A/41/PV.35 General Assembly

I should like to remind representatives that, in accordance with the decision taken by the Assembly on Friday afternoon, the list of speakers in the debate will be closed today at 5 p.m. I therefore reauest those representatives who wish to participate in the debate to put their names on the list as soon as possible. Mr. SIDDIKY (Bangladesh): We in this Assembly came together last year in a consensus move to initiate a process of restoring a sound financial foundation to the United Nations. We did so in the belief that there was indeed a need to review the administrative and financial functioning of the united Nations. That perception was based on the premise that as the world Organization had grown over the years in terms of its responsibilities and scope of activity an element of administrative and financial indiscipline had evidently crept into the system, giving rise to a lack of cohesion and co-ordination. The adoption by consensus of resolution 40/237, which established the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts with a mandate to conduct a thorough review of the system, reflected our concern over the financial instability of the world body. As we proceed to deliberate on the ~eport of the Group, this essential consensus on the need for reform in the United Nations should be the datum line for our approach, which must be based primarily on agreement among Member States a~ to (Mr. Siddiky, Bangladesh) the financing and utilization of the Organization, bearing in .ind the principles and objectives of the Charter of the united Nations. I must at this stage ca.aend the Group for its painstaking and substantive work. We are also grateful for the report to Ambassador Tom Vraalsen of Norway in his capacity as Chairman of the Group. The report, which has generated intense interest among Member States, provides, as the secretary-General cogently observed in his note, -a crucial basis for a process of change that can bring the improvements in the administrative and financial functioning of the Organization needed for its long-term viability-. (A/4l/663, para.2) It goes without saying that the report has provided a much-needed impetus for our work to that end. Bangladesh took an active interest in remaining in the mainst~eam of this historic initiative in quest of a change towards, in your words, Mr. president, -a better United Nations for a better world-. We lent a helping hand in generating a consensus for that move, as was evident in our co-sponsorship of resolution 40/237. At the same time, however, we are quite clear as to the status of the Group's endeavour. First, the Group inevitably had to base its findings on a critique of the intergovernmental machinery and the international bureaucracy already in place. We must view this in a constructive ~pirit, bearing in mind the Group's mandate - that is, to identify, precisely within the framework of the Charter u measures capable of improving the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations in the medium and long term. Secondly, the report of the Group is not to be seen merely as a prescription for economy measures, which, as we have reiterated time and again, cannot be an end in themselves. The objective of the total exercise is, in the final analysis, to (Mr. Siddiky, Bangladesh) seek the implementation of a whole range of duly mandated programmes in the most cost-effective manner. Thirdly, since the Group was established as the result of a cons~nsus, and with the outcome of the Group's efforts at the level of experts befo~e us, we are indeed under an obligation to approach this set of recommendations with a fair amount of seriousness of intent. There has been some speculation as to what the role of the Fifth Committee would be vis-A-vis the plenary in regard to this agenda item. Going by the decision of the Assembly of 23 september 1986, we understand this to be essentially a plenary matter, as it involves issues and considerations that need to be handled at a political level. We have in mind particularly the aspect of programme planning and bUdget procedure dealt with in chapter VI of the report, which remains open for negotiation. On the other hand, we are also conscious of the reponsibilities of the Fifth Committee in this matter, which could be enumerated as follows: first, to examine the recommendations to see if they are factually in accord with existing rules and regulations; secondly, to elaborate on recommendations of the kind referred to in paragraph 13 Cb) of the report; and, thirdly, to perform such other tasks in this connection as may be assigned to the Fifth Committee by the plenary Assembly. On the bUdgetary process, the Group appears to have carried out extensive deliberations, although without reaching agreement. It would, however, be worth while to bear in mind that there is evident agreement on a number of points, as mentioned by the Secretary-Genera1 in paragraph 6 of his note, which affords a significant point of departure for negotiations. We believe that we may approach the subject deductively by assigning due emphasis to the following points. First, since no single suggestion mentioned in (Hr. Si&1i"y, Bangladesh) section C of chapter VI of the report can attract univQrsal acceptance, the points of agreeJaent Must lie SOJIewhere in between. Secondly, existing planninq and budget aecbaniSllS, co!lllprising the CoIlIIittee for Progrcu.e and Co-ordination and the Advisory CoInittee on Adainistrative and Budgetary Questions, continue to enjoy a degree of acceptance owing to their proved utility. We should therefore aia at rationalizing those mechanisms further, particularly specifying their respective roles vis-~-vis each other. Thirdly, to change th... mode of decision-making in the budgetary process so as to give virtual power of veto to one Member State or a group of Meaber States would be tanta.ount to amending the Charter, which would be unacceptable. A practical procedure might therefore be devised to facilitate broad agreement while fully preserving the principle of the sovereign equality of States as enshrined in the Charter. Fourthly, the Fifth Committee, in accordance with its existing mandate, should continue to have a say in budgetary matters. Deliberations on the budgetary process will remain incomplete if we limit ourselves to a discussion on allocation and disbursement, leaving the funding aspect untouched. Consideration of the scale of assessment therefore assumes importance. The scale of assessment is an important index of the financial commitment of Member States to the United Nations. There appears to be an intrinsic linkage between the need for consensus on the budgetary process and the need for agreement on the scale of assessment. We had expected that the Group would give its views on this iq;lOrtant aspect as well. (Mr. Siddiky, Bangladesh) As for the specific recCll'Ulendations in the report, particularly those dealing with persmnel, tne structure of the secretariat and the functioning of the intergOl1ernmental mchinery, we believe that these can be implemented wi thout undue delay, in the interest of sec:ur ing a leaner, healthier and more effective United Nations. Those reCCllllJllendations are the procl!ct of a latg deliberative process spread OI1er the course of years on which there is scarcely any scope for further disagreement by Memer States. we should like in this cQnnection to emphasize that this process of streamlining the tbited Nations system need not end with the implementation of these recaumendations. Should we find during this process of implementation that we need to go further, the Assemly must not hesitate to take the necessary action. As we consider the efficiency of the financial functioning of the United Nations, we are also inevitably drawn into consideration of the short-term liquidity crisis facing the Organiz~tion today. we have yet to see a respite from the cClltinuing liquidity cr\l'1ch faced by the O1ited Nations. It would be worth while to p:mder the fact that the crisis has been precipitated by the actions of some Meuber States that consider to withold their assessed contributions, in contravention of the United Nations Charter. If we are to address the real issue, is it not imperative that Meuber States discharge their Charter cbligation in the first instance? Is it not also logical to find innova tive ways of averting such cr ises through improvisation at the rules and procedures of the General Assembly? In conclusicn, we have reached a stage at which the issue of the need for reform in the tllited Nations is beyond debate. It is, therefore, about time we set an example of our constructive spir it, in which we have a firm conviction, and took decisive action on the report of the Qroup. <:nce the recommendations of the Group are accepted, there will be: ;a need to ensure their implementation within the (Mr. Siddiky, Bangladesh) Finally, time is of the essence. we cannot affor:d to pt:ocrastinate on this vital issue. Hr. BllDAWI (Egypt) (interpretation frOll Arabic) ~ I should like at the outset to extend our deep sympathy to the people of El salvadcx and our condolences on the tragic earthquake that occurred a few days ago and resulted in heavy loss of 11fe and property • I wish to ex.tend my personal congratulations and those of my Government to the secretary-General of the i:hited Nations on his unanimous appointment as secretary-General of the United NatiQ'lS for a second term, which is an expression of the full coofidence of the MeDber states in Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar and his excellent qualities .. which are needed by the organization as it faces the present critical situation. I assure him of our cootinued full co~peration in the discharge of his onerous responsibilities in the days to come. I should like to thank AJlbassador Vraalsen for his lucid, objective review of the report of the Group of 18. My delegation very much appreciates the efficiency of the memers of the Group, their firm belief in the role of the organization, the great pains they took in preparing the report and the considerable nunber of posi tive recommendations it cootains. In this regard there is no doubt that the high-level coupositim of the Group, in which due regard was given to equitable geographical distr ibutioo, will have a positive effect on the ser iousness and efficiency of the consideration given by the General Asseubly of the numerous important topics cOl7ered in the report. The rer.()rt of the Group of 18 contains 71 recomnendations dealimg with numerous topics, including the intergOl7ernmental IlBchinery, the structure of the secretariat, measures regarding persamel, economic and social affairs, planning and budget mechanisms and other IlBtters of basic importance to the wcxk of the Organization. (Mr. Badawi, !lyet) lI'lile the Group of 18 has succeeded in arriving at. specific recOIIIIDendat.ions on SOlle of these topics, shcxtage of t.ime prevented the tha:ough study of other subjects. It. was not. possible to give the necessary consideratiCXl to the intergovernmental machinery and its functiCXl:lng, although undoubtedly the results of a cauparat.ive study of this would cCllt.ribute to effcxts to increase the efficiency of the Organization. Unfortunately, divergent. points of view ~evented the achievement. of a s :lngle recommendat.ion en plann ing and budget. procedure. In view of its authcxity and mandate, as well as its keen interest. in translati."lg the reCOllllllendat.ions into specific resolutions in keeping with other decisions and resolutions to be adopted at. this sessioo, the General Assembly will certainly attach due import.ance t.o consideration of the recommendations and means of implementing them so that the necessary decisions may be adopted. Needless to say, the General AsseJIbly will t.ake into account. in its consideration of the mat.ter the content. of paragraphs 70 and 71 of the report. of the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Exper~, which concerns the illlplementation of these resolutions, and also reooumendation 15 (3) (c), relating to implementation of the resolutions in a manner that. would not. hamper ~e day-to-day functioning of the Organization. I should like to express my delega tion 's confidence that. the General Assembly's suppor t of the reoolllllenda t.ions of the Group of 18 and reaffirmatim of the role of the secret.ary-General in the process of administrative reform of the Organization should be accompanied by concrete political and financial support for the Organization by all Meuber Stat.es and the fulfilment of their financial obligat.ions to the Organization in accordance with the pr 017is ion of the Charter. My delegat.ion also hopes that. agreement. on a nuIlber of the finanicial and administrative reforms would increase the possibility of reaching an agreement on the scale of assessments according to an acceptable, stable methodology and of finding a just, radical solution of the ~cble. of the depletion of the <kganization's financial reserves. Reverting to the reco~ndatior." in the report of the Group of 18 concerning bUdgetary 811d ~ogr_ing mechaniSE, we believe that tber~ exists already me intergovernmental institution relevant to that matter, naaely, the General AsseJlbly. If the General Asselbly is not now fully playing its role in the budgetary process and progra.ae planning, that should make us try to deal with ~e existing shottCOlllings before thinking of transferring that responsibility to another institution. The decision-making proceci1re of the General Assellbly stems from the nature of the thited Nations itself and gives expressim to the historical reality and democratic character of this Organization. we must not lose sight of the fact that the acbption of resolutions by consensus, though attraotive, is a double-edged weapon that could completely paralyse the General AsseDlbly, or at the very least cmfine its activities to a very limited nuDber of areas~ and it could lead to obstruction of the Organization's picmeering role in wany other fields concerning wich consensus my be reached gradually. E;Jypt believes that all Member States of the Organization are responsible for and keenly interested in the management of its finances in such a way as to achieve optimum rationalization and efficiency. Fgypt believes that it is necessary to give all MeDi:>er States the opportmity b play their part and that no COImlittee dealing with that matter should have its membership confined to a limited nwmer of States, mether representation in such COfilllittees is at the level of experts or: of States. (Hr. Badawi, !Jypt) In the light: of paragraph 15 of the report, 'iilich states that the Group hall fully discharged its mandate and concluded its work with the submission of the repoct, tilere is a need foe informal oonsultations in whioh all states interested in reaching agreement m these recoJllllendations should partioipate after obtaining the neoessary technical olarifications and famUiarizing the_elves with the seoretary-General's colIIDents therem. we are confident that the initiatim of serious, objeotive oonsultations would prOYide an oppcxtlDity to reach omorete resolutims reaffirming the oentral role of the General Assembly in the process of budgeting and programme planning and olarifying the the way in \IIlbich that role should be played so as to achieve maximum supervisim and effioiency. Mr. MARINESQJ (PDmania) (interpretatim frCIII French): The item now before the General Assembly, "Review of the effioienoy of the administrative and finanoial flDotim ing of the thi ted Hations ", is mdoubtedly me of our most important and complex items, with major implications for the future aotivities of the organizatim. The satisfaotory solution of the many aspeots of this questim will determine to a great extent the future image of the organization and the way in mich it will be able to oarry out its basio tasks. The interest aroused by the report of the Group ol High-level Intergovernmental Experts, submitted pursuant to resolution 40/237, is easy to lr\derstand. Consideration of the rePOrt is not an end in itself. The main consider~tion and constant guideline must be our deep omoern for the fate of this wocld organization, and our need to ensure that the United Natims continues to fulfil ever more effeotively the task assi~ed to it by the Charter~ to maintain internatialal peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations and to achieve international co-operatioo in solving international problems of an ecmomic, social, oultural or humanitarian charaoter. Coosequently, it is essential that any deoisions aoopted by the General Assembly (Mr. Marinesc:u, Rounia) should serve to strengthen the role of the O1ited Nations in solving the vast and COBlplicated problems of the current international situaticm, in ensuring peace throughout the wocld, in reinfCl£cing the principles and rules of internat1cmal law and in developing broad and unlillited co-operation allOl\g all States of the wor Id. ~ly thus, by making full use of the POSSibUities available to it, will the United Nations will be able to fulfil its missial and serve the cause of peace and progress, more effectively, thus meeting the legitillBte aspirations of peoples. As the ~manian delegatial has already stated, my country believes that the financial difficulties the orgmization is at present facing must and can be solved without affecting its ~iorities, its structures or its democratic operatiatal and decision-making machinery, based at the participation on an f!Clual footing of all Member States. we could never accept measures which would limit and then ~eci1C:e essential political and eccnomi.c activities oe affect the delDcratic pz-inciples which underlie the functicming of the United Naticms, first and foremost of which is the equal sO'o1erei~ty of States, W1ether small, medium-sized or large. we should emphasize especially the importance that should be attached to the General AsselIbly as the ma jar political body of the O1i ted Nations, where all States, regardless of their size, can voice their views and act in accordance with their own rights and interests. In this cOMection we believe that no measures or decisicns should be taken that might limit the prerogatives or c:oupetence of the General Assemly, the ccnditions foe its fmcticming, ex its abUity to consider any issue pertaining to international peace and security and international relations in general. It is not by weakening the role of the General AsseEbly that we shall increase the administrative and financial efficiency of the United Na tions. On the ccntrary, we can do that only by permC!ll1ently strengthening its position as the most representative body of the United Naticns. (Mr. Marinescu, Romania) Boaani~ has always advocated iIlprOl7ing and streulining the activities of the United Naticns, as well as those of other international bodies. we share the view of the Group of Bigh-lf!!\7el Intergovernmental Experts that if that is the aim, any ser ious analysis of the financial status of the Organization must take into account adain!.atrative questions, the level of expenditure, and staff problellS. It is quite clear that major savings could be lIade by isaprOl7ing the structures and flmctiooing of the secretariat and by substantially rewcing the excessive and constantly increasing administrative costs of the organization, abcwe all staff costs. Accordingly we should take firm and consistent acticn to imprcwe the intergovernJlental machinery of the thited Nations and simpl ify the secretar tat, eliDlinate useless structures and overlapping, improve wa:king methods and rewce bureaucacy, st,i)stantially increase productivity and make full use of working hours. Q11y thus can we succeed in imprOl7ing the efficiency of the administrative functioning of the Organization and ....\g<ificantly redlce administrative costs as a Ylole, and staff costs in particular. ~:le staffing of the secretariat mw;t be both rational and equitable, so that all Memer States are proper ly represented. In addi tioo to the abOl7e observa tions, 1irihich apply to many of the exper ts' recouaendations, my delegation wishes to make some cenments on the rep::lrt of the Group of 18 relating both to questions of principle and to specific points. we should like to expcess our appreciation of the experts' efforts to identify a wole series of proole1llS, including improvement of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functiooing of the united Natioos. A study of the report shows that in JIlany respects we are at the beginning of a looger process of administrative and financial reforms for the United Nations, as the experts themselves acknowledge. tkldolt>tedly this effort will have to ~e cootinued in the immediate future with all due determination if we are to benefit fully from the effect of the initial measures to be adopted. The recommenda tions of the Group of (Hr. Mar inescu, Roaanfa) EKperts naturally vary in illportmce and &ignific_ce acc«ding to the q~estion being considered. Many of the reco_ndaticns, we feel, are acceptable and useful, and are in keeping with the repeated requests 2I\d lcmg-st_ding positions of uny States Members, including Itnlana. I would refer b) 'ay of exaJIIPle to the need to imprcne co-«dination ucng the various activities both of the tbited Nations itself and of its whole 8Y!'tea, the elillination of overlapping in the structure and ftncticn ing of the secretar!at, reCCllaendations to redlce the total nullber of SecrEtariat staff, particularly at the highest levels, recl1ction of expenditure for consultants, and reciJction of the excessive level of total ,'eameration, including salaries, and social benefits and generous allowances, which are without parallel in natimal administra tions. The Romanian delegaticn could support those reco.-endaticns, and others of a similar nature, after full 6nd detaUed consideration, with all necessary clarifications, in the Fifth C~ttee, which should aake full use of its powers to act in this area. The quest fee my final solution at the stbject of the recoD.llendations of the Group of EKperts must be carried out with the direct participation of all Mellber States and with full respact fee the demcratic proeeciJres of the Gen~al AsseJlbly. (Mr. Marinescu, Romania) Another category of recOll1llendations would appear, at least in their current wording, to be totally unacceptable, since they are in flagrant contradiction with ~evious d&cisions of the General Assemly and eYen with the Charter. I am referring above all to some retX)mendaUons on staff policy which go be~nd the framework of the Charter and of General Asseubly resolutions. In our view, there can be no valid explanation for the fact that, in spi te of many General Assembly resolutione which have affirmed and reaffirllled the need fal' equitable geographical representation in the secretariat, there continues to be a siblation whereby we have W1der-re~esented States and others llhose nationals in the secretariat numer two, three or eYen four or iDOre times the maximum Umi\; of their range of represC!!'\tatial. This siblation, for ale of many reascms, appears to us to be the consequence of a certain canplacency in recruitment policy, as well as the ease wi th which permanent contracts have been offered, which has resulted in a constant recl1cticm in the nuDber of posts which are subject to geographical distribution. I should like to make myself perfectly clear. We are not against permanent contracts, even though the quality of work would not necessarUy depend directly al the type of ooIIIDitment. However, we are concerned about the exaggerated pro~rtion of permanent Caltracts in the total nullber of secretar iat staff ccmtracts. The actual relationship between permanent contracts and fixed-term contracts, in our view, is dispropor ticma te and is in favour of the former. This siblation has a negative impact on the equitable representation of states Mellbers, as well as al the efficiency and work productivity of the seeretariat~ Consequently, we are of the view that this ratio should be corrected substantially in the near future so as to enable all States Menbers to be represented in an equitable manner. (Mr. Marinesc:u, Hoaania) The acceptance of peracment ccntracts coaes within the exclusive purview of eadl State MeJlber. No one can dictate to a State MeJllber a policy to be adopted in this regard or how uny of its nationals should have peraanent or fixed-term contracts. Ccmsequently, the recolllendations in the report of the Group of experts, .ich seeJI to impose sOlle rules and regulations in this regard, are collpletely unacceptable to the It)llanian delegation. They are in contradiction with the sO'lereign right of every State to have its own rules in this regard, as well as with the p£Ol7isims and spirit of previous decisions of the General AsseDlbly. Furtheraore, the Homanian delegation regrets the fact that in spite of the express opposition of SCllle of the llemers of the Group of 18 to such recoaendations, they were introcuced into the repoct. There are other recolBendations as well which we find difficult to accept but I have only .entimed those which pertain to staff policy so as to give, by way of exallple, recoBJRendations by whic:b an attellpt is being made to violate the exclusive prerogatives of States MeJrbers which, consequently, are absolutely unacceptable. The Homanian delegation agrees with the opinion of the Group of experts on the iap<Xtance to COIIe to the broadest possible agreement 9talg States Menbers on the contents and size of the United Nations budget, as well as the need for States Mellbers to have a greater say in the process of prepar ing the draft budget. The secretary-General emphasizes in his note that even though the Group was not able to come to unanimous cmclusions en the budgetary process, there was, nevertheless, agreement on sase very important aspects, such as the need to set up intergO'lermaental llachinery able to study budgetary questions in greater depth and the need to involve States Me1libers more quickly in the process of prograuming and bUdgeting, as well as the need for the General AsseJrbly to ind!cate wi thout delay the alllOunt of avaUable resources to cover expend! tures for a given budget per iod. (Mr. Mar inescu, HolDall la) rt Is a legitl_te requirement that all States Mellbers can have the opportunity to take part on an equal looting in all stages of tale process of preparing and approving the budget. By the same token, we should prev'ent any situation arising whereby a State Melllber IIl1ght be able to attadl conditions to the amount of its contr ibutiQ'l to the budget. Through this increased involVeMent of States Members, we ,""'> not at all mean stric....""!r monitoring of programes by States lIihidl lIake larger ccntr ibutions. It might seem super fluous to enpbas ize that the prCl-:;tcmming of the organization's activities should be quite consistent with the financial resources available to it. I would add, nevertheless, that these resourcss should not in any way be viewed as constantly increasing amcnmts. On the CQ'ltrary, \lihat we should do, wi thout delay, is to undertake a recilction in budget expenditures, an aim which States Members and the General Assembly have always tried to adlieve. The lbmanian delegation has constantly emphasized the fact that Cl responsible quest for solutions implies a sober attitude and sincerity as regards the level of expenditures of the United Nations. SOund management cannot be based on a constantly increasing and unlimited budget. It is inconceivable that the United Nations bUdget might continue to increase constantly at a time ""en a great many States Me11bers are making considerable efforts, and even sacr ifioes in national terms, for rigorous control over their own budgets. we hope that, logically, the savings whict. might result fr·om the aci3ptiQl of most of the recommendations of the Group of experts will lead to an absolute reduction in the level of contr ibutions to be made to the United Natioos budget by States Me11bers in the near future. Special attentioo, we feel, should be paid to the idea that we should establish consensus in the process of preparing and approving the tllited (Mr. Marinescu, Romania) Nations budget. To be sure, it is alwayu p=eferable - and foe Romania this is the preferred method - that consensus be constantly encouraged and used in order to adopt the largest possible nuDber of resolutions and decisions in the General Assesrely. Rollania has always stri'3'eJ'1 to have its own proposals adopted by general agreement. Nevertheless, the Romanian delegation is of the view that we should be very careful so that the laudable intention of adopting budgetary decis ions by consensus does not result in deadlock. In fact, the introcilction of a secood right of veto - abo;-~ and beyond that already officially enshrined in the Charter - wuld be more than the Organizatioo could bear. Before concluding, I should like to reaffirm that an improvement of the administrative and financial fmctiming of the thi ted Nations should not be sought by reciJcing th\! Ckganization's essential political and eoonomical activities, or by affecting the basic demcratic pr inciples of its functim ing. We are convinced that by acting with perSE!U'erance and sense of responsibility - both to maintain and develop essential activities of the United Nations regarding the use of its financial and human resources we will be taking important COOCtete steps towards our objective of improving the administrative and financial effectiveness of the United Nations. Mr. SBIHABI (Saudi Arabia): May I take this opportunity to extend to Hr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, on my own behalf and on behalf of the delegation of Saudi A~atla, my warm and sincere congratulations on his unanimous re-election for a second term. This is a token of appreciation and confidence, and an expression of our faith that he will lead the Organization towards the fulfilment of the aspirations of the world community. There is no need, on this occasion, to call attention to his great aualities. I wish him all success and reiterate the confidence of the Government of Saudi Arabia in his integrity, his able leadership and his dedication to the United Nations. If this global Organization is to remain, as it should, a relevant and constructive force in world affairs 40 years from now and beyond, its institutional structure and capacity must evolve with the new global realities of today. On no account, however, should this be at the expense of the principles, on which it was founded, principles which must remain fundamental if the Organization is to retain its essential character as a world institution of sovereign equals. This Organization is at present being SUbjected to challenges, not only to its soverei9~ty but also to its very viability. The current financial and institutional difficulties should not let us forget the experience of the League of Nations in the 1930s, when policies based on short-term political interests glorified nationalism, unilateralism, the erosion of the rule of law, and the cult of power politics destroyed the League of Nations and led directly to global conflagration. Let us therefore not imperil the existence of the United Nations at a time when its framework and principles are more vital than ever before. Indeed, let us remember the passionate addresses of its founders in the course of the first session of this Assembly, when the Organization's establishment was perceived as the vehicle for remedying all the ills of the international community. We in the (Mr. Shihabi, Saudi Arabia) Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are firmly committed to a strong united Nations. Because my country believes in the ability of nations to overcome the challengea of temporary difficulties and obstacles, it remains fully confident of the future of this Organization. Indeed, we believe that the prevailing crisis may even have a beneficial effect if we learn from the past and look optimistically to the future. For this reason the difficulties afflicting our Organization today should be viewed from a positive standpoint. We reject all reasons for despair. As Bis Majesty King Fahd bin Abdul-Aziz said on one occasion, we in Saudi Arabia ·work in the global field within the framework of the United Nations and its affiliates and agencies. We adhere to its Charter and support its efforts and oppose any disruptive action aimed at weakening it. Our actions have always reflected and continue to reflect our sense of belonging to an international community that is one family, irrespective of the diversity of its interests·. The future of this Organization lies in our collective commitment to the implementation of its principles and, at the same time, to the mobilization of our resolve to that end. AS the Secretary-General pointed out in a recent address: ·The fact is that the credibility problem of the United Nations mainly arises from the inability of Member States to make the Organization work.- If, therefore, we are to deal with the present United Nations financial crisis from its very roots, then it is imperative for us to reaffirm its fundLmental credibility through our deeds, by upholding the character and validity of the united Nations Charter. This Organization will naturally have to evolve and will have to adapt to the changing times. Moreover, in any process of reform, difficult choices must be made, new priorities have to be set, cost-saving measures must be instituted, (~r~ Shihabir Saudi Ar&b1a) readjustments in assEDsed contributions may even become necessary on the basiG of our experience. To carry this out successfully we will all have to be tolerant and appreciate one another's legitimate interests and concerns. If this world body falls short of expectationsr the responsibility must be heavily shared by the big contributors, whor perhaps, expect the United Nations to be modelled on their own image. Therefore we simply cannot agree with any rationale that obligatory contributions by any Member State can be withheld. However unpalatable existing rules may have become to a Member Stater any effort to amend such rules must be undertaken within agreed procedures and in accordance with the established ground rules. Moreoverr the decision-making process of the United Nations should give full recognition to the principle of the sovereign equality of all States. The balance of influence in favour of the wealthy and the powerful is already manifest in some major organs: the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council~ to mention only two. It is reassuring that this Organization has lately been Witnessing a renewed recognition of tne importance of multilateralism and of its vital role in the promotion of world stability. It is evident that the task of revitalizing the effectiveness of the United Nations is fundamentally politic~l in character. It reauires that Member States mobilize the political resolve to place the financing of the Organization on a sound and viable foundation and reassure the Secretary-General of the mandate and the support he needs to carry out the major staffing and budget changes which will reduce costsr improve effectiveness and restore confidence. In this the Secretary-General has demonstrated his deep understanding of the difficulties now besetting the Organization and has brought to bear his vast experience and personal dedication in seeking to overcome them. :1 wish to take this oppcxtmity to express ay sincere appreciation to bim for his ~udab10 efforts to safeguard the integrity of the united Nations. we pledge our suppor:t and f\All co-operation ",1th la view to the real ization of that Clbjective Cl In his recent Annual Report on the ibrk of the <kganization (A/4l/l), the secretary-General drew a distinction between the aboct-tera aspocts and the Ilediull-tera and longer-tera diaensions of the financial cr is is. The lCllger-tera aspects are fmdaaentally political, structural and administrative in nature. Th~ forging of a valid solution to the crisis will, therefore, require a packase of measures tI1bich, on the one hand, will strengthen the income base of the organization and thereby address the sh«ter-tera emergency and, on the other hand, streaJl1.ine its programme of expenditures, thereby addressing the longer-term financing probleJl1. With regard, first of all, to the shoct-tera situation, Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Olited Nations Charter, states: -The expenses of the organization shall be bcxne by the Members as apportioned by the General Assembly.- unfor tmately, the tl'lited Nations Charter cClltains no explicit sanction other than Article 19 aga inst Member States which, under Article 19, narrowly escape the autoZIBtic loss of their voting rights. Perhaps the time has COfIe f« the General Assellbly to consider introciJcing a graduated scale of Jleasures which lIi~t curtail the privileges rather than the rights of O\ited Nations aenbes:ship and which, therefore, would not require an aaendJBent to the United Nations Charter, while conforming wi th its spirit. The aim of such easures would be to promte a str icter acllerence to Article 17 of the Charter. If all Meliber States were thereby encouraged to caaply with their Charter obligations, the current crisis would soon be dissips ted. The present scale of assessments makes the United Nations too vulnerable since it 1& dependent upon the few big cClltributCl£8. ""en any of the. cuts its contr ibutiCXls, the basis for the wor k of the entire Orqanization is affected. If assessaents were distributed moce evenly ammg MeJrbers which are able to pay, we should be able to r~ce this vulnerabilit.y in the futureo It should go without saying ex emJ;basis that the O1ited Nations is an organization of all States for all States. we all need the united Nations. Developnents have confirmed our conviction that such a refexm of the scale of assessnents, towards a more equitable shar ing of the Otganization's expenses, should be included in a comprehensive solution of the problem facing this wexld body. We must also try to utilize the current financial cr isis to provide momentum for administrative reform, rationalization of expenditure, and the creation of a model institutional structure. In this regard, I wish to eXpl:ess our appreciation of the efforts of the Group of High-level IntergOl7ernmental Experts - the Group of 18 - in reviewing the efficiency of the administrative and financial performance of the O1ited Na tions. AI. though the report of the Group of 18 falls shoct on some basic issues, which is understandable, though regrettable, it nevertheless provides a useful basis for further decision-making by this AsseDbly. we support the general thrust of the consensus recomendations contained in the report. The agreement should, however, be extended to areas for which the Group was unable to formulate unanimous recomnendations, inclUding a broadening of the mandate of the CaIlDittee for Progrmme and eo-ordination. As far as the Group's proposals to streamline the secretar iat are concerned, we support the proposal that the nuuber of staff meubers be redlc:ed by 15 per cent and the nllJl'ber at the higher levels by 25 per cent. In this context, I should like to refer to the guidelines in Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter, which states~ "Due regard shall be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.· Saudi Arabia has good reason to draw attention to the need for full implementation of this Article. The rotation of senior posts, fINery me of them, should also be a basic principle of administrative strealll1ining. MoreOl7er, the total entitlements, salar iea and other conditions of service of staff meDbers should be considered in the light of levels of wexth and standards that would enmurage the recruitment of highly qualified and capable internatiatal staff. It is quality that mould be stressed rather than quantity. In sum, I agree with the Group's observations on the n<:!ed for re-examination of the structure, staff and pcocedures with a view to bringing about a mcxe cost-effective administrative body. I also collllend the efforts of the secretary-General, and those of his senior assistants, to imprOl7e the management of the secretariat at all levels, to enhance co-ordination and to streamline var ious departments. Streamlining and personnel cuts should, however, be aCcallpanied by a refoclI of the intergovernmental machinery and its functiooing as well. OVer the years we have - as the Group of 18 notes - built an merly CQIlplex inst1tutiooal structure which lacks oohesioo in certain areas and which makes oo-ordination difficult. A lcmg-term solutim to the present cr is is must be fOLl'ld in a ma:e cdlerent and effective prograDllle. Namer States should therefore give guidance for the rationalization of this Organization and should set the relevant priorities. The reool1l11endations of the Group of 18 are only the beginning of a process of reform, a process that will necessarily take time. Econanies might well be realized through increased productivity, through the streamlining of activities and through the promtion of efficiency by means of such measures as the integration of over lapping activities - for example, of current duplicatioos at overseas stations - and the elimination of obsolete activities. While we support budget cuts to meet reductions in assessed contributions, the c:bjective of the entire exercise should not be the maximum budget reduction, regardless of consequences, but rather the achievement of a coherent and effective progr__ of activity foe the Secretariat _4 the ocgmization u a whole. Refora Mould be carried out in full accordance with the provisiCl'ls of the O1it:ed HIltions CbartK. Tbe pdnciple of the SO'IKeign equality of all Mellber States should not be tallpere4 with, and .s..tial progr..... and activitiu of bigh prioeity pertaining to live and burning iau., such as those cCl'lcet:ning Palestine, South Africa, Afgbunistan and othKS, should continue to attract their proper share of available resources• Recent experience has cemonstrated that when the Organization puts its _ind to it it can accomplish a great deal. Therefore, in addressing the Organization's current financial and institutional crisis we need to produce a genuine consensus through concrete results arising from a serious dialogue. As a founding Member State of the united Nations, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been, and will remain, deeply committed to the Charter Gild all the obligations arising therefrOlD. OVer the last 12 years alone Saudi Arabia's total voluntary contributions have cumUlatively exceeded its total assessed contributions by over $700 million, an indication of how important we perceive the united Nations role to be. In conclUding, I reiterate our appreciation to the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts for their worthy efforts and their conetructive report, which was produced in a short period of time. During the course of the debate on the report the Government of Saudi Arabia will continue, as in the past, to adopt a positive and constructive stance. Its delegation stands ready to co-operate fully with the Secretary-General in his tireless efforts, as well as with all other delegations in the common sea~ch for comprehensive and pragmatic solutions that can serve as supporting factors and have the least adverse impact upon the Organization's fundamental character. Mr. DELPECH (Argentina) (interpretation from Spanish): Before turning to the subject before us, I wish to express the sympathy of the Argentine Government with the victims of the earthquake that has taken place in the brother Republic of El Salvador. The news caused great distress in Argentina, and we wish to convey to the Government and people of El Salvador, through their Permanent Representative, the willingness of the Argentine people and Government to do all they can to help in dealing with the consequences of that tragedy. As this is the first tiAe JlIY delegation has spoken since Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar's re-election to the post of Secretary-General, I would like to express ay Government's satisfaction at the renewal of his JlAndate, which is a fitting and well-deserved tribute to the work he has done over the past few years. We are convinced t~at he will continue to respond to the needs of the Organization and its Member States in the same way as in the past. I should like also to thank Ambaesador Vraalsen, Chairman of the Group of Hi~h-level Intergovernmental Experts to Review the Efficiency of the Administrative and Financial Functioning of the United Nations, for his efforts and those of his delegation, and for his introduction of the Group's report to the Assembly. In order to be brief, I turn immediately to the SUbject before us. Its ~rtance and ~lications for the Organization are so well known that they need no emphasis. In our opinion, the Experts' report is an important contribution to improving the OrganizationWs administrative and financial efficiency. At the same time, it is a milestone in our continuing search for the obj( ··.~ive all delegations are seeking. However, it comes at a particularly critical time for the Organization, one of the more disturbing aspects of which is the financial crisis into which we have been plunged. Nevertheless, it must be understood that the report does not contain a formula to alleviate the financial crisis over the short term, and it cannot be expected that if it is accepted it will produce immediate results, for that was not the mandate that we gave the Group of Experts. Only if all Member States abide by their obligations under the Charter can the crisis be overcome and the Organization's smooth functioning guaranteed. On the other hand, the Group of Experts' primary aim was not to reduce the Organization's expenses, even if greater administrative and financial efficiency might well result in such a reduction. (Mr. Delpech, Argentina) The report presents a body of reea.mendations on almost all of which - in six of its seven chapters - it reflects a consensus by the Group of Experts. We have doubts, as we are sure all other delegations have, about the practicability of some of those recommendations &nd a.~ut the draftfutg of some others which do not seem to reflect very clearly the objectives being pursued. However, the recommendations as a whole aze acce~ ~ble to us. The necessary corrections can be made when the recyummendations are implemented, because those corrections ~~uld not affect the general thrust of the recon~j~dations. We may in due course, if need be, have more detailed comments to make on the recommendations, but in general we share the view expressed by the Secretary-Gene~al in paragrah 4 of his note (A/4l/663), which links Gspects of the secretariat's restructuring with the measures to be adopted in connection with the intergc~arnmentalmachinery.* Chapter Vi, concerni~~~ methods of analysing the Organization's planning and budget procedure, remains an outstanding issue. That is not surprising, because politically it is one of th~ most delicate subjects the Group of Experts had to deal with~ An effort must be made to reach agreement on that question. At the same time, we must not lose sight of the fact that it is a delicate question, and that, as we consider probable compromise formulas, we must avoid creating practical problems tha't are u:'Ore serious than those we I'e now trying to solve, through acting with undue haste. * Mr. Osman (Somalia), Vice-President, took the C:.3ir. We believe that a practical way to make progress towards a solution would be to go back to the problems as they were posed in the Group of 18 and detenaine what areas of agreement may have developedr in order to dispose of as many of those problems as possibler and then formulate consensus alternatives. We agree with a number of representatives who have already spoken that we must not confine ourselves to choosing one of the alternative formulas put forward by the Group of Experts. The solution might be to combine some elements of alternatives (a) and (b). We understand that the Secretary-General proceeded in that way ~ paragraph 6 of his note. Ideas such as the earlier participation of Governments in the budget process and earlier notification to the Secr~tary-General of the amount of available resources might be a practical basis for agrep~ent at the cu~rent session. As regards the specific planning and budget machinerYr if a single body is not established to deal with both those problems togetherr and we are instead to continue with the present division of labour between the Committee for Programme and Co-ordination and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, we believe that any solution we adopt must make perfectly clear the sphere of competence of· each body, to avoid any overlapping, which might create undesirable conflicts. At the SaBle time there must be greater co-ordination in the WOE'k of those two bodies. On these details in particular i!lIld, consequently, as regards hat Goverrments can imprOl7e their participation in the budget's pceparatiCXl, we believe we should work with the scme pcudence and patience that we have already aentioned. HOlifever, that my mean that a final solution will be the product of wack in some intergrJernEntal body which llight be asked to carry out this task. That might make for a mcxe thorough analysis of these questions. As regards what _thed should be follOlifed in the decisiCXl-making process, we believe that here, as elsemere, it is necessary to exhaust all effcxts to achieve a consensus and ensure the broadest possible basis for Wlderstanding. BOlifever, we carmot rule out the decision-llalcing procedures pcOl7ided for in the Charter. Anything of essential importance to the work of the united NatiCXlS, such as the budget, must be adopted within certain ti1lle-lilaits, if the <kgmization is not to be paralysed. Finally, we should like to refer to the pcocedlral question that was the subject of intense informal consultations. This mtter can be mcxe easily dealt with if we reach agreement CXl Il8tters of s..mstance. we do not believe that undue attention should be given to procedural debates liibich cnly cCXlceal differences of opinim on matters of substance. If we do that, we lIay go astray in ster ile debates that will hamper our eff<X'ts. That is why we are prePared to be flexible on this item and hope that other delegatiCX1S will act similarly and refrain from trying to impose on others their approach to these JlZtters, for such a tactic might only create resentment and suspiciCX1. Hr. AL-AN3I (OIIan) (interpcetation £rOIl Arabic) ~ Allow lie at the outset to express our deep sorrow and sYJapa thy to the people and Gcwernllent. of El salvadoe on the occasion of the tragic earthquake that recently afflicted that country. I should like to cmgratulate the peoples and Gcwernllents of the thited States of serica and the thim of SOviet Socialist Republics, on the convening of the ilaportant sl.lmlit meeting m 11-12 OCtober at Reykjavik, Iceland. The effects of the two super-Powers wUl, it is hoped, contribute to world peace and to the strengthening the role of the w«ld organization.. It was with great care that 'Ii¥ delegation studied the important report s'*tllitted by the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts, CCIIprised of 18 members who repcesent the internaticnal co_unity. That report deals with a review of the efficiency of the adJIinistrative and financial functiooing of the Uni ted Nations. I seize this opportunity to join those who have preceded me in conveying thanks and coogratulations to the Chairman of the Group, Mr. TOm Vraalsen, the Permanent Representative of Norway, and his colleagues members of the Group who have wa:ked strenuously to prepare this lucid, canprehensive report cOOGining 71 recoumendations on imprOl7ement of the administrative and financial functiooing of the Organizatioo, as well as its fmctiooing in various political, ecooanc, social and disarmament fields. Here, I cannot but pay tr ibute to the secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, his staff and ass istants foe the strenuous efforts they have made to ensure the success of the work of th~ Group of High-level Intergovernmental EKperts so as to arrive at solutions that would secure the operational, financial and administrative soundness of the United NatiooS, whether in the short term coocentra ted upon in the report, or the medium and loog term. If the reoonmendations are aoopted, they will have stroog, positive results in the long and medium terms. The Organizatim has never faced a crisis such as the me that now confrmts it. Yet we aust admit that, first and foreJllOSt, the current financial crisis has political dimensions. No me should have cmfused the ref«_ necessary for better functioning with the threat to minimize the united Natims role. The ll1ited Nations is mankind's ally hope for protectim against wars and aismd«sandings among States • The crisis could be attributed to the mismanagement of resources~ it could also be attributed to the mjustified withholding by some MeDber States of their annual assessed contributions. This leads us to question the United Natims abUity to cmtinue to .eet its financial obligations. The question is: whose interest would be served by such a situation in the ll1ited Nations? With a view to enabling the Organizatim to cwerCOJBe the current financial cr isis in a satisfactory manner, ye call for the recilctim of expenses by the tl'lited Nations werever possible and the ratimalizatic,n of its week in a way that would not harm its functioning or the ncble objectives enshrined in the Charter. The thited Nations role is scxely needed as the Organizatim's IleDlbes:ship has grown from 50 in 1945 to 159 at present. we also call for giving the secretary~neral our full ccnfidence as the chief adJiinistrative officer, with autheeity to adopt the measures he deems appropr 18te in th is regard. My delegation accepts in principle chapters I to V and chapt~r VII of the report of the Group of Experts. With regard to the contrcwersial Chapter VI, in pr inciple my delegation also suppocts its sectim B. A large nW&ber of states Members of the United Natims have accepted that alternative as a consensus solutioo that protects the Organizatioo's established deIIDcratic character. we should not open the door for any unnecessary amendments to the Charter principles or ':he mdus operandi of the tllited Nations. we must intensify our effexts to (Hr. Al.-Anal, Qlan) achieve co-operation and Wlderstanding alla'lg States, with the necessary political wUl, with a view to achieving the Ol'ganization's goals. We had hoped that it would be possible foe the Group to ccntinue its wcxk until it reac:bed a consensus concrete text concerning chapter VI, as was the case wi th other c:bapt~:r.s of the report. My delegation had also hoped to have the report aDlbiguities surrounding that itea owing to the decision of the General Assell!bly at its fortieth sessicn to increase the assessed contributicn of SaDe states, in particular developing comtries, and reci1ce the assessed ccntribution of soae developed countr tes - without taking into account the negative effect on se.! developing comtries, in particular oU-J;l£omcing comtries Wlose revenues, as is well known, have sharply decreased as a result of the phenClEllal decline in the J;l£ice of oll. (Hr. Al-Ansi, oman) In conclueion, I should like to stress once again the dangers besetting the Organization ae a result of the financial crisis and the crisis of confidence. We must all work together to enable the Organization to fulfil its responsibilities and achieve its objectives as set out in the Charter. We call upon all Member States to strive to restore full confidence in the Organization. Hr. ALLEYNE (Trinidad and Tobago): I ehould like to extend our congratulations to the Secretary-General on his election by acclamation to a second term of office. Natural disaster has once again struck a Member State. Trinidad and Tobago extends heartfelt sympathy to the Government and people of El Salvador. On the matter before us, the time has come for us to face squarely the crisis which now confronts this Organization. There are many facets to the situation: there is a financial crisis, there is a political crisis, there is a ch~llenge to 'multilateralism and there is in a most fundamental sense a crisis of confidence. All these have cuntributed in one way or another to the precarious situation in which the Organization now finds itself. The focus is now on the General Assembly to act decisively to stem the tide. The fortieth session of the General Assembly was a time for recommitment, a time for assessment of achievements and failures. This forty-first session provides the opportunity to undertake measures to improve the functioning of the system, thereby making the international climate more conducive to co-operation in the pursuit of common goals. The Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts to Review the Efficiency of the Administrative and Financial Functioning of the United Nations, now generally referred to as the Group of 18, has undertaken an analysis with a view to providing a new approach and an impetus to improvements in the functioning of the Organization vital to its long-term viability. (Mr. Alleyne. Trinidad and Tobago) My delegation wishes to congratulate the Chairman and members of the Group of 8igh-level Intergovermaental Experts on their praiseworthy efforts. The Group of 18 was convened at the end of February of this year, yet by mid-August it was able to conclude its work, producing the report (A/4l/49) now before us. The report and its 71 reee.mendations represent no saall achievement, and each of the experts deserves our coJlllendation. The Assembly owes the Group not only a debt of gratitude but also a duty to give due consideration to the issues raised in a unner that does justice to the report itself and to the ideals and aspirations shared by the international community, whose future is at stake. In the 40 years of its existence changing international circumstances and challenges have led to a significant expansion in the scope and volume of the work of t~ Organization, as demonstrated by the agenda of the United Nations, the programmes and activities undertak~n, the number of conferences and meetings and the growth of the United Nations Secretariat itself. Even if that growth was gradual, there is no evidence that it was planned and orchestrated~ rather, the Organization has undertaken numerous ad hoc measures to cope with immediate requirements at various times. The Group's report provides the basis for a comprehensive review which could have far-reaching effects in enhancing the efficacy of the Organization and its long-term viability. It would not be appropriate at this stage, in this forum, to attempt an in-depth analysis of the report or to comment on each of its recommendations, even though MY delegation believes that this will be necessary before too long. I will confine myself here to a few remarks on some of the issues raised and on the procedure for dealing with the report. (Mr. Alleyne, Trinidad and Tobago) For my delegation, there is no doubt that the time is ripe for undertaking much-needed improvements in the system. There is little doubt, too, that the report focuses on certain important avenues through which those improvements can be sought. But the Assembly must approach the whole question in a systematic, logical manner, examining each problem and p!:oposed resolution on its merits and in conjunction with others, taking into account both iJlllediate and 10ng-terJI effects, so as to ensure that the measures adopted do in fact contribute to achievement of the overall aims and objectives to which we aspire. If we consider those recommendations related to the Secretariat and to personnel, many questions come to mind. There are specific recommendations related to a substantial r~duction in the number of staff members, and there are general recommendations relating to the streamlining of departments and offices. But what is not clear is whether the streamlining exercise is to be pursued independently of, or in order to achieve, the 15 or 25 per cent recommended reduction. Furthermore, the specific reductions suggested do not appear to have been arrived at in a scientific manner but, rather, appear to have leapt out as convenient targets. The same is true of the recomendation regarding the reduction in the use of outside consultants. It seems that before making a decision on those recommendations it will be necessary for us to examine possible ways in which they may be implemented and the various implications of those possibilities. For exanple, we should have some basic framework and guidelines for effecting reductions in staff while maintaining the principles of geographic distribution, the highest standards of staff competence and the situation of women in the Secretariat. It is simply not enough to claim that this can be achieved by attrition, without specifying how all relevant conditions, including the continuing (Hr. Alleyne~ Trinidad and Tobago) need to recruit new staff lIeJIbers and avoid any negative effects on the iJlpleJIentation of prograJlllles, could be satisfied. The reee.mendation regarding the reduction of the total entitleaents of staff _embers is dangerously op2n-ended. It is likely to engender great unease among staff and unions. In an Organization in which 80 per cent of expenses can be attributed to staff costs, it is obvious that the staff will have to bear a part of the necessary financial paring, but this must not be done without due regard for the effects of staff morale and efficiency - the efficiency not only of those who have been affected, but even more of those who are not sure whether they will be. (Mr. Alleyne, Trinidad and Tobago) It is therefore necessary to ensure b1provemento in personnel management and career-deve1Clp11ent policies as part of the ovQ~a11 fraaework of reforll8. It is iaperative that in arriving at decisions which i:e1ate directly to staff there be full consultation with staff representatives in accordance with accepted industrial relations principles and practices. Another aspect of the report which could be IIOst sensitive is that relating to the planning and budget procedures of the Organization. The Assembly's work has been rendered even more difficult by the fact that the Group, having before it three proposals, was unable to agree on a specific recommendation in resPeCt of this issue. It is for the General Assembly to find its own solution, which need not be confined to choosing between those three proposals. It is also important that the planning and bUdget procedure which is finally adopted by us conform to the established rules and practices of decision-making within the Organization. The founding nations conferred upon certain members of the Security Council the power of veto. The General Assembly was left unfettered, assuring each nation of sovereign equality. We must not permit the introduction of any such disabilities in this area of decision making. My delegation welcomes the Group's report and its recommendations, not least because they stiaulate discussion on many crucial issues. What we must now agree on are procedures by which we can formally consider the proposals and act on them with dispatch. These are issues vital to the Organi~ation and there should not be attempts to treat the. as the domain of a few select participants, all members must be given the opportunity to participate in the deliberations on them. There apPears to be a reluctance to open the recommendations to intense scrutiny for fear of opening a Pandora's box. It is an open secret that many consider it inappropriate for the Main Committee responsible for administrative and bUdgetary matters to conduct a comprehensive eXaJIlination of the report because of (Mr. Alleyne, Trinidad and Tobago) apprehensions that it may be torn apart. It still appears as though the decision of the General Committee on this issue is subject to various interpretations as to precisely what constitutes a wfactual examinationw and what status the wfindingsw of the Fifth Committee would enjoy in the plenary Assembly. But, if the report cannot survive a comprehensive examination, we would be deluding ourselves by giving it blanket approval and then hoping that it would stand the test of time. The delegation of Trinidad and Tobago intends to participate fully in the deliberations on the report. We wish to join in the search for avenues through which the Organization can be improved, avenues through which its effectiveness in dealing with political, economic and l:5ocial issues can be enhanced. We will approach the exercise knowing that it is only the beginning of a process of reform, a process Which requires continuous review and adaptation, but a process which must involve immediate action on the part of the Assembly. The recommendations in the report give us a useful basis on which to build, but they must be considered with due regard for the aims and objectives of this Organization and the provisions of the Ch~rter and with full respect for the sovereign equality of all States. Mr. ESSY (COte d'Ivoire) (interpretation from French): We have learned with great sadness of the terrible catastrophe that has struct El Salvador, a friendly country struggling so for economic development and progress with regard to human rights. On behalf of the Government of Cote d'Ivoire I would like to ask the Government and the courageous people of El Salvador to accept our most sincere condolences. We hope that the international community will once again play its part in meeting the challenge of nature. This year our session began with a crisis, perhaps the most serious crisis the Organization has experienced since its creation 40 years ago. But, as is so rightly recalled and emphasized by the secretary-General in his outstanding report on the work of the Organization, the crisis is above all a political one, and its (Mr. Essey, COte d'Ivoire) severe financial implications are only the most striking manifestation and the most serious practical evidence of it. Nevertheless, any crisis can in the final analys1s be for tbe best if it provides an opportunity for intrOSPeCtion, soul-searching and sel.f-criticia which may enable one to regain one's bearings in order to move forward more determinedly. Accordingly, we are called upon to examine in det~il and take final decisions on the recommendations in the report of the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts to Review the Efficiency of the Administrative and Financial Functioning of the United Nations. In this connection my delegation wishes to commend the G.[OUP of Experts, which succeeded in submitting, in the limited time allotted to it, a reasonably exhaustive report on extremely complex issues, which includes useful and constructive proposals that could bring to the administrative ~nd finanicial functioning of the Organization the improvements necessary for its long-term viability. But the search for grea~er efficiency at any price must not serve as a convenient pretext for implicit questioning of what constitutes the common denominator of the Organization, gives it its originality and constitutes its essence - that is, the principle of the absolute equality of all States Members and and of respect for their sovereignty, whatever the level of their contribution to the Organization's budget. To tamper even indirectly with that principle under the cover of apparently neutral technical reforms would be to deprive the Organization of its ethic, its soul and its raison d'etre. That would be, in the final analysis, gradually to condemn it, through disaffection and disillusionment to inertia. It would be to destroy a great hOPe, for which the peoples would never forgive us. (Mr. EsBy, cate d'Ivoire) It was quite natural ~at, following a victory over States that wished to iIIpose a heiral'chical concept of relations aaong nations, the united Nations should have wished to e~hasize the rule that underlies inter-state d.-ocracy. Furt~rROre, the United Nations, given its r.sponsibilities, is an essentially political organization, therefore its adainistration and financial functioning cannot always ac~ate methods and evaluation criteria in use in other financial or econoaic organizations. (Mr. Basy, COte d' Ivoire) Its effcxts, no doubt slow but patient, gradual, pet'severing and pt'aisewcxthy, in favour of peace, international co-operation, developDent and a better lmderstanding aJI<Xlg peoples, 1l1bich is its lIissioo and its final objective, could not be measured solely in teras of financial ratios or econosic cost-effectiveness. FurtherllCXe, as was reco~ized by the Intes=national Court of Justice in its ae1visocy opinion on certain expenditures of the United Nations, it was notural Sto give pt'ide of place to peace and internatimal security, foe other objectives cannot be achieved if that basic requirement is not met.· Cmtr'iU:Y to SCllle tendentious allegations, we are in favour of reforms desi9'led to increase the adainistrative effectiveness of the Organizatiorl, which is sore than ever necessary today foe de'1eloping colmtries, faced wi th all kinds of pt'oblems the solutions to which are adapted to the current structure of the United Nstions system. Furthermore, our respective States set an exallple for reforms by taking extremely rigoeous steps to cope with the effects of the crisis by which we were so hard hit. we supported the creation of the Special CODIDittee on the Charter of the thited Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organizatim. That prcwes, if proof were needed, tha~ the deVeloping countr ies are those which have the greatest stake in ~J!lpl:cwing the administrative and financial flD'lctiming of the Organization, for in the final analysis it is they who have the greatest need. In acccxdance wi th the pl'cwisions of General AsseDbly resolution 40/237, we are in favour of ensuring that the pcinciples of the Charter are not violated in any way, especially the principle of the scnereign equality of all MeDbers of the Organization and the pteservation of the aut:hoe ity of the secretary-General who, in accordance with Articles 97 and 98 of the Charter, is the chief administrative officer of the organization and who consequently prepares the draft budget. we are (Mr. Essy, COte d'Ivoire) also in favour of preserving the powers of certain impcxtant bodies, such as the General Assembly which, pursuant to Article 17, alme has overall power to consider and apprCRe the budget of the org2Dizatim, the execution of ,,*,ich lies wi th the Secretary-General. Taking into account the foregoing, it goes without saying that a voting system lilhich called into question the principles I have mentimed or any violation of the prerogatives of legislative bodies, whidl would be tantaJOOunt to a de facto revision of the Charter, would not have the support of my delegation. The first part of the report emphasizes the agreement aIOOng the experts in Chapters I to V and therefoce makes cl.ear-cut recommendations. In this connection and as regar ds the r eport's recoumendations on the str ucture of the secretar iat and on the staff, my delegation agrees with the views of the experts \JIbo ask that t."lere be a secretar iat structure whicb might be more rational, streamlined and less top-heavy and the establishme.'"lt of a staff policy wich would be more cons istent and orderly. The rec:oumendations formulated by the experts with that end in view, favour ing a reduction of cer"'ain posts, on management, staff, as well as those on recruitment proceci1res and on the proportion of permanent and fixed-terre staff present no difficulty to my delegation. The increase in the mmber of staff in the Organization no doubt could be considered to be a sign of international dynamism and the extreme diversity of the tasks to be carried out by the central system and its subsidiary bodies, but it would seem now that a reorganization and an CRerhaul of the administration is more than ever necessary in order to remedy a situation of bureaucratic pile-up which has come about mer several years. The secretary-General hillSelf no doubt foreshadowed that by deciding on 10 SepteliDer 1984 to freeze staff recruitment for a period of six mooths, subject to extension. The rotation of staff called upon to serve in the system, like the applicaticn of the principle pursuant to whicb no pest should be considered the exclusive preserve of any MeBber State, 0£' group of states could save the Organization frOJll paralysis and help in finding new solutiQ1s to certain probleM. My delegaticm believes that implementation of the recoJll1lendations of the Group of Experts cm the secretar tat and its staff should be carried out wi th full respect for the prerogatives of the secretary-General as laid down in the Charter, taking due accoWlt of the relevant prcwisions of the staff rules as adopted by the General Assembly. My delegaticm welcomes assurances given us by the secretary-General that he will see to the implementation of these measures in equity and justice and with respect for the basic principles and ideals of the Charter in such a way as to make optimum use of the skills of these men and women in the interests of the international co_unity. With this reform in view, it would be highly desirable fO£' the high-ranking African officials in the secretariat to be given the necessary autha:ity to carry out all the responsibilities entrusted to them. There can be no doubt that the sensi tive question of the budget and planning machinery is the nexus of the entire report of the Group of High-level Bxperts. The ccmplex ~lature of the stmjeet, since it c:cntemplates far-reaching radical reforms, did not enable the experts to make only cne recomnendation and they have left it to the General AsseDbly to choose, amcng the proposals JElde to it, the one that would best preserve the autha:ity and prerogatives of the General Assembly and the secretary-General and thereby take into aCCOlnt the balance of interests of each and every State ~mber of our organization. As I said earlier in my statement., the tllited Nations crisis, of which today we are exper iencing only the financial aspect, has essential political causes. The search for better efficiency in the functicn ing of the organization, the establishment of intergovernmental machinery whose mandate and powers might jeopardize the principles of equality, sOl7ereignty and collective responsibility of States Mellbers in budgetary _tte£s. as reClO~1zed by the Charter. would not help to salve the pccblell. ilbat we need is a negotiated political solution. The truth enClOurage overall a~eeaent at the budget as latg as there continue to be political differences .ich set State MeDbers against each other on questions of substance. That is where the pcd>ls lies. No intergovernmental machinery. however intelligent it might be. will fill the chrCllic budgetary deficit of the Olited Nations if the pcofomd divisiats ClOntinue a8lClI1g JleJllbers of the Otganization on the pcogr-.e budget. In joining the consensus on the adoption of resolutiat 40/237. which set up the Group of High-level IntergcwerlUlental EKPerts to Review the Efficiency of the M-.inistrative and Financial EUnctioning of the tl'lited Natiats. my delegatiCll. like aany others. placed a great deal of hope and trust in the outCOlle of the Group '5 deliberatiats. While striVing for the safeguarding of the basic principles of the tl'lited Nations. especially the authodty of the General Assellbly and its voting procedue on budgetary matters as pcovided for in the Charter. ay delegatiCll is pcepared to lend its assistance to any reasCllable JBeasures mich might aitiga te differences and increase the confidence of all States Members in the OrganizatiCXl. so as to ensure its viability. because through its specific nature and its role it has beClOme an institution which today. whether we like it or not. is absolutely necessary to the interna ticnal caammity • Mr. BITAM (Malaysia): I wish first to associate my delegation with the expression by many delegations of sympathy with and grief for the people of El Salvador in their sUffering as a result of the natural disaster that has befallen them. My delegation hopes that the sympathy of the General Assembly will be some solace to the people who are the unfortunate victtms of this tragedy. This agenda item has brought us once more to an important juncture, at which we find ourselves at a crossroads. I could not agree more with the Secretary-General's statement that the report of the Group of Experts provides a basis on which Member States can come together to restore a sound and lasting financial foundation for the Organization. We have the opportunity now to ensure the increased efficiency of the United Nations and thereby enhance its capacity to play its important rol~ in promoting peace, justice and development. The report of the Group of 18 merits our serious and immediate consideration. The Malaysian delegation fully supports the recommendations that the Group has so painstakingly formulated. These recommendations, to our mind, reflect the deep sense of dedication and objectivity with which the Group set about carrying out its task, in accordance with resolution 40/237. In the context of endorsing the Group's report, I should like to make two further observations: First, in certain parts of the report, such as recommendation 25 (1) and recommendation 30, a review has been recommended with a view to streamlining the machinery and eliminating duplication. I venture to ask who, in the view of the Group, should undertake the review and determine how far there is duplication? We hope that this will help to clarify our perception of how the recommendati~ns would be implemented. In this regard, we should, of course, be equally appreciative if the Secretary-General would also present his views. (Hr. BitaJar Malaysia) Secondlyr the report states in paragraph 19 and in recoBllendation 8 that there is a need for a body to be designated by the General Assembly to carry out an in-depth study of the intergovernmental structurer especially in the economic ana social fields. In view of the magnitude of such a studYr I think it would be a good idea for the .eabers of the Group of 18 to form the intergovernmental body which the Group has most appropriately recommended. We do not lIlean to add to the burdens of our colleagues who were members of the Group. Howeverr I cannot help recalling bow very aptly the Chairman of the Groupr Ambassador Tom Vraalsenr said that the Group had only begun -a reform process·. Since the vital reform has just begunr I cannot think of a JIQOre competent and well-placed body than the Group of 18 to continue the process towards our important objective of ensuring the long-term financial viability of the United Nations. I would hasten to addr howeverr that my delegation views the report as an extremely satisfactory fulfilment of the Group's mandate under the terms of resolution 40/237. On behe-lf of my delegationr and on my own behalfr I should t~~refore like to express our highest admiration and congratulate Ambassador Vraalsen of Norway and the other members of the Group on the report submitted to us. 1t is with full confidence in the competence of the members of the Group that I venture the suggestion that the Group be given a fresh mandate in order to pursue recommendation 8. As regards the immediate financial crisis that our Organization is facing r I also appreciate the point made by the Secretary-General in paragraph 11 of his note (A/4l/663). I share the view that to a large degree this crisis is rooted in the dynamics of East-West relationsr and this has unfortunately tended to erode management and financial principles. This is indeed a serious cause of concernr and I would therefore like to join all those who have spoken before me in urging all the parties that have in one way or another caused the problem seriously to (Mr. Bitaa, Malaysia) reconsider their position. The financial rules and principles should be applicable to all M~rs eaually, and we would deea it unfair for any MeJlber to arrogate to itself a selective right to do other than abide by the.. Furthermore, in the face of increasing international political and security probleJlS, we logically need a stronger Organization. When the Group of 18 has 80 ea-endably identified measures which would contribute to such strengthening and to greater efficiency, it would be a sad irony if we the MeJlbers did not Sleet the financial obligations decided upon in the Organization, thereby nullifying our own decision. We are therefore in full agreeJIent with the views expressed by the secretary-General and we accordingly urge the faithful settlement of any outstanding financial obligations in accordance with the terms of the Charter. We believe this call by the Secretary-General necessitates a certain degree of review of the criteria for contributions. While we would support such an effort, we would like to ellphasize the need for a balanced approach as regards the various economic systems, particularly those of the developing countries. Mr. SQmIRI ('1\1nisia) (interpretation from prencb)~ AlIOllf lie, first of all, following the terrible disaster that has just struck El salvadcx, to convey to the delegation of that comtry the deepest condolences of the people and GovernEnt of Tmisia. On 10 October, on a unaniJRous reco.endation by the security Council, the General Assellbly, by acclamtial, gave a second mandate to Javier Perez de Cuellar as 5ecretary-General of the united Nations. on this happy occasion I should like to extend to the secre tary-General the warmest congratulations of the 'l'1m is iQ~ Government on the esteem in which he is held by the international co_unity, as Slown by this spcmtaneous expression of confidence. It is mdeniable that, during the past five years, he has della'lstrated great wisdom, firm courage and a constructive spirit in his approacn to the affairs of our Organization and in his many initiatives on behalf of peace throughout the wor Id. 'l'Unisia is (X)nfident that in the future the secretary-General will ccntinue his tireless effcxts to promote peace and co-operation among nations. I am therefore pleased today to express to him mea again the fullest support of the Tmisian Go9ernaent in his difficult but noble task. The celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations was a great event for: two reasons. In addition to commemocating the founding of the Ckganization, it gave rise to resolution 40/237 setting up the Group of High-level Intergovernmental EKperl:S to Review the Efficiency of the Adlllinistrative and Financial Functioning of the Organization. Our Organization is to be sure experiencing ~ financial crisis unprecedented in its history. This situatioo, which is still acute, was an important factor in the setting up of the Group of Experts. In spite of its profomdly political nature, the financial crisis DBde it necessary to review, and if necessary modify, the administrative and financial Ecbinery of the thited Nations. (Nr. Bouziri, '!'unis la) Many delegations have stated that such a review had beCOlle necessary because of the increase in the nUJllber of lleetings and the swelling of the secretariat staff. The _in idea mderlying the pcoject in question was to transfoca the Organization in order to adapt it to pcesent needs" while aaking it lIOI:e effective and less costly. Because of the worthy objective, the proposal to set up the Group of 18, for whic::b Japan deserves credit, was an ideil that was welcomed, though at first with sc.e cautien, even reluctance, en the part of a nUDDer of delegations. Is there any need to rellind you that the Afr lcan Group iJluaediately under stood the scope of Japan's proposal and vent alcmg with it with enthusiasm? It is otwious that our Group attaches cxmsiderable importance to this Organization and to its caltinued existence, health and influence in the future. Of all the continents, the African continent, which has suffered from colalialism and raciSlll and still bears the yoke, probably needs the tbited Nations the BIOst, especially since, in addition to the evUs just mentioned, Africa has been struck b~r natural disasters for some time now. iIlat would have happened to all these disinherited peoples without the considerable work done by the United Nations and its relief and wexks agencies? This Wlderstanding, which, to some extent, exists between our Organization and our continent was made more concrete this year through the holding of the special session en the critieal eCalOllic situation in Africa. As has often been said recently - in a somewhat tendentiolm ex even slanderous way - the African Group would be the last ale to oppose the reforms proposed by the l8-member Group of Experts. Quite the contrary, our caltinent is mere than eIler aware of the fact that, after 40 years of existence, and in this ever changing wor ld, there is a need to reil iew the machinery of the thited Nations. The seriousness with which the African countries have studied the report of the Group of Eltperts shows how anxious we are to see this Organizati<n fWlctien (Mr. Bouziri, '!'Unis fa) effectively. In the interest of ensuring its survival and of ca'ltributing to peace and security throughout the world, our Organization must nQl BOre than ever fmction in accordance wi th the pi: inciples of dellDcracy, as the representative of Ibllania and others have said, and in accordance with the scwereign equality of Hemer States. There is no question of creating two types of States within our Organization, small States and large States. Everyone must tie given a chance to express his views and take an equal part in the decision-making process within the united Nations system. The level of contr ibutia'ls of Mellber States must by no means have a negative effect a'l these practices. Any ca'ltribution to the united Nations budget must be judged for what it is worth, na.ly, a relative effort undertaken by every COlDtry regardless of its size to the existence of the Organization. The existence of our Organization must be safeguarded at any price, given the fact that the united Nations is a syubol and an instrUllent of l'lIultilateralisa, and a forum where the nations of the world can get together. If we stray from these fmdamental principles, Ylich are the fOlDdation (lf the United Nations, then, we wUl create a new international situation character ized by a loss of cCXlfidence in the Organization. Therefcxe in order to prevent such a situation frOJD coming about we are in duty bound to work together for a COIBOn solutia'l to the pl:oblems of the Organ izatia'l. So lily delega tion has taken an open-minded approach to the report of the Group of High-level IntergovernEntal Experts. On this occasia'l, I should like to present to the experts and to the Chairman of the CODDittee, Ambassador Tom Vraalsen, the hearty congratulatia'ls of the TlDisian delegation on the splendid job that they have da'le together. Their task was most certainly a delicate one, but they discharged it in the time assigned to them. The recommendations that the experts have put fcxward in their repoct ooncern all sectors of activity of the Organization, and that means that all sectcxs were reviewed, although some more than others in view of the soope of the (Mr. Bouziri, Tunisia) It is fortunate that an agreement was reached among the 18 experts on the first five chapters of the report. Chapter VI, which is by far the most important part of the report, was not, owing to lack of time, the subject of a consensus among the members of the Group of Experts, and that is a matter of considerable regret foe my delegation. For this reason it is not possible to consider this repor t as a package deal, as some would have desired. The exper ts wer e unable to reach an agreement on a procedure for the bUdget and now agreement must be reached among Member States on this question, in spite of the differences of opinion that exist on the subject. My delegation is open to any solution that would improve the administrative and financial functioning of the OCganization as stipulated in the mandate of the Group of Experts. However, we cannot endorse any form of rigid machinery that might impede the functioning of the Organization, rather than facilitate it. It now seems to be agreed and accepted that many delega tions are opposed to any budgetary process that would exclude States ~ose contributions are at a fairly low level. My delegation is in favour of a budgetary process that would first and foremost take into account the desire of Meni:>er States to take part, from the outset, in the preparation of the budget and in the choice of pr ior ities. These oojectives can be achieved and we already have proposals in this connection. Nor must we ignore the prerogatives of the 5ecretary-General, to whom we have just renewed our confidence unanimously. (Mr. Bouziri, Tunisia) The Secretary-General is primarily responsible for the Secretariat, in ~hich there are thousands of staff members whose future largely depends on the way in which this report is implemented. Therefore it is essential that the General Assembly give Mr. Perez de Cuellar clear and precise guidelines regarding the implementation of the reforms proposed in the report. Consequently the General Assembly must adopt a decision or a resolution. To rely on a vague document such as a declaration by the President of the General Assembly might only create confusion regarding the nature of the guidelines. Moreover, considerati~n of the report in the Fifth Committee will indeed facilitate the task of the Secretary-General and the General Assembly, as they will then have available a considerable body of explanations and ideas. The meeting rose at 5.20 p.m.