Sixty-first session Agenda item 117 Programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 Programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/ES-10/L.20 Statement submitted by the Secretary-General in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly Report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions 1. The Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions has considered the statement submitted in document A/C.5/61/13 on the programme budget implications of draft resolution A/ES-10/L.20, dated 22 November 2006. The draft resolution concerns the establishment of the United Nations Register of Damage caused by the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 2. The actions to be undertaken under operative paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11 and 15 of draft resolution A/ES-10/L.20 are described in paragraphs 1 to 3 of the statement of the Secretary-General (A/C.5/61/13). 3. The Committee notes that the additional estimated requirements for the programme budget for 2006-2007 amount to $3,098,700 gross ($2,812,000 net) and relate to subprogramme 1, prevention, control and resolution of conflicts of programme 2, Political affairs. 4. The Committee was informed that these cost estimates reflect the application of a 50 per cent vacancy factor for 2007. Upon request, the Committee was provided additional information on the estimated annual requirements at full cost, which are currently estimated at $3,920,500. The Committee also requested and received additional information on, inter alia, the proposed organizational structure, and, in this regard, the resources for the Verification and Assessment Unit, the rationale for the establishment of a position of a Coordination Officer at the P-4 level in the Office of the Executive Director and the need for a P-4 level post in the Claims Processing Unit. 5. The Committee requested information on the assumptions as to how soon the Verification and Assessment Unit could become operational. A justification of each Professional post was also requested, as well as a confirmation of whether the functions to be established had been classified by the Office of Human Resources Management. Since this information could not be provided in time for the issuance of the present report, the Committee requests that it be provided to the Fifth Committee at the time of its consideration of the statement of the Secretary-General. The Committee trusts that staff will be brought on board consistent with operational requirements, as they arise. 6. The Committee notes that the estimate for non-staff costs totals $799,300 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2007. It is of the opinion that every effort should be made to draw upon existing available resources to the maximum extent possible. Such savings in respect of 2006-2007 as may be identified should be reflected in the performance report for 2006-2007. 7. Taking into account what is stated in paragraphs 5 and 6 above, ongoing requirements, including the numbers and grade levels of posts, as well as the need for non-staff resources, should be fully justified in the proposed programme budget for 2008-2009. 8. The Committee recommends that the Fifth Committee report to the General Assembly that, should it adopt draft resolution A/ES-10/L.20, an additional appropriation of up to $3,098,700 would be required under section 3, Political affairs ($2,812,000), and section 35, Staff assessment ($286,700), to be offset by the same amount under Income section 1, Income from staff assessment, of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007, for the establishment and maintenance of the Register of Damage.   sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/61/614 sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/61/614 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 06-64642 \* MERGEFORMAT 2 \* MERGEFORMAT 1 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 06-64642 United Nations A/61/614 General Assembly Distr.: General 6 December 2006 Original: English jobn \* MERGEFORMAT 06-64642 (E) 071206 Barcode \* MERGEFORMAT *0664642*