UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations A/C.5/58/SR.28
General Assembly
Fifty-eighth session
Official Records
Distr.: General
31 December 2003
Original: English
This record is subject to correction. Corrections should be sent under the signature of a member
of the delegation concerned within one week of the date of publication to the Chief of the
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copy of the record.
Corrections will be issued after the end of the session, in a separate corrigendum for each
Committee.
03-65727 (E)
*0365727*
Fifth Committee
Summary record of the 28th meeting
Held at Headquarters, New York, on Tuesday, 16 December 2003, at 10 a.m.
Chairman: Mr. Kmonícek. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Czech Republic)
Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative
and Budgetary Questions: Mr. Mselle
Contents
Agenda item 121: Proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005
(continued)
Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/C.1/58/L.1/Rev.1: Illicit
trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects
Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/C.6/58/L.18: Committee
on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of
the Organization
Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/58/L.19: Oceans and the
Law of the Sea
Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/C.3/58/L.36: Future
operations of the International Research and Training Institute for the
Advancement of Women
Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/C.3/58/L.78: Ad Hoc
Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the
Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with
Disabilities
Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/C.3/58/L.68/Rev.1:
Situation of human rights in Myanmar

A/C.5/58/SR.28
Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/C.3/58/L.28: Office of
the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict
Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/58/L.30: United Nations
Verification Mission in Guatemala
Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/58/L.38: The situation in
Central America: progress in fashioning a region of peace, freedom,
democracy and development
Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/C.2/58/L.7/Rev.1:
Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in
Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification,
Particularly in Africa
Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/C.2/58/L.14/Rev.1:
Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind
Revised estimates under sections 2 and 29D: conference and support services
extended to the Counter-Terrorism Committee in the implementation of
Security Council resolution 1373 (2001)

A/C.5/58/SR.28
The meeting was called to order at 10.20 a.m.
Agenda item 121: Proposed programme budget for
the biennium 2004-2005 (continued)
Programme budget implications of draft
resolution A/C.1/58/L.1/Rev.1: Illicit trade in
small arms and light weapons in all its aspects
(A/58/7/Add.14; A/C.5/58/17)
1. Mr. Sach (Director of the Programme Planning
and Budget Division) introduced the Secretary-
General’s statement (A/C.5/58/17) on the programme
budget implications of draft resolution
A/C.1/58/L.1/Rev.1, entitled “The illicit trade in small
arms and light weapons in all its aspects”. Under the
terms of the draft resolution, the General Assembly
would, inter alia, decide to convene a United Nations
conference to review progress made in the
implementation of the Programme of Action to
Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in
Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects in
New York for a period of two weeks between June and
July 2006. Should the Assembly decide to adopt the
draft resolution, that decision would give rise to
additional requirements of $1,893,300 for the biennium
2004-2005 under section 2, General Assembly affairs
and conference services; section 4, Disarmament;
section 29D, Office of Central Support Services; and
section 32, Staff assessment, of the proposed
programme budget and would be charged against the
contingency fund.
2. Mr. Mselle (Chairman of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions) introduced the related report of the
Advisory Committee (A/58/7/Add.14). The Advisory
Committee recommended that the Fifth Committee
should inform the General Assembly that, should it
adopt draft resolution A/C.1/58/L.1/Rev.1, an
additional appropriation of $1,893,300 would be
required in the proposed programme budget for the
biennium 2004-2005 and that those provisions would
represent a charge against the contingency fund.

Programme budget implications of draft
resolution A/C.6/58/L.18: Committee on the
Charter of the United Nations and on the
Strengthening of the Role of the Organization
(A/58/7/Add.13; A/C.5/58/18)
3. Mr. Sach (Director of the Programme Planning
and Budget Division) introduced the Secretary-
General’s statement (A/C.5/58/18) on the programme
budget implications of draft resolution A/C.6/58/L.18,
entitled “Report of the Special Committee on the
Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening
of the Role of the Organization”. By that resolution,
the General Assembly would, inter alia, commend the
Secretary-General for his continued efforts to reduce
the backlog in the publication of the Repertory of
Practice of United Nations Organs, and endorse his
efforts to eliminate the backlog in the publication of
the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council.
An additional appropriation of $2,357,600 (at 2004-
2005 rates), as a charge against the contingency fund,
would be required in respect of the Repertory of
Practice of United Nations Organs for the proposed
programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005.
4. Mr. Mselle (Chairman of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions) introduced the related report of the
Advisory Committee (A/58/7/Add.13). The Advisory
Committee recommended that the Fifth Committee
should inform the General Assembly that, should it
adopt draft resolution A/C.6/58/L.18, an additional
appropriation of $2,357,300 would be required in the
proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-
2005 and that those provisions would represent a
charge against the contingency fund.
Programme budget implications of draft
resolution A/58/L.19: Oceans and the Law of the
Sea (A/58/7/Add.16; A/C.5/58/22)
5. Mr. Sach (Director of the Programme Planning
and Budget Division) introduced the Secretary-
General’s statement (A/C.5/58/22) on the programme
budget implications of draft resolution A/58/L.19,
entitled “Oceans and the law of the sea”. The
requirements in respect of operative paragraph 64 (e)
of the draft resolution would entail an additional
amount of $347,000 (at 2004-2005 rates) at full cost
under section 2, General Assembly affairs and
conference services, of the proposed programme

A/C.5/58/SR.28
budget for the biennium 2004-2005, as a charge against
the contingency fund.
6. Mr. Mselle (Chairman of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions) introduced the related report of the
Advisory Committee (A/58/7/Add.16). The Advisory
Committee recommended that the Fifth Committee
should inform the General Assembly that, should it
adopt draft resolution A/58/L.19, an additional
appropriation of $347,000 (at 2004-2005 rates) would
be required in the proposed programme budget for the
biennium 2004-2005 and that those provisions would
represent a charge against the contingency fund. The
Advisory Committee had been informed that potential
charges against the contingency fund for the biennium
2004-2005 as at 21 November 2003 exceeded the level
that had been approved by the Assembly for the fund
for the biennium.
Programme budget implications of draft
resolution A/C.3/58/L.36: Future operations of the
International Research and Training Institute for
the Advancement of Women (A/58/7/Add.20;
A/C.5/58/24)
7. Mr. Sach (Director of the Programme Planning
and Budget Division) introduced the Secretary-
General’s statement (A/C.5/58/24) on the programme
budget implications of draft resolution A/C.3/58/L.36,
entitled “Future operations of the International
Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of
Women”. Should the General Assembly adopt draft
resolution A/C.3/58/L.36, the decision to continue to
provide support to the International Research and
Training Institute for the Advancement of Women
(INSTRAW) would, contingent upon the availability or
otherwise of additional voluntary contributions to the
INSTRAW Trust Fund, give rise to potential additional
requirements of up to $234,700 for the biennium 2004-
2005, over and above the regular budget resources
proposed under section 9, Economic and social affairs,
of the proposed programme budget for the biennium
2004-2005. The provision would represent a charge
against the contingency fund and, as such, would need
to be considered in the context of the review by the
Fifth Committee of the consolidated statement of
potential charges to the contingency fund before any
increase in appropriations for the biennium 2004-2005
was approved.

8. Mr. Mselle (Chairman of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions) introduced the related report of the
Advisory Committee (A/58/7/Add.20). The Advisory
Committee recommended that the Fifth Committee
should inform the General Assembly that, should it
adopt draft resolution A/C.3/58/L.36, contingent upon
the availability of additional voluntary contributions to
the INSTRAW Trust Fund in 2004, there was a
potential additional requirement of up to $234,700 for
the biennium 2004-2005 over and above the regular
budget resources proposed under section 9, Economic
and social affairs, of the proposed programme budget
for the biennium 2004-2005. In view of the uncertainty
of the financial requirements, the Advisory Committee
recommended that the matter should be taken up again
by the Assembly at a resumed session to allow time for
the staffing situation to be clarified and for the new
Director to pursue and report upon fund-raising
activities.
Programme budget implications of draft
resolution A/C.3/58/L.78: Ad Hoc Committee on a
Comprehensive and Integral International
Convention on the Protection and Promotion of
the Rights and Dignity of Persons with
Disabilities (A/58/7/Add.21; A/C.5/58/25)
9. Mr. Sach (Director of the Programme Planning
and Budget Division) introduced the Secretary-
General’s statement (A/C.5/58/25) on the programme
budget implications of draft resolution A/C.3/58/L.78,
as orally amended, entitled “Ad Hoc Committee on a
Comprehensive and Integral International Convention
on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and
Dignity of Persons with Disabilities”. Under the terms
of the draft resolution, the General Assembly would,
inter alia, endorse the Ad Hoc Committee’s decision to
establish a Working Group with the aim of preparing
and presenting a draft text, which would be the basis
for negotiations on the draft convention in the Ad Hoc
Committee. The conference-servicing costs of the
Working Group of the Ad Hoc Committee and the
additional session of the Ad Hoc Committee were
estimated at $763,500, at full cost. The Fifth
Committee might wish to inform the plenary Assembly
that, should it adopt draft resolution A/C.3/58/L.78, as
orally amended, additional requirements of up to
$763,500 would arise and would need to be considered
for appropriation in the context of the review of the
consolidated statement of programme budget

A/C.5/58/SR.28
implications and revised estimates falling under the
guidelines of the contingency fund, which was
scheduled to be undertaken towards the end of the first
part of the fifty-eighth session of the General
Assembly.
10. Mr. Mselle (Chairman of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions) introduced the related report of the
Advisory Committee (A/58/7/Add.21). The Advisory
Committee recommended that the Fifth Committee
should inform the General Assembly that, should it
adopt draft resolution A/C.3/58/L.78, additional
requirements of up to $763,500 would arise and would
need to be considered for appropriation in the context
of the review of the consolidated statement of
programme budget implications and the revised
estimates falling under the guidelines for the
contingency fund.
Programme budget implications of draft
resolution A/C.3/58/L.68/Rev.1: Situation of
human rights in Myanmar (A/58/7/Add.22;
A/C.5/58/26)
11. Mr. Sach (Director of the Programme Planning
and Budget Division) introduced the Secretary-
General’s statement (A/C.5/58/26) on the programme
budget implications of draft resolution
A/C.3/58/L.68/Rev.1, entitled “Situation of human
rights in Myanmar”. Should the General Assembly
adopt the draft resolution, as orally revised, a provision
in the amount of $245,900 would be required for the
period from 1 January to 31 December 2004 for the
continuation of the efforts of the good offices of the
Secretary-General relating to the situation in Myanmar.
The requirements would be charged against the
provision of $163,178,100 proposed for special
political missions under section 3, Political affairs, of
the proposed programme budget for the biennium
2004-2005.
12. Mr. Mselle (Chairman of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions) introduced the related report of the
Advisory Committee (A/58/7/Add.22). The Advisory
Committee recommended that the Fifth Committee
should inform the General Assembly that, should it
adopt draft resolution A/C.3/58/L.68/Rev.1, a provision
in the amount of $245,900 would be required for the
period from 1 January to 31 December 2004 for the
continuation of the efforts of the good offices of the

Secretary-General relating to the situation of human
rights in Myanmar. Those requirements would be
charged against the provision of $163.2 million
proposed for special political missions under section 3,
Political affairs, of the proposed programme budget for
2004-2005.
Programme budget implications of draft
resolution A/C.3/58/L.28: Office of the Special
Representative for Children and Armed Conflict
(A/58/7/Add.23; A/C.5/58/28)
13. Mr. Sach (Director of the Programme Planning
and Budget Division) introduced the Secretary-
General’s statement (A/C.5/58/28) on the programme
budget implications of draft resolution A/C.3/58/L.28.
By the draft resolution, the General Assembly would
decide that the activities under the mandate of the
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for
Children and Armed Conflict should be supported
through regular budgetary funding. As of the end of
November 2003, the balance of extrabudgetary
resources for Children and Armed Conflict activities
amounted to some $2,123,000, which might allow
financing of the current operation of the Office of the
Special Representative approximately through July
2004.
14. In section V of its resolution 57/190, the General
Assembly had requested the Secretary-General to
undertake a comprehensive assessment of the scope
and effectiveness of the United Nations system
response to the issue of children affected by armed
conflict and to submit his report for consideration at its
fifty-eighth session. In view of the potential impact on
the programme of work and mode of operation of the
Office of the Special Representative resulting from the
comprehensive assessment, it would be prudent for the
Assembly to consider further the issue of regular
budgetary funding emanating from draft resolution
A/C.3/58/L.28 in the context of its deliberation of the
forthcoming related report of the Secretary-General.
Any funding action consequent upon draft resolution
A/C.3/58/L.28 should therefore be deferred and
considered further by the General Assembly at its
resumed fifty-eighth session in the spring of 2004.
15. Mr. Mselle (Chairman of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions) introduced the related report of the
Advisory Committee (A/58/7/Add.23). The Advisory
Committee did not consider the information contained

A/C.5/58/SR.28
in paragraph 10 of the statement by the Secretary-
General (A/C.5/58/28) to be a statement of programme
budget implications in accordance with the
requirements of rule 153 of the rules of procedure of
the General Assembly. A breakdown of estimated
requirements should be provided to the Fifth
Committee for its consideration. In any case, whether
or not the activities under the mandate of the Special
Representative should be funded from the regular
budget was a policy decision to be made by the General
Assembly. Should it decide to do so, the General
Assembly would also have to decide whether to
address the question of resource requirements now or
at the Assembly’s resumed fifty-eighth session, in the
spring of 2004, in the context of its consideration of the
report to be submitted by the Secretary-General,
pursuant to section V of Assembly resolution 57/190.
Programme budget implications of draft
resolution A/58/L.30: United Nations Verification
Mission in Guatemala (A/58/7/Add.24;
A/C.5/58/29)
16. Mr. Sach (Director of the Programme Planning
and Budget Division) introduced the Secretary-
General’s statement (A/C.5/58/29) on the programme
budget implications of draft resolution A/58/L.30. A
provision of $163,178,100 (before recosting) was being
sought for special political missions under section 3,
Political affairs, of the proposed programme budget for
the biennium 2004-2005. Should the General Assembly
adopt draft resolution A/58/L.30, the requirements of
the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala
(MINUGUA) for 2004 in the amount of $6,721,100
would be charged against the provision for special
political missions requested under section 3, Political
affairs, of the proposed programme budget for the
biennium 2004-2005.
17. Mr. Mselle (Chairman of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions) introduced the related report of the
Advisory Committee (A/58/7/Add.24). The Advisory
Committee recommended that the Fifth Committee
should inform the General Assembly that, should it
adopt draft resolution A/58/L.30, the requirements for
MINUGUA for 2004, in the amount of $6,721,100,
would be charged against the provision for special
political missions requested under section 3, Political
affairs, of the proposed programme budget for the
biennium 2004-2005.

Programme budget implications of draft
resolution A/58/L.38: The situation in Central
America: progress in fashioning a region of peace,
freedom, democracy and development
(A/58/7/Add.25; A/C.5/58/30)
18. Mr. Sach (Director of the Programme Planning
and Budget Division) introduced the Secretary-
General’s statement (A/C.5/58/30) on the programme
budget implications of draft resolution A/58/L.38.
Should the General Assembly adopt the draft
resolution, a provision in the amount of $218,000
would be required for the period from 1 January to 31
December 2004, to be charged against the provision of
$163,178,100 (before recosting) proposed for special
political missions under section 3, Political affairs, of
the proposed programme budget for the biennium
2004-2005.
19. Requirements arising from the draft resolution for
2005 had not been included in the statement of
programme budget implications. Such requirements,
together with those for other political missions, would
be contained in the report of the Secretary-General on
estimates in respect of special political missions, good
offices and other political initiatives authorized by the
General Assembly and/or the Security Council, to be
submitted to the Assembly at its fifty-ninth session.
20. Mr. Mselle (Chairman of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions) introduced the related report of the
Advisory Committee (A/58/7/Add.25). The Advisory
Committee recommended that the Fifth Committee
should inform the General Assembly that, should it
adopt draft resolution A/58/L.38, the requirements for
2004 for continuing to provide adequate support to the
Secretary-General’s efforts in Central America, in the
amount of $218,000, would be charged against the
provision for special political missions requested under
section 3, Political affairs, of the proposed programme
budget for the biennium 2004-2005.

A/C.5/58/SR.28
Programme budget implications of draft
resolution A/C.2/58/L.7/Rev.1: Implementation of
the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing
Serious Drought and/or Desertification,
Particularly in Africa (A/58/7/Add.26;
A/C.5/58/31)
21. Mr. Sach (Director of the Programme Planning
and Budget Division) introduced the Secretary-
General’s statement (A/C.5/58/31) on the programme
budget implications of draft resolution
A/C.2/58/L.7/Rev.1. Under the terms of paragraph 14
of the draft resolution, the General Assembly would
request the Secretary-General to make provision in his
programme budget proposals for the biennium 2004-
2005, to make provision for the sessions of the
Conference of the Parties to the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification in Those
Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or
Desertification, Particularly in Africa and its subsidiary
bodies, including the seventh ordinary session of the
Conference of the Parties and the meetings of its
subsidiary bodies. Total additional costs under the
regular budget for servicing the meetings were
estimated at $1,725,400, which would represent
additional requirements over and above the resources
initially proposed under section 2, General Assembly
affairs and conference services, and 29E,
Administration, Geneva, of the proposed programme
budget for the biennium 2004-2005.
22. Mr. Mselle (Chairman of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions) introduced the related report of the
Advisory Committee (A/58/7/Add.26). The Advisory
Committee recommended that the Fifth Committee
should inform the General Assembly that, should it
adopt draft resolution A/C.2/58/L.7/Rev.1, an
additional provision of $1,725,400 (at current rates)
would arise under sections 2, General Assembly affairs
and conference services ($1,718,400), and 29E,
Administration, Geneva ($7,000), of the proposed
programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005.

Programme budget implications of draft
resolution A/C.2/58/L.14/Rev.1: Protection of
global climate for present and future generations
of mankind (A/58/7/Add.27; A/C.5/58/32)
23. Mr. Sach (Director of the Programme Planning
and Budget Division) introduced the Secretary-
General’s statement (A/C.5/58/32) on the programme
budget implications of draft resolution
A/C.2/58/L.14/Rev.1. Under the terms of paragraph 5
of the draft resolution, the General Assembly would
request the Secretary-General to make provision for the
sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
and its subsidiary bodies in his programme budget
proposals for the biennium 2004-2005. Total additional
costs under the regular budget for servicing the
meetings were estimated at $3,781,100, which would
represent additional requirements over and above the
resources initially proposed under section 2, General
Assembly affairs and conference services ($3,753,200),
and section 29E, Administration, Geneva ($27,900), of
the proposed programme budget for the biennium
2004-2005.
24. Mr. Mselle (Chairman of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions) introduced the related report of the
Advisory Committee (A/58/7/Add.27). The Advisory
Committee recommended that the Fifth Committee
should inform the General Assembly that, should it
adopt draft resolution A/C.2/58/L.14/Rev.1, an
additional provision of $3,781,100 (at current rates)
would arise under sections 2, General Assembly affairs
and conference services ($3,753,200), and 29D, Office
of Central Support Services ($27,900), of the proposed
programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005. The
additional requirements would need to be considered
for appropriation in the context of the review of the
consolidated statement of programme budget
implications and revised estimates, provided for under
the procedures established by the General Assembly on
the use and operation of the contingency fund.
25. The Chairman invited comments on the
statements of programme budget implications that had
just been introduced.
26. Ms. Afifi (Morocco), speaking on behalf of the
Group of 77 and China, noted with serious concern that
the level of the contingency fund had recently proven
to be inadequate to accommodate all additional

A/C.5/58/SR.28
expenditures arising from mandates. Serious
consideration should therefore be given to the need to
increase the level of the fund during the current
negotiations on the reform of the budgetary cycle and
specific decisions should be taken in the context of the
consideration of the relevant agenda item. The nature
of the activities covered by the fund should also be
reviewed, since activities that were not directly related
to programmes were increasingly being financed from
the contingency fund to the detriment of other
mandates and activities with direct and specific
programmatic orientation. The Group of 77 and China
noted that an amount of $2,357,600 had been
earmarked for the financing from the contingency fund
of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs.
That provision should not be charged against the
contingency fund and should instead be restored to the
Secretary-General’s programme budget proposals for
the biennium 2004-2005.
27. Mr. Mumbey-Wafula (Uganda) expressed
dissatisfaction at the operations of the Office of the
Special Representative for Children and Armed
Conflict, which should be visibly and globally
operational and able to implement its mandates under
stable financial conditions. Effective guidelines must
be developed to ensure that no areas in which children
were affected by armed conflict were neglected.
Uganda was a case in point. The Office must focus its
operations in ways that would ensure that all problems
of children and armed conflict were addressed at the
global level before further commitments could be made
with regard to funding.
28. Mr. Herrera (Mexico) agreed with the
representative of Morocco that the implementation of
all mandates and activities approved by the Main
Committees of the General Assembly was a matter of
priority. The future of the contingency fund must
therefore be addressed in an intelligent manner and due
consideration given to all possible solutions. If the
fund’s reserves were exhausted before the end of the
forthcoming biennium, the Fifth Committee would find
itself in the undesirable position of having to decide
which United Nations activities should be deferred to
the following biennium.
29. Ms. Goicochea (Cuba) endorsed the statement
made by the representative of Morocco on behalf of the
Group of 77 and China and shared the view that the
future of the contingency fund must be addressed.
Although recent experience had shown that the current

level of resources in the fund was not strictly
necessary, it should be borne in mind that less use had
been made of those resources in previous bienniums.
Furthermore, new activities had often been approved in
the past, on the condition that they would be financed
from within existing resources. It would be difficult for
the Fifth Committee to reassign priority status to
certain issues, since doing so could call into question
decisions taken by other committees of the General
Assembly. The time had come to review the types of
activities covered by the contingency fund, since some
activities that were not directly related to programmes
were being financed by the fund and thereby
contributing to its depletion.
30. With regard to the financing of the Repertory of
Practice of United Nations organs, she supported the
proposal put forward by the representative of Morocco
that the relevant amount should be restored to the
Secretary-General’s budget proposals for the biennium
2004-2005. The method of financing should not be
changed without a decision by the relevant
intergovernmental body.
31. Lastly, she had taken note of the Advisory
Committee’s comments concerning the absence of
information on requirements for possible estimates of
expenditure in respect of the programme budget
implications of draft resolution A/C.3/58/L.28. She
wished to reiterate that, in accordance with rule 153 of
the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, the
Secretariat was required to provide the information
necessary to enable decisions to be taken on questions
involving expenditure.
32. Mr. Moungara-Moussotsi (Gabon) recalled that
concerns over the financial instability of the Office of
the Special Representative for Children and Armed
Conflict had prompted the submission of draft
resolution A/C.3/58/L.28, the aim of which was to
procure regular budget funding for the Office.
33. Unfortunately, the relevant department of the
Secretariat had failed to provide any detailed
information about the financial situation of the Office,
apart from the assessment of the implications of the
operative paragraphs of the draft resolution. A detailed
breakdown of the real requirements of the Office was
needed in order to have a better understanding of the
financial difficulties it would face after July 2004,
when the balance of extrabudgetary resources for

A/C.5/58/SR.28
Children and Armed Conflict activities would be
exhausted.
34. Deferring a decision on the issue would be in
contravention of General Assembly resolution 57/190
and would also have an impact on the other agencies
working in the area of children and armed conflict,
given that the assessment requested by the Assembly
would cover the response of the entire United Nations
system to that issue. He could not overemphasize the
importance of the Office of the Special Representative
and appealed to all delegations to provide it with the
necessary resources to enable it to carry out its
mandate. It might also be appropriate to invite the
Special Representative to address the Committee.
35. Ms. Attwooll (United States of America),
referring to the level of the contingency fund, recalled
that the General Assembly resolution on the budget
outline had reaffirmed that level. It was not advisable,
however, to earmark all the resources in the fund
before the biennium 2004-2005 had even begun.
36. On the issue of the illicit trade in small arms and
light weapons, her delegation had been unable to
support the relevant draft resolution in the Second
Committee on account of concerns about its
programme budget implications. The Secretary-
General, however, should have given priority to that
item in his programme budget proposals.
37. With regard to the Repertory of Practice of
United Nations Organs, she observed that the
Secretary-General had withdrawn funding for the
publication from the regular budget with the consent of
the relevant programme managers. Her delegation was
of the view that funding should be provided on an
extrabudgetary basis.
38. On INSTRAW, her Government had participated
actively in attempts to find ways to streamline the
operations of the Institute. It continued to believe,
however, that funding for INSTRAW should continue
on an extrabudgetary basis.
39. Lastly, her delegation was of the view that the
costs of providing conference services for the United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in
Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or
Desertification, Particularly in Africa and for activities
relating to the protection of the global climate for
present and future generations of mankind should be
borne by the members of the relevant treaty bodies.

Revised estimates under sections 2 and 29D:
conference and support services extended to the
Counter-Terrorism Committee in the
implementation of Security Council resolution
1373 (2001) (A/58/7/Add.17; A/C.5/58/23)
40. Mr. Sach (Director of the Programme Planning
and Budget Division), introducing the report of the
Secretary-General on revised estimates under sections
2 and 29D of the proposed programme budget for the
biennium 2004-2005: conference and support services
extended to the Counter-Terrorism Committee in the
implementation of Security Council resolution 1373
(2001) (A/C.5/58/23), said that the estimated additional
requirement for 2004 amounted to $4,193,000. The
majority of those resources ($3,958,900) fell under
section 2 of the budget (General Assembly affairs and
conference services), with the remainder ($234,100)
falling under section 29D (Office of Central Support
Services). During the previous biennium, conference
services had been financed on an ad hoc basis and
requests for funds had been submitted on three separate
occasions. When the proposed programme budget for
2004-2005 had been prepared in January 2003, it had
been impossible to forecast the Counter-Terrorism
Committee’s activities for the forthcoming biennium
and therefore no provisions had been made.
41. The additional appropriation would not be
charged against the contingency fund, because peace
and security issues were not covered by the fund’s
provisions. Should the Committee’s activities be
extended beyond 2004, supplementary proposals would
be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth
session.
42. Mr. Mselle (Chairman of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions), introducing the related report of the
Advisory Committee (A/58/7/Add.17), drew attention
to paragraphs 7 and 8 of the report. It was expected that
meeting servicing costs for 2004, estimated at
$650,000, could be met from within resources already
programmed for section 2 of the proposed programme
budget for 2004-2005. The additional appropriation
would amount to $4.2 million, of which slightly over
$3.958 million would fall under section 2 of the
proposed programme budget for 2004-2005 and
$234,100 under section 29D.
43. As it had indicated on previous occasions, the
Advisory Committee recommended that the Secretary

A/C.5/58/SR.28
General should be authorized to enter into
commitments of $4,193,000 in connection with the
conference-servicing and common support
requirements of the Counter-Terrorism Committee in
2004. Such additional appropriations as might be
necessary could be dealt with in the context of the first
performance report for the biennium 2004-2005.
44. Ms. Goicochea (Cuba) said that she had taken
note of the information contained in paragraph 6 of the
Advisory Committee’s report and wished to know the
reasons for the estimated decrease in the number of
pages translated. She agreed with the Advisory
Committee that the treatment of the financing of the
activities of the Counter-Terrorism Committee was
inconsistent and called on the Secretariat to address the
issue. She took the view that the additional
appropriations in question should be designated as
additional requirements under the relevant sections of
the budget, in accordance with the proposal put
forward by the Secretary-General.
45. Ms. Attwooll (United States of America)
observed that the additional appropriations related only
to conference and support services for 2004 and asked
why no resources had been requested for 2005. The
Secretariat should also provide estimates for 2005.
46. Mr. Sach (Director of the Programme Planning
and Budget Division) said that, in the early stages of its
work, the Counter-Terrorism Committee had had to
deal with a high volume of incoming documentation,
primarily reports from Member States submitted
pursuant to the reporting obligations laid down in
resolution 1373 (2001). In the later stages, however,
the number of documents required by the Committee
had declined, which would explain the decrease in the
number of pages translated.
47. No estimates of requirements for 2005 had been
prepared because there were still uncertainties as to
how the situation would evolve. Since the Counter-
Terrorism Committee would not necessarily maintain
the same level of activity in 2005, it had been decided
that funding would be applied for on an annual,
incremental basis. He had taken note of the Advisory
Committee’s comments concerning the need to
regularize the treatment of the financing of the
activities in question. The necessary action would be
taken in respect of the biennium 2006-2007, by which
time the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee

should have stabilized. Additional details would be
provided, as required, during informal consultations.
The meeting rose at 11.25 a.m.