text: experts takingpart,pursuant tothespecific mandates givenbytheGeneral Assembly, whether theyaregovernmental orconsultant experts, havebeenappointed bytheSecretary-General. Inpassing, mayIsaythatindividuals from57countries haveparticipated andadeliberate efforthasbeenmadetoembrace political and geographical balance. Eightypercentoftheestimated costsrepresent conference servicing, thatistosay-documentation, translation, interpretation, printing etc.ofthefinalreports forpresentation insixlanguages totheGeneral Assembly, whilenon-conference servicing costs,i.e.thoserelating totheservices oftheexperts andconsultants, including travel, perdiemetc.,haveamounted to approximately 20percentofthetotaloftheestimated costs. Aspecial wordisnecessary regarding conference servicing costs. Atthetime thateachdraftresolution proposing astudyispresented totheFifthCommittee, itismadeclearintheaccompanying statement ofprogramme bUdgetimplications that"theestimates ofconference servicing costsareprovided onthebasisoffull costing, i.e.ontheassumption thatnopartoftheconference servicing requirements wouldbemadeavailable fromexisting resources". Thisisastandard procedure adopted foralladditional conference tasksthattheSecretariat mightbe called upontoperform bytheGeneral Assembly. Oncetheannualcalendar of conferences isclear, aconsolidated statement ofconference servicing requirements issubmitted andanynetadditional resources arerequested. Thereisthusa considerable difference between thegrossfigureoffull-costing ofconference services requirements andthenetactualcosts. -39-;Toexpress thisinspecific terms: thetotalestimates contained inthe programme budgetimplications amounttosome$US20million, ofwhichsome $16million hasbeenforconference services estimated onthefull-costing basisas Ihavedescribed. Actualexpenditure hasbeenconsiderably less.TheDepartment's appropriation inthisfieldhasbeensomewhat lessthan$4million, or$3,878,500 tobeprecise. Therearenodetailed figures available ontheprecise difference between the full-costing estimates andtheactualexpenditures, butaccording tostatistics obtained fromthecompetent Secretariat services, in1982-1983 theactualcostof allUnitedNations meetings was14percentoftheestimates givenforthatperiod onafull-costing basis. Asageneral rule,theDepartment ofConference Services estimate theactual costtobe$580foreachsix-language page.Thisisonthebasisoftranslation andprinting -itdoesnotinclude interpretation andother g~neral service requirements, nor th~costsincurred bytheDepartment forDisarmament Affairs. Itrustthisinformation responds tothequestion posedonthesubject. Studies carried outbyexpertgroupssuchasIhavedescribed, thatistosay, politically andgeographically balanced andconducted andprinted inofficial languages oftheUnitedNations, certainly costmoney. However, the"fullcosting" principle couldsometimes perhaps createmisunderstandings abouttheactualcosts ofastudy. -40-e asisas tment's B,500 enthe ics stof ;>eriod ~tual tion :s. ,, l )sting" :ostsAnnexV TOPICS FORAPPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS (A/CN.IO/1985/WG.III!Wp.1/Rev.l) I.Strengthening ofthecollective commitment oftheMemberStatestothe process ofdisarmament inconformity withtheFinalDocument oftheTenth Special Session oftheGeneral Assembly a/andtheConcluding Document ofthe Twelfth Special Session oftheGeneral Assembly£/ 11.Strengthening ofthecentral roleandprimary responsibility oftheUnited Nations inthefieldofdisarmament Ill.Strengthening oftheroleoftheUnitedNations inthefieldofinternational security; co-operation and:confidence amongStates IV.Strengthening ofthedeliberative andnegotiating functions oftherelevant multilateral organs, aswellasthefunctions ofotherorgans, activities and programmes inthefieldofdisarmament~ takingintoaccounc relevant provisions oftheFinalDocument oftheTenthSpecial Session, theConcluding Document oftheTwelfth Special Session, aswellassubsequent relevant resolutions oftheUnitedNations General Assembly: 1.General Assembly anditsorgans (a)Special sessions ondisarmament (b)Plenary (c)FirstCommittee (d)Special Political Committee (e)Disarmament Commission
analysis: The text appears to be discussing the budget and costs of a specific program or activity related to the United Nations, specifically the costs of conferences, meetings, and studies on disarmament. The text highlights the differences between estimated costs and actual costs, as well as the need for transparency and accuracy in budgeting. The focus on disarmament and international security suggests that this activity is related to international relations and diplomacy.