Pattern of conferences (UNRWA, CEIRPP) – SecGen report (excerpts)

Pattern of conferences

Report of the Secretary-General

Summary

In its resolution 62/225, the General Assembly addressed a number of requests to the Secretary-General on issues relating to conference management. In compliance with those requests, the present report covers the utilization of conference-servicing resources, the impact of the capital master plan, integrated global management and various issues pertaining to documentation, translation and interpretation. In addition, the report outlines progress made in the implementation of specific initiatives related to the improvement of conference services, proposes means to address current challenges and puts forward suggestions to the Assembly as to what steps could further contribute to the optimal functioning of the management of conferences at the United Nations.

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* A/63/50.

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IV. Meetings management

A. Calendar of conferences and meetings

1. Requests to meet during the regular session of the General Assembly (exceptions to section I, paragraph 7, of General Assembly resolution 40/243)

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25. Annex IV to the present report contains the requests received to date from subsidiary organs of the General Assembly to meet at Headquarters during the sixty-third session of the Assembly, as well as relevant statistical information on the sixty-second session of the Assembly. Requests received subsequently will be issued in an addendum.

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Annex IV

Requests for meetings during the sixty-third session of the General Assembly and statistical information

A. Requests for meetings

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2. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

Letter dated 6 May 2008 from the Chairman of the Committee

As you are aware, the General Assembly, by its resolution 62/80 of 10 December 2007, has again requested the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate. By the same resolution, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.

As the Committee has no control over the timing of the events it is called upon to discuss, it needs to meet throughout the year, as circumstances require. Based on past experience, the Committee would request facilities for approximately three meetings per General Assembly session. These are in addition to the solemn meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which is included in each year’s calendar.

With regard to the documentation submitted to the General Assembly, please be advised that the Committee submits its annual report (supplement No. 35) under the agenda item entitled “Question of Palestine”. The Committee usually adopts its report in early October of each year, at which point it is submitted for processing.

In light of the above, I should like to request that authorization again be granted to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to hold meetings during the forthcoming sixty-third session of the General Assembly, as necessary for carrying out the important mandate entrusted to the Committee by the Assembly.

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7. Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Memorandum dated 12 June 2008 from the Secretary of the Working Group

In paragraph 3 of its resolution 62/104, regarding the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work to ensure the financial security of the Agency.

In order to fulfil its mandate, the Working Group needs the latest data with regard to the UNRWA budget, that is, up-to-date information on the current budget and precise indications as to the needed revenue and the anticipated contributions for the next fiscal year. Owing to its budgetary procedure, UNRWA is not in a position to supply the Working Group with this timely information any earlier than late September 2008 and the Working Group cannot prepare its report to the sixty-third session without this important material.

In view of the foregoing, it would be very much appreciated if you could draw to the attention of the Committee on Conferences the request of the Working Group that it be authorized to meet during the first weeks of the sixty-third session of the General Assembly.

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