A/34/PV.110 General Assembly

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 13 of its report [A/34/779]. The report of the Fifth Committee on the administrative and financial implications of the draft resolution is contained in document A/34/845. A separate vote on section III of the draft resolution has been requested by the delegation of Ireland.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution as a whole. The Second Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

I now call upon those representatives who wish to explain their votes after the vote. 39. Mr. vanden HEUVEL (United States of America): An understanding was reached between interested parties in the Second Committee regarding the manner in which the new Centre for Science and Technology for Development would be established and come into operation. This understanding included an agreement that additional resources would not be requested immediately, but that the Secretary-General would be allowed to examine the situation and proceed in a rational fashion. 40. This understanding was accurately reflected in the decision taken by the Second Committee. Our representatives believe that there was an understanding that there would be no need at this time for personnel other than those made available by the clear terms of the resolution. The Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, on the basis of the decision taken in the Second Committee and the proposals made by the Secretary-General, recommended in its report that a step-by-step formula be used for the implementation of the Second Committee's decision, which would have allowed the Centre to begin operations at the time proposed by the Secretary-General. 41. Yesterday, in the Fifth Committee, a decision was taken which runs counter to the understanding reached in the Second Cornmitee, and which undercuts the decisions taken by the Secretary-General regarding how best to set in motion the new Centre taking fully into account the terms of the understanding reached in the Second Committee.

The representative of India has asked to be allowed to speak in exercise of his right of reply, and I now eaU on him. 57. Mr. B. C. MISHRA (India): It is not the delegation of India as such that wishes to exercise the right of reply, but the Group of 77, whose Chairman I have the honour to be, 58. The explanations of vote some delegations have just made have given the impression that other delegations-the majority of this Assembly and in particular the Group of 77-have gone back on some understanding reached during informal negotiations. In addition, it has been said, and very undiplomatically in my humble view, that the action taken by the Fifth Committee yesterday was meant to further the personal interests of certain Secretariat officials. 59. I reject these insinuations categorically. The draft resolution adopted by the Second Committee was explicit on the question of resources for the new Centre for Science and Technology for Development. Paragraph 5 of section III clearly stated: "Decides also to allocate all the necessary resources from the United Nations regular budget to the Centre ...", and it goes on to mention redeployment and further review by the Intergovernmental Committee for Science and Technology for Development. A clear reading of this section can lead to but one conclusion, namely I that the resources for the Centre would not be confined to redeployed posts from the Office for Science and Technology and that additional resources from the regular budget would be made available. 60. This was made abundantly clear in the statement of financial implications which accompanied the resolution when it was adopted by the Second Committee. Inter alia, it was made clear that the Centre would need seven temporary professional and some administrative posts, and the total cost was estimated at $300,000 for the year 1980. For reasons unknown, the 61. Now, why is there need for an immediate appropriation? The Intergovernmental Committee on Science and Technology for Development meets towards the end of January. Its session has to be prepared and this requires immediate availability of staff and resources. If we were to follow the arguments that were adduced a few minutes ago, then the new Centre, which is to be headed by an Assistant Secretary-General, would have fewer posts than the present Office for Science and Technology. That is hardly a reasonable argument. In any case, to redeploy staff from the Office for Science and Technology will take time and the new Assistant Secretary-General would naturally have to recruit some staff immediately. It is a very important and urgent practical requirement. 62. The entire question of the strength of the Centre is subject to the review of the Intergovernmental Committee. But at the same time, it is essential that the Centre should be a going concern from the very beginning. The Intergovernmental Committee can take its decision in the light of the functioning of the Centre. 63. The Fifth Committee's decision reaffirms the clearly expressed decision of the Second Committee in the statement of the administrative and financial implications of the resolution. There is absolutely no occasion for any suggestion of bad faith on the part of the Group of 77. We cannot accept that the outcome of the issue in the Fifth Committee provides legitimate grounds for a change of vote. We can only regret the second thoughts about the resolution that are evident in the changes of vote that have been announced this evening. 64. From the point of view of the Group of 77, the science and technology resolution is one of the most important decisions adopted by the Assembly at this session. It represents a balance between the interests and needs of all Member States. On behalf oftheGroup of 77, I express the hope that all Member States will make all necessary efforts to ensure that the resolution is implemented faithfully so that the fruits ofthe Vienna Conference are not lost. The meeting rose at 7./5 p.m.