New York, 4 June 2007 – The UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee will meet tomorrow morning (Tuesday, 5 June) to hear a briefing from the UN Secretariat on its proposal to restructure the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). This proposal is part of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s efforts for Secretariat reform, begun shortly after he took office in January 2007.

The Fifth Committee decides on budgetary matters before the General Assembly and is advised, in turn, by the Assembly’s Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). ACABQ has just completed its report and will make it public by tomorrow morning, said the spokesperson for the Secretary-General today.

Background

In March this year, the General Assembly adopted a framework resolution supporting Ban’s intention to strengthen the DPKO and offering its preliminary approval for him to pursue doing so by creating a Department of Field Support, which would take on some of the present responsibilities of DPKO. The resolution called for a comprehensive report from the Secretary-General “as soon as possible” on budgetary implications and functional details of the proposed reform.

The Secretary-General then requested approval for a “supplemental account” of $65 million for the new department’s creation. That request is pending Fifth Committee review.

Next Steps

The general procedure is for the Fifth Committee to review the presentation and report of the Secretariat along with the recommendations of the ACABQ. Then it may interview Secretariat officials to collect needed information regarding financial implications of the proposal, including costs of reconfiguring leadership posts. The Fifth Committee then will begin to draft a resolution.

The final step will be for General Assembly approval of the draft resolution, which must be supported in the plenary by consensus. Majority approval by taking a vote is insufficient – a rule that reportedly aims to avoid a future withholding of funds by any non-supporting countries.

The March framework resolution specified that the Secretary-General’s report would be considered and decided upon during its 61st Session, which ends in mid-September 2007.

Status of Disarmament Reforms

In addition to DPKO restructuring, Ban’s Secretariat reform plans also included a restructuring of the Department of Disarmament Affairs (DDA). This proposal also received tentative Assembly approval in March. The General Assembly asked Ban to report on the administrative and budgetary implications of his proposal, which include replacing the DDA with an Office of Disarmament Affairs, as soon as possible after appointing a High Representative to head the new Office.

Summary: Path of Reform Proposals through General Assembly

15 February	Secretary-General formally presents proposal to General Assembly.
26 February	President of General Assembly assigns co-chairs to guide drafting processes for two “framework resolutions” granting preliminary support for reform plans.
March	Ambassadors of Portugal and Uruguay facilitate drafting of GA’s framework resolution on DPKO restructuring.
March	Ambassadors of Norway and Sri Lanka facilitate drafting of GA’s framework resolution on DDA restructuring.
15 March	Framework resolutions adopted in plenary: - Ban is given mandate to elaborate budgetary, financial, and administrative implications of DPKO proposal. His report must undergo review in ACABQ and Fifth Committee. - Ban is approved to appoint a High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, after which he must report to GA on budgetary and administrative implications of reform proposal.
April-May	ACABQ reviews DPKO reform proposal.
5 June	ACABQ submits recommendations to Fifth Committee. Secretariat presents proposal to Fifth Committee. Fifth Committee undertakes review of reform proposal.

Relevant Documents

Current Organizational Chart of DPKO

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

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

GA Resolution on DPKO Reform (15 March)

GA Resolution on DDA Reform (15 March)

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

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