text: atUNEP.HerdelegatiQn apprQved thedecisiQn todefertQamoreappropriate time thecQnsideratiQn QftheprQpQsal bytherepresentative QftheSQvietUniQn. 8.Mr.LAOUABI (Algeria) saidthathethought thedebates duringthe cQnsideratiQn Qfthefinancial implicatiQns QfthepreparatiQns fQrtheCQnference hadillustrated theimpQrtance ofquestiQns relating tQtheenvironment andtQ develQpment. HQwever, itwasaninescapable factthatthefinancial burden Qfthe preparatQry process mightwellcomprQmise seriQusly thepQssibilities offinancing Qtheractivities decided upQnbythelegislative bQdies frQmtheCQntingency Fund. HisdelegatiQn therefQre favQured therecQmmendatiQn QftheAdvisQry CQmmittee Qn Administrative andBudgetary QuestiQns (ACABO)thatthesituatiQn shQuldbeclQsely monitQred duringthefQrty-fifth sessiQn QftheAssembly. ItjQinedthemany appeals fQrmakingfurther aavings andmobilizing vQluntary cQntributiQns. Lastly, itrecalled theneedtQapplystrictly theprinciple Qfequitable geQgraphic distributiQn insetting uptheCQnference secretariat ascalledfQrinAssembly resQlutiQn 44/228. 9.Mr.ETUKET(Uganda) cQncurred withtheCQmments Qftherepresentatives Qf Japan,KenyaandAlgeria, andexpressed thehQpethattherepQrtreferred tQin decisiQn 11WQuldtakeaccQunt QfalltheCQmments madebydelegatiQns, particulary withregardtQstaffing, andQftheACABOrecQmmendatiQns QnthefunctiQnal descriptiQns Q!PQsts,thenumberQfhigh-level PQstsandtheneedtQrestrict the numberQfcQnsultants andreducetravelexpenditures. HetQQwishedtoemphasize hQWimpQrtant itwastQrespect theprinciple Qfequitable geQgraphic distributiQn inselecting theCQnference secretariat. 10.Mr.GOMlZ(CQntrQller) saidthat,asaresultQfthedecisiQns justadQpted, thepreparatiQns fQrtheCQnference in1990wouldhavetQbefinanced fromthe General Fund. HeWQuldberemissinhisdutyasController ifhedidnQtcautiQn theCQmmittee thatthesituation withregardtQ1990contributiQns tQtheregular budgetwasanything butheartening. Asofthecurrent date,totalcQllectiQns amQunted to'332.6milliQn, whichmeantthatitwasalready necessary tQdrawQn thereserves, including theWQrking Capital Fund.TQtalQutstanding contributiQns, including arrears, amQunted tQ'677.8milliQn. Only26cQuntries werewithQut arrears, 11cameunderArticle 19oftheCharter, and77hadmadenopayment fQr thecurrent year.TheprQjectiQns indicateu ~realpQssibility QfcashdepletiQn inthefinalquarter of1990.Undersuchcircumstances, hewouldhavenQchQice buttQtak~astrictly prudent, ifnotstringent, lineintheadministration Qf allQtments fQrtheremainder Qftheyear.TheSecretary-General intended inthe I ••• Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryA/C.5/44/SR.65 Enql1sh Page4 (Mr.Gamez) nextfewdaystosendletters ofreminder totheStatesWhichhadnotpaidtheir contributions. Thereportonthestatusofcontributions asat31March1990would beissuedinmid-April. 11.TheCHAIRMAN saidthattheComnlittee hadconcluded itsreviewoftheproqramme bUdqetimplications ofthedraftdecision indocument A/44/48 onaqendaitem82(f) (United Nations Conference onEnvironment andDevelopment). Themeeting roseat7p.m. I ••• Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library
analysis: The text appears to be a report from the United Nations on the preparations for the Conference on Environment and Development, specifically discussing the financial implications and the need for cost-saving measures. The delegates are concerned about the burden of the preparations on the organization's budget and the potential impact on other activities. The report also mentions the importance of equitable geographic distribution in selecting the conference secretariat.