New York, 16 March 2007 – The UN General Assembly adopted two resolutions yesterday providing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with support to pursue plans for restructuring key departments of the Secretariat – the Department of Disarmament Affairs (DDA) and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). Member States had not been in complete agreement on the draft resolutions during consultations earlier this week and last week, but their concerns appeared to have been allayed by Thursday’s plenary, at which they approved both resolutions by consensus.

In February, Ban formally proposed restructuring the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, in part by establishing a Department of Field Support that would be headed by an Under-Secretary-General.

He also proposed replacing the Department of Disarmament Affairs with an Office for Disarmament Affairs, to be headed by a High Representative at the level of Under-Secretary-General, who would report directly to the Secretary-General. The new ODA would maintain “the budgetary autonomy and the integrity of the existing structures and functions of the current Department for Disarmament Affairs.”

The resolutions offer preliminary support to the proposals, while calling for comprehensive reports from the Secretary-General “as soon as possible” on the budgetary implications and functional details of both reforms.

In statements after the adoption Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, New Zealand, and the United States mentioned the need to give the Secretary-General space to perform the duties that he was elected to fulfill. Member States from the Non-aligned Movement, among others, reiterated their emphasis on clear command structures between headquarters and field missions, despite the existence of two departments mandated for peacekeeping. Pakistan suggested that a representative be appointed at the Deputy Secretary-General level to oversee this situation. The European Union said that no budgetary implications should arise from the resolutions and encouraged the Secretary-General to act quickly in naming the new ODA head. Japan stressed the need for budgetary discipline and transparency regarding the reconfigured departments. Many states looked forward to the review of the Secretariat’s restructuring in the 63rd Session of the GA (in two years).

Several Member States called the adoption of the resolutions a “vote of confidence” in Mr. Ban and his reform proposals. Their statements conveyed overall satisfaction with the cooperation and communication between the Secretary-General and the General Assembly in resolving differences over how the reform should proceed.

Secretary-General’s Statement to the General Assembly upon Adoption of Resolutions 61/256 and 61/257)

GA Resolution on DPKO Reform (15 March)

GA Resolution on DDA Reform (15 March)

Secretary-General’s Proposal to Reform DPKO (15 February 2007)

Secretary-General’s Proposal to Reform DDA (15 February 2007)

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