VZCZCXRO1948
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHTRO
DE RUCNDT #1001/01 3102053
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 062053Z NOV 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7550
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0793
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3933
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0299

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001001 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: UNGA/C-5: PATTERN OF CONFERENCE: DELEGATES DISCUSS 
URGENT STAFFING NEEDS, USE OF CONFERENCE FACILITIES, AND 
PROBLEMS WITH DOCUMENTATION SERVICES 
 
REF: USUN 845 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: The Fifth Committee formally convened for the 
introduction of agenda item 135, Pattern of Conferences, on 
16 October.  A perceived lack of conference support for 
regional groups was a key concern articulated on the 
statements by the G77/China and the African Group. 
Professional staffing shortages, particularly in Nairobi, and 
concerns regarding demographic transition amongst language 
staff in particular was noted by many speakers as a high 
priority. Other issues identified during the formal meeting 
included a need to make documentation services more 
efficient, a lack of translation for Human Rights Council 
reports, and the importance of punctuality. Cuba and Iran 
criticized the United States for its perceived past misuse of 
conference services. The U.S. did not deliver a statement on 
this agenda item. END SUMMARY 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶2. The agenda item titled pattern of conferences encompasses 
all items having to do with conference management, such as 
the scheduling of meetings, submission and issuance of 
documents, and provision of conference services. Discussion 
in the Fifth Committee regarding the pattern of conferences 
is framed by the report and draft resolution prepared by the 
21-member Committee on Conferences, of which the United 
States is a member (reftel). 
 
 
FORMAL STATEMENTS 
----------------- 
 
¶3. DEMAND FOR TIMELY REPORTS AND DOCUMENTATION: A recurring 
item in the statements delivered was the perennial problem of 
late issuance of documents, particularly for the Fifth 
Committee. Sudan, speaking on behalf of the G77 and China, 
stated that "The late issuance of reports remains a matter of 
concern to the Group of 77 and China. Timely issuance of 
documents in all the six official languages is of great 
importance to the work of the Organization." Sudan further 
expressed its hope that the Fifth Committee could reach "a 
stage where the program of work is determined by the 
importance accorded to an item by Member States and not by 
the date on which reports are issued and made available for 
introduction to Member States." 
 
¶4. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: Several delegations noted 
dissatisfaction with the translation of reports produced in 
the Human Rights Council.  Syria registered its "deep 
concern" over the lack of translation of the Universal 
Periodic Review (UPR) documents into all six official 
languages. Cuba noted the importance of translating these 
documents, noting that the UPR was "established to avoid the 
repetition of shameful situations leading to the 
disappearance of the discredited Human Rights Commission" and 
suggesting that the Secretariat play a deeper role in 
nurturing the organization in all ways possible. 
 
¶5. CONCERNS REGARDING UTILIZATION OF CONFERENCE SERVICES: 
Several delegations, including Sudan on behalf of the G77 and 
China and Angola on behalf of the African Group, complained 
about the decrease in the number of meetings of regional 
groups for which conference services were available. 
Regarding the use of conference resources when provided, 
Pakistan noted the importance of punctuality and bemoaned the 
waste of limited conference resources through tardiness. 
(Comment: The problem of inefficient use of conference 
resources is a real one; in fact, this meeting began forty 
minutes late and ran ten minutes over. End comment) 
 
¶6. CUBA AND IRAN CRITICIZED THE U.S. OVER CONFERENCE USE: In 
a thinly-veiled reference to the United Against Nuclear Iran 
event that was sponsored by USUN and hosted at the UN last 
year, Cuba stated its "strong rejection to the use of UN 
facilities by some States with the cooperation with various 
authorities of the Secretariat to undertake clearly hostile 
actions against other Member States." Furthermore, Cuba 
claimed that such actions "damage the reputation and 
credibility of the United Nations and question the 
professionalism and neutrality of the Secretariat." Iran, 
referring to the same event, reminded delegates of previous 
resolutions articulating the proper use of UN facilities. 
 
¶7. STAFF VACANCIES AND DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION: Some 
delegations also raised issues regarding the large number of 
vacancies in language staff, as well as the problem of 
 
USUN NEW Y 00001001  002 OF 002 
 
 
demographic transition. Angola, on behalf of African Group, 
suggested that some positions be classified at a higher 
level, that additional incentives be added to positions in 
Nairobi, and to extend training programs in Africa.  Mexico, 
speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, pointed out that twenty 
per cent of the workforce in the Department of General 
Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) will be retiring 
in the next four years and urged DGACM to find ways of 
filling the vacancies. 
 
LOOKING AHEAD 
------------- 
 
¶8. Comment: All of the issues raised in the formal statements 
were  addressed by the Committee on Conferences in the draft 
resolution submitted to the Fifth Committee. Every element of 
the draft resolution has been adopted informally by the Fifth 
Committee except for the calendar of conferences. At issue is 
the schedule for the second resumed session of the Fifth 
Committee during which the UN peacekeeping budget is debated. 
Although the U.S., the EU, and other delegations support 
amending the calendar to ensure that there is adequate time 
to receive and examine the reports necessary to discuss 
financing of peacekeeping operations, the G77 opposes any 
change because of changes to the schedule of the Committee 
for Programme and Coordination, which traditionally convenes 
after the completion of the second resumed session. End 
comment. 
Rice