VZCZCXYZ0045
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1056 3171713
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121713Z NOV 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5347

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001056 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC AMGT KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: UNGA FOURTH COMMITTEE DECIDES TO DEFER ADOPTION OF 
"UN AFFAIRS" JOURNAL 
 
¶1.   On November 5, the Fourth Committee held a plenary 
session to take action on draft resolutions A and B, 
amendment A/C.4/63/L.8 and draft decisions as contained in 
document A/63/21 regarding agenda item "questions relating to 
information." 
 
¶2.   During the spring 2008 session of the Committee on 
Information (COI), the Department of Public Information (DPI) 
requested that Member States consider changing the UN 
Chronicle, a UN news publication, to an "academic journal" 
called "UN Affairs."  The COI agreed to consider DPI's 
proposal once DPI could provide to Member States detailed 
information and a pilot copy of "UN Affairs."  At a resumed 
session of the COI in September 2008, a pilot copy and oral 
report were provided to Member States.  At this session, 
USDel raised concerns about the budgetary implications from 
changing to "UN Affairs."  In response, the 
Under-Secretary-General (USYG) of DPI Kiyo Akasaka and the 
Director of Publication Eric Falt argued that DPI would not 
be requesting additional funds to create the new journal. 
 
¶3.   During the month of October, members of the COI 
negotiated informally.  Antigua and Barbuda on behalf of the 
G77 and China, France on behalf of the EU, Japan, Russia, and 
USDel considered adding additional language to the draft 
resolution as contained in Chapter IV of the COI report 
A/63/21.  The French were supportive of the move since the 
journal would be published in both French and English.  The 
G77 and China, however, were concerned that the new journal 
would not be originally published in all six official 
languages.  The G77 was also very concerned about the 
editorial policy that would drive "UN Affairs" articles. 
USDel expressed concern regarding adoption of an editorial 
policy.  Japan and USDel wanted to ensure that no budgetary 
implications would occur in light of the new journal.  After 
tough negotiations, Member States were able to agree upon 
language deferring consideration of the "UN Affairs" journal 
to the next COI in 2009.  In this language, Member States 
requested the Secretary-General to provide additional 
information to the COI in 2009 about the journal's editorial 
policy, publication in the six official languages, and 
potential improvements from the UN Chronicle while 
emphasizing fiscal responsibility.  Moreover, with the help 
of the French delegation, USDel was able to secure an 
on-the-record statement from USYG Akasaka, reiterating that 
it was not his intention to request additional funds for the 
creation of "UN Affairs."  This statement is noted in 
Footnote 1 in the resolution (see para. 5). 
 
¶4.   On November 5, before taking action on the draft 
resolution, Antigua and Barbuda took the floor in the Fourth 
Committee on behalf of the G77 and China to summarize the 
amendments and state that the Group was ready to adopt the 
amended draft by consensus.  No other delegations took the 
floor at this time and the Chairman moved to take action on 
the draft resolution.  Draft resolution A and B as amended 
was passed by consensus in the Fourth Committee (see para. 
5).  Afterwards, Antigua and Barbuda once again took the 
floor on behalf of the G77 and China, reiterating the Group's 
emphasis on the importance of achieving parity of languages 
and a proper editorial policy for the journal. 
 
¶5.   The draft resolution B in Chapter IV of the COI report 
A/63/21 was approved with the addition of the following 
paragraphs: 
 
77bis.  Considers it necessary for the Department of Public 
Information to clearly identify practical improvements 
intended by the change from the UN Chronicle to "UN Affairs," 
taking into account parity of languages, editorial policy, 
potential qualitative gains and other improvements and urges 
the Department of Public Information, that while considering 
these aspects, emphasis be placed on cost-effective measures 
and the present budgetary constraints, and welcomes any other 
alternative in line with the mandate of the Department of 
Public Information for the consideration of Member States; 
(footnote 1) 
 
77ter.  Requests the Department of Public Information to 
continue the UN Chronicle until a decision is taken on "UN 
Affairs" or any other alternative in line with the mandate of 
the Department of Public Information; 
 
Footnote 1: At the meeting of the Special Political and 
Decolonization Committee, held on 22 October 2008, the 
Under-Secretary-General for Communication and Public 
Information stated that, in the light of the current 
budgetary situation, it was his intention not to ask for 
additional resources. 
Khalilzad