.) 
 
¶8.  Regional group meetings: The representative of Antigua 
and Barbuda advocated increased use of UN facilities by major 
groupings such as the G-77 and Non-Aligned Movement "on a 
permanent basis."  Shaaban pushed back on the idea of 
subgroups' use of facilities at UN expense, "We cannot afford 
it." 
 
¶9.  Voting machines: The representative of Antigua and 
Barbuda was also concerned about an October 13 incident when 
several Member States were prevented from voting in the 
Fourth Committee under Article 19 due to non-payment of UN 
dues, despite an UNGA resolution granting them a waiver. 
Shaaban replied that the resolution had passed only hours 
earlier and the Secretariat had not had time to adjust the 
voting machine. 
 
¶10.  USDel remarks focused on efficient use of resources. 
Remarks are available in full at the Mission's web site, 
www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov. 
Khalilzad