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United Kingdom Mission
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MK O Simpson-Orlebar Esq
UND
FCO
HKK 243!
RECEIVED PRESCHY NO. DI
DESK OFFICES
INDEX
По
PA
это музы
20
ゆ
Метановый
↑ *,
1140
Your reference
Sutual PA
Our reference
Date
11 June 1979
INDO CHINESE REFUGEES
FINANCE
1. We were interested to read Michael Stuart's letter 243/6 of 6 June from New York to Tim Dowse about UNHCR's concern over the financing of posts from the UN regular budget. I am venturing to copy Stuart's letter to the other recipients of mine in view of its general interest.
2.
Under Article 20 of the UNHCR Statute administrative expenses relating to the functioning of the Office shall be borne from the budget of the UN. Article 1 defines UNHCR's functions as protection and seeking permanent solutions for the problem of refugees. Thus posts dealing with new situations and with non- statutory functions such as assistance have to be financed from voluntary funds. However, from time to time UNHCR seeks to transfer some of these extra budgetary posts to the UN regular budget on the grounds that the new situations have now become permanent parts of UNHCR's work.
3.
As reported in paragraph 2 of UKMIS Geneva tel 144 of 14 May, the Number Three in UNHCR, Moussali, spoke to us as follows: "The UN's current pre-occupation with zero growth has meant that the Secretary General has postponed the transfer to the regular budget of 11 of the 23 posts provisionally agreed for 1978/79. Although UK officials in New York seemed to understand UNHCR's needs, other delegations, including the US, were raising difficulties about transferring posts to the regular budget. In fact, Moussali was very appreciative of the understanding shown by UKMÍS New York. A. I agree with Michael Stuart that UNHCR's complaint should largely be directed at Waldheim and his budgetary staff who have chosen this particular economy as part of their attempt to achieve zero real growth. But the zero real growth idea stems from the general attack on the UN bodget at the last Assembly by most major contributors (not including the UK who, as you know, voted for the budget).
5. I hope, therefore, that all concerned will appreciate Hartling's difficulties when we ask him to increase staff. Of course, most of his staff are financed by voluntary funds either under the UNHCR's General Programme (for "permanent" problems) or from the Special Programmes (new situations). At the UNHCR Executive Committee last
/October
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