OEA - Acta de asamblea AGCPACTA 29999

COMISIÓN PREPARATORIA OEA/Ser.P AG/CP/ACTA 299/00 8 marzo 2000

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN

DE LA COMISIÓN PREPARATORIA DE LA ASAMBLEA GENERAL

CELEBRADA EL 8 DE MARZO DE 2000

Aprobada en la sesión del 18 de mayo de 2000ÍNDICE Página Nómina de los Representantes que asistieron a la sesión................................................................................ 1 Programa-Presupuesto de la Organización para 2001, cuotas y contribuciones al Fondo Voluntario, 2001 y proyecto de presupuesto de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos para 2001................................................................................................................ 2 Aprobación de acta......................................................................................................................................... 7

iiiDOCUMENTOS CONSIDERADOS EN LA SESIÓN

(SE PUBLICAN POR SEPARADO) CP/doc.3270/00, Informe sobre el estado de recaudación de cuotas del Fondo Regular al 31 de enero de 2000 CP/doc.3271, Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos Presentación del proyecto de presupuesto para el 20001 ivCOMISIÓN PREPARATORIA ACTA DE LA SESIÓN CELEBRADA EL 8 DE MARZO DE 2000 En la ciudad de Washington, a las diez y media de la mañana del miércoles 8 de marzo de 2000, celebró sesión la Comisión Preparatoria de la Asamblea General. Presidió la sesión el Embajador Lawrence Chewning Fábrega, Representante Permanente de Panamá y Presidente de la Comisión Preparatoria. Asistieron los siguientes miembros: Embajador Richard Bernal, Representante Permanente de Jamaica Embajador Courtney Blackman, Representante Permanente de Barbados

Embajador Denis G. Antoine, Representante Permanente de Grenada Embajador Lionel Alexander Hurst, Representante Permanente de Antigua y Barbuda Embajador Flavio Darío Espinal, Representante Permanente de la República Dominicana Embajador Carlos Portales, Representante Permanente de Chile Embajador Peter M. Boehm, Representante Permanente del Canadá Embajador Michael Anthony Arneaud, Representante Permanente de Trinidad y Tobago Embajador Alfonso Quiñónez Lemus, Representante Permanente de Guatemala Embajadora Laura Elena Núñez de Ponce, Representante Permanente de Honduras Embajador Carlos Alberto Leite Barbosa, Representante Permanente del Brasil Embajador Claude Heller, Representante Permanente de México Embajador Hernán R. Castro H., Representante Permanente de Costa Rica Embajador Luis Alfredo Ramos, Representante Permanente de Colombia Embajador Álvaro Sevilla Siero, Representante Permanente de Nicaragua Embajadora Virginia Margarita Contreras Navarrete, Representante Permanente de Venezuela Embajador Diego Abente Brun, Representante Permanente del Paraguay Embajador Luis J. Lauredo, Representante Permanente de los Estados Unidos Embajadora Margarita Escobar, Representante Permanente de El Salvador Embajador Marcelo Ostria Trigo, Representante Permanente de Bolivia Ministro Consejero Guy Pierre, Representante Interino de Haití Consejera Natasha Halfhuid, Representante Interina de Suriname Consejera Sheila G. Carey, Representante Interina del Commonwealth de las Bahamas Ministra Consejera Cecily Norris, Representante Interina de San Vicente y las Granadinas Ministro Antonio Garcia Revilla, Representante Interino del Perú

Consejero Eduardo Bouzout, Representante Alterno del Uruguay Consejero Martín Gomez Bustillo, Representante Alterno de la Argentina Ministro Rafael Veintimilla, Representante Alterno del Ecuador Primera Secretaria Martha Louis Auguste, Representante Alterna de Santa Lucía Primera Secretaria Deborah Yaw, Representante Alterna de Guyana Consejero Nestor Mendez, Representante Alterno de Belice También estuvieron presentes el Secretario General de la Organización, doctor César Gaviria, y el Secretario General Adjunto, Embajador Christopher R. Thomas, Secretario del Consejo Permanente.- 2El PRESIDENTE: [Pausa.] Declaro abierta la presente sesión de la Comisión Preparatoria, que ha sido convocada para considerar los asuntos que aparecen en el orden del día, documento

AG/CP/OD-299/00.

[El orden del día contiene los siguientes puntos:

1. Programa-Presupuesto de la Organización para 2001, cuotas y contribuciones al Fondo Voluntario, 2001 - Proyecto de presupuesto de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos para

2001 (CP/doc.3271/00)

2. Aprobación del acta de la sesión celebrada el 15 de noviembre de 1999 (AG/CP/ACTA

297/99)

3. Otros asuntos.] Pido excusas en nombre del Embajador de Belice, Presidente del Consejo Permanente y, por lo tanto, Presidente de la Comisión Preparatoria, ya que un asunto de última hora le ha impedido llegar a esta sesión. Sin embargo, para la sesión del Consejo Permanente, ya habrá llegado y la presidirá, como

le corresponde.

PROGRAMA-PRESUPUESTO DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN PARA 2001,

CUOTAS Y CONTRIBUCIONES AL FONDO VOLUNTARIO, 2001 Y

PROYECTO DE PRESUPUESTO DE LA CORTE INTERAMERICANA

PARA 2001

El PRESIDENTE: Como primer punto, nos corresponde considerar el programa-presupuesto de la Organización para el año 2001 y las cuotas y contribuciones al Fondo Voluntario. Este presupuesto ha sido presentado por la Secretaría General, conforme a lo establecido en el artículo 112

(c) de la Carta de la OEA. Me es grato, entonces, ofrecer la palabra al Subsecretario Administración de la Organización, señor Harding, para que se sirva presentar el proyecto de programa-presupuesto del año 2001. Tiene la palabra el señor Harding. El SUBSECRETARIO DE ADMINISTRACIÓN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to present to the Preparatory Committee of the General Assembly the draft program-budget for the year 2001, pursuant to Article 112 of the Charter of the Organization. I do this on behalf of the General Secretariat and the Secretary General, and the draft budget is being submitted three months prior to the General Assembly in accordance with the General Standards to Govern the Operations of the General Secretariat of the Organization. The budget, which you have a copy of in the four languages, reflects the political priorities of the Organization expressed through the mandates approved by the General Assembly. The budget amounts to $80 million for the Regular Fund, a figure that results from valuing and quantifying the3priorities earmarked in the budget for the year 2000 with provisions for new mandates and obligations assigned to the Organization. In accordance with the instructions issued by the General Assembly in resolution AG/RES. 1697 (XXIX-O/99), the draft budget does not exceed $80 million. As indicated in that resolution, this level is subject to financing received through the quotas of the member states, estimated interest income, technical and administrative support contributions from both the Voluntary Funds and the

1697 (XXIX-O/99), the draft budget does not exceed $80 million. As indicated in that resolution, this level is subject to financing received through the quotas of the member states, estimated interest income, technical and administrative support contributions from both the Voluntary Funds and the specific funds, and such other revenues as the Organization may obtain. In order to reflect the General Assembly’s mandates with respect to sources of finance, the Secretariat has opted to divide the presentation of the budget into two broad categories. The first division, which corresponds to activities currently performed by the Secretariat, would have a budget of about $76 million financed with revenues that the Secretariat expects to receive during the year 2001. This supposes that member states will pay quotas at the level that they are anticipated to pay in the year 2000, for a total of $73.7 million. The second division, amounting to approximately $4 million, corresponds to mandates and activities for which no source of funding has yet been secured. This $4 million in activities will only be executed if the Organization obtains additional revenues through an increase in current quota levels, higher interest revenues, or increased support contributions from voluntary and specific funds. With this budget for the year 2001, we are making an effort to maximize available resources, taking into account the economic situation facing our member states as well as the political priorities that you all have established. Despite the foregoing, it must be noted that during the process of preparing the budget, additional mandates and requirements were identified. These additions amount to $3.7 million and could not be included in the $80 million set forth by resolution AG/RES. 1697. They are, however, included as an annex to the budget document. Let me break for a second to refer to the revenues of the Organization, of which I have mentioned three sources: quotas, technical administrative support revenue, and interest and other sources. The Organization’s revenues appear to be on a downward track in both nominal and real terms, and there are a number of explanations for this. The Organization’s quota revenues, in real terms, have fallen since 1995. This can be explained by the fact that member states have not amended the quota schedules since 1994 when they

terms, and there are a number of explanations for this. The Organization’s quota revenues, in real terms, have fallen since 1995. This can be explained by the fact that member states have not amended the quota schedules since 1994 when they were set at $73.7 million, meaning that increased inflation has since reduced the financial capacity of the Organization. Since the Organization has operated each year with fewer resources in real terms, it must be said that the Secretariat has generated about $25 million in savings for member states in real terms between 1995 and 2000. These savings have, in effect, been achieved by means of two mechanisms: by increasing the Secretariat’s productivity and efficiency and by reducing the amounts devoted to certain mandates for which sources of funding could not be obtained. We believe that making such cuts is not the best way for the Secretariat to perform its duties which, basically, are to comply with the mandates of the member states as effectively as possible. Making savings means failing to carry out everything that we have defined in our priorities. This is4not a savings, but rather a loss in terms of the services that the Organization should be providing. Nonetheless, because of budgetary problems, the freezing of quotas, the liquidity problems, and the failure to pay the quotas, the Secretariat has been obligated to tailor its services to its financial constraints. I should also note that only $36 million or 53 percent of the revenues received during the past few years, particularly during the past year, corresponded to quota payments for the year 1999. The difference came in the form of makeup payments on quotas for previous years. In other words, our income from the current year’s assessments is not equal to what it should be, because we’re receiving money in arrears. Revenues that the Regular Fund receives for technical and administrative support from the Voluntary Funds and specific funds have also been experiencing a decline, and it’s expected that the Regular Fund will obtain only about $1 million under this heading in the year 2001. The reasons are twofold. First, contributions to the Voluntary Funds have been dropping. In 1994, they were about

Voluntary Funds and specific funds have also been experiencing a decline, and it’s expected that the Regular Fund will obtain only about $1 million under this heading in the year 2001. The reasons are twofold. First, contributions to the Voluntary Funds have been dropping. In 1994, they were about $16 million, while in 1999 they stood at only $8 million—a drop of about 50 percent in five years. Second, donors to specific funds have been making most of their grants conditional upon the Organization providing logistic support as a counterpart to contributions to the projects. In practice, this has meant that the Secretariat is devoting steadily more resources from the Regular Fund to meet the technical and administrative needs of projects under specific funds. The situation is reflected in a decline of roughly $500,000 in revenues that the Regular Fund is expected to receive under the category of administrative and technical support income. As a result of the liquidity problem caused by the arrears in quota payments, the interest earnings of the Regular Fund have declined. The Secretariat calculates that it will receive about $1 million in interest for the year 2001. As to other revenues, collections are expected to roughly equal $273,000 during the year 2001. This presentation should not normally go into liquidity problems, which are a question of cash flow rather than budget. Yet, the Organization’s liquidity has become a cyclical and structural problem which, we suggest, demands the attention of the Organization. The structure of revenues, as well as the limitation that the Organization faces in turning to the financial markets to resolve its cash problems or look to other sources of income, obligates the Secretariat to propose a budget management approach that adheres very closely to the cash flow problem. In this respect, since January 1 of this year—and we anticipate for the whole of the year 2001—the Secretariat is allocating funds in accordance with expected revenues during each quarter. This approach allows us to anticipate cash flow problems that may arise from difficulties in collecting funds. This review is done within the Secretariat’s authority to execute the budget. The procedure consists of reviewing revenues received and expected every three months, and

2001—the Secretariat is allocating funds in accordance with expected revenues during each quarter. This approach allows us to anticipate cash flow problems that may arise from difficulties in collecting funds. This review is done within the Secretariat’s authority to execute the budget. The procedure consists of reviewing revenues received and expected every three months, and on the basis of this projection, authorizing expenditure levels for the following three months. The Secretariat is very much aware of the difficulties this can create from the operating viewpoint of certain programs. But in light of the situation with quota payments, we feel we must adjust the budget to the actual cash situation. In this way, we’re trying to avoid initiating programs that will then have to be suspended or cut back due to lack of funds during execution.- 5The format of this year’s budget has changed considerably, and we’re very grateful to the members of the Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs (CAAP) for suggesting ways that we can provide more transparent information to assist them in deciding on the priorities of the Organization. I would like to highlight one of those changes. I draw your attention to about seven pages into the introductory part of the budget, where you will find a bar chart entitled “Priority Areas Participating in Budget Execution 1999.” We have attempted with this chart to help you see not only the resources we have allocated from the Regular Fund to a specific program activity, but also the specific funds received and executed during the prior year for that program. In that way, you have a more comprehensive picture of how much resources have been truly used in a program during the year, and this can assist you in making the decision for the next year. For example, during 1999 we executed, in addition to the Regular Fund, over $40 million in specific fund programs directly related to priorities of the Regular Fund. In the area of democracy, we executed not only $3.1 million of Regular Fund money, but almost $16 million in specific fund monies. In the area of human rights, we executed not only $4 million in Regular Fund resources, but an additional half a million dollars in specific funds. In CICAD, $3.2 million of specific fund

we executed not only $3.1 million of Regular Fund money, but almost $16 million in specific fund monies. In the area of human rights, we executed not only $4 million in Regular Fund resources, but an additional half a million dollars in specific funds. In CICAD, $3.2 million of specific fund contributions were executed as well as $1.69 million from the Regular Fund. Hopefully, this kind of information, which is far more detailed in specific programs and activities of the Regular Fund, will allow member states to make a more informed judgment as to the resources that have been allocated or obtained for execution of priorities. Let me now go back to the budget. Personnel cost are budgeted at $45.5 million and is about 51.5 percent of the total budget. It slightly exceeds the 50 percent guideline you all have established. However, the budget maintains the same number of positions—587—as were budgeted for this year. It must be noted, however, that this figure conceals to some degree both qualitative and quantitative differences explained, perhaps, by the introduction of an early retirement program this year. During the year 2000, the Organization will have fewer staff, since we have allowed certain people to retire early. We have paid for that in budgetary terms by freezing the posts they occupied for the duration of the year or the period of time required to pay their separation costs. That will mean that during this year, there will be fewer people doing the same level of work until we are able to absorb the cost of that separation. I should also note, regarding personnel, that among the unfunded mandates that are not included in the budget is a figure of about $650,000. It equates to the cost-of-living adjustments that we anticipate we’ll be required to pay in accordance with resolution AG/RES. 1275 (XXIV-O/94), which provides that salary increases are to be determined in accordance with the United Nations Common System. To conclude, I would like to once again make it clear that the General Secretariat’s objective is to continue to work toward improving the services it provides to member states. It will also seek to use its resources in the most efficient and rational manner.

which provides that salary increases are to be determined in accordance with the United Nations Common System. To conclude, I would like to once again make it clear that the General Secretariat’s objective is to continue to work toward improving the services it provides to member states. It will also seek to use its resources in the most efficient and rational manner. The budget presentation you have is an attempt to strike a balance between the Organization’s political priorities and the constraints on available financial resources. I hope that the6presentation of this budget will facilitate the debate and help member states in their decision by setting out our priorities for the year 2001. Thank you.

El PRESIDENTE: Muchísimas gracias, señor Harding, por la presentación de este importante documento. Ofrezco la palabra a los señores Representantes que deseen hacer alguna observación con respecto a este informe.

El distinguido Representante de México tiene la palabra. El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE MÉXICO: Muchas gracias, señor Presidente. Agradezco la presentación de este documento y simplemente deseo llamar la atención sobre el hecho de que habrá que encontrar una mayor congruencia entre los mandatos políticos emanados de la Asamblea General, e incluso de otro tipo de reuniones, con la actividad presupuestal. Quisiera llamar la atención sobre el tema de los derechos humanos. En lo que se refiere tanto a los trabajos de la Comisión como de la Corte Interamericana, se ha venido generando un consenso en cuanto a la necesidad de fortalecer su capacidad presupuestaria. Obviamente que estos temas tendrán que ser abordados en su momento, considerando, repito, los mandatos políticos. Muchas gracias.

El PRESIDENTE: Muchísimas gracias, señor Embajador de México, por su atinado comentario. Ofrezco la palabra al distinguido Representante de Antigua y Barbuda.

gracias.

El PRESIDENTE: Muchísimas gracias, señor Embajador de México, por su atinado comentario. Ofrezco la palabra al distinguido Representante de Antigua y Barbuda.

El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE ANTIGUA Y BARBUDA: Thank you very

much, Mr. Chairman. We thank the Assistant Secretary for Management, Mr. Harding, for his report this morning. We recognize that the institution has increasing needs and, at the same time, a decreasing supply of resources. This is why we have begun our discussion on adjusting quotas as a means of addressing some of these needs. We thank Mr. Harding for including in the budgetary allocations a $4 million annexed amount, which is intended to address the possibility of an increase in quota payments. Mr. Chairman, this discussion certainly has not yet concluded. We anticipate, nevertheless, that there will be some agreement by the time of the 2001 budget on an increase in quota allotments. Nevertheless, sir, we thank Mr. Harding for his presentation, and we hope to get to work on this budget as soon as is reasonably possible. Thank you, sir.

El PRESIDENTE: Muchas gracias, señor Embajador, por sus observaciones y comentarios.

Si los señores Representantes no tienen alguna observación que hacer, la Presidencia sugiere que el proyecto de programa-presupuesto para el año 2001 sea transmitido a la Subcomisión de ProgramaPresupuesto de la Comisión Preparatoria de la Asamblea General. De la misma manera, se enviaría a la citada Subcomisión el programa-presupuesto presentado por la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, documento CP/doc.3271/00.- 7De no haber observaciones adicionales, así se acuerda. Acordado. Muchas gracias, señor Harding. APROBACIÓN DE ACTA El PRESIDENTE: Corresponde ahora la aprobación del acta de la sesión de esta Comisión

De no haber observaciones adicionales, así se acuerda. Acordado. Muchas gracias, señor Harding. APROBACIÓN DE ACTA El PRESIDENTE: Corresponde ahora la aprobación del acta de la sesión de esta Comisión celebrada el 15 de noviembre de 1999 y clasificada como AG/CP/ACTA 297/99. La Presidencia ha sido informada de que todos los cambios de estilo sugeridos por las Delegaciones han sido debidamente incorporados. De no haber ninguna observación sobre este documento, la daríamos por aprobada. Aprobada. Pasamos entonces al punto 3 de nuestro orden del día, que es “Otros asuntos”. Ofrezco la palabra a las distinguidas Delegaciones. No habiendo ningún otro comentario u observación adicional, levantamos esta sesión. Eso sí, vamos a tener que esperar un momento antes de comenzar la sesión del Consejo Permanente, para darle tiempo al distinguido Embajador de Belice, Presidente del Consejo Permanente, a que llegue a esta sala. A todos, muchísimas gracias. Se levanta la sesión. upload_3u5iet2lmetelkqpj2dqjbesdp.doc