Sixtieth session Third Committee Agenda items 117 and 67 (c) Programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives Situation of human rights in Myanmar Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/C.3/61/L.38 Statement submitted by the Secretary-General in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly I. Requests contained in the draft resolution 1. Under the terms of paragraph 5 of draft resolution A/C.3/61/L.38, the General Assembly would request the Secretary-General: (a) To continue to provide his good offices and to pursue his discussions on the situation of human rights and the restoration of democracy with the Government and the people of Myanmar, including all relevant parties to the national reconciliation process in Myanmar, and to offer technical assistance to the Government in this regard; (b) To give all necessary assistance to enable his Special Envoy, once appointed, and the Special Rapporteur to discharge their mandates fully and effectively; (c) To report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution. II. Relationship of the proposed requests to the biennial programme plan and priorities for the period 2006-2007 2. The foregoing requests relate to subprogramme 1, Prevention, control and resolution of conflicts, of programme 2, Political affairs, and subprogramme 3, Advisory services, technical cooperation and field activities, and subprogramme 4, Support for human rights thematic fact-finding procedures, of programme 19, Human rights, of the biennial programme plan and priorities for the period 2006-2007. III. Activities by which the requests would be implemented 3. In his report to the General Assembly, the Secretary-General indicated that his good offices efforts had encountered considerable difficulties since the event in the last quarter of 2004 concerning the former Prime Minister, which had resulted in a significant reduction of political contacts between the United Nations and the Myanmar authorities, and that political discussions with the Government of Myanmar had been held only outside the country on limited occasions. 4. The Secretary-General also indicated that discussions had continued with a view to finding ways and means to re-establish high-level contacts. As a result, a mission had been dispatched to Myanmar to assess ways to help that country move in the direction of all-inclusive democracy, sustainable development and national reconciliation and to address unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. He reiterated his call upon the Myanmar authorities to take the necessary steps to make reform efforts more inclusive and credible when the National Convention resumed and during subsequent phases of the road map process, including those for drafting the constitution and organizing a national referendum. The Secretary-General pointed out that such steps should commence as soon as possible, starting with certain confidence-building measures, and that he was prepared, if progress was made, to do his utmost to mobilize all the necessary international assistance to support the Myanmar authorities in facilitating their national reconciliation efforts in order to ensure that the people of Myanmar could partake in the same benefits of economic, social and political development as were enjoyed in neighbouring countries. 5. Consistent with the requests contained in paragraph 5 of draft resolution A/C.3/61/L.38, the efforts of the good offices of the Secretary-General would be continued in 2007, in pursuit of his discussions on the situation of human rights and the restoration of democracy with the Government and the people of Myanmar, as well as all relevant parties to the national reconciliation process. The efforts of his good offices would be carried out through his Special Envoy and the progress made in the implementation of the resolution would be reported to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. IV. Estimated resource requirements 6. The estimated costs of continuing the efforts of the good offices of the Secretary-General to facilitate the process of national reconciliation and democratization through his Special Envoy for Myanmar, as requested in paragraph 5 (a), (b) and (c) of draft resolution A/C.3/61/L.38, for a one-year period, from 1 January to 31 December 2007, amount to $198,400 net ($234,800 gross). 7. These resources would cover the salaries for the Special Envoy, to be engaged on a when-actually-employed basis, and for a local staff member who would provide support to the Special Envoy; the official travel of the Special Envoy to Myanmar, neighbouring countries in the region, Europe and North America, including United Nations Headquarters; the services of a consultant; and miscellaneous services in support of his mission. Other substantive and administrative support to the Special Envoy would be provided by the Department of Political Affairs. 8. With regard to the request contained in the last part of paragraph 5 (a), concerning technical assistance, such assistance, if requested, would be accommodated within the technical cooperation activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. As to the request contained in paragraph 5 (b), pertaining to the Special Rapporteur, the Secretary-General has informed the General Assembly, in his report on the revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council at its first session and its first and second special sessions in 2006 (A/61/530), that budgetary provisions have already been made for the activities related to the various human rights mandates listed in the annex to Human Rights Council decision 1/102, within resources approved for the biennium 2006-2007. These fall under section 23, Human rights, of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007. 9. By its decision 1/102, the Human Rights Council decided to extend exceptionally for one year, subject to the review to be undertaken by the Council in conformity with General Assembly resolution 60/251, the mandates and the mandate holders of all the special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights, of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights as well as the procedure established in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1503 (XLVIII) of 27 May 1970, as listed in the annex to the decision. The Special Rapporteur referred to in paragraph 5 (b) of the draft resolution is included in the annex. V. Summary 10. Should the General Assembly adopt draft resolution A/C.3/61/L.38, additional requirements amounting to $198,400 net ($234,800 gross) would be required for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2007, under section 3, Political affairs, of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007, for the continuation of the efforts of the good offices of the Secretary-General relating to the situation in Myanmar. Appropriation for these requirements will be sought in the context of the report of the Secretary-General on estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the Assembly and/or the Security Council, being submitted to the Assembly during its current session. Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/60/6/Rev.1). A/61/504. __________________ __________________  sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/C.3/61/L.56 sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/C.3/61/L.56 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 06-61219 \* MERGEFORMAT 2 \* MERGEFORMAT 3 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 06-61219 United Nations A/C.3/61/L.56 General Assembly Distr.: Limited 10 November 2006 Original: English jobn \* MERGEFORMAT 06-61219 (E) 131106 Barcode \* MERGEFORMAT *0661219*