Meanwhile, theDepartment hadorganized aninternaI evaluation incollaboration -22-a 1 r e i d t,s \1 e a a 1 1 t ( a t n m tl rE lJ 01 P n wi He in pewithUnitedNations offices inthetargetareas. TheDepartment planned tosubmit anevaluation reporttotheCommittee nextyear. 1 \110.Anumberofdelegations saidthattheylookedforward totheresults ofthe reportontheexperimental short-wave broadcasting programme. Manydelegatiqns expressed thehopethattheareaofexperiment mightbeexpanded tostimulate wider interest thatwouldleadtotheestablishment ofashort-wave network. One delegation expressed concern aboutthegeographic areainvolved andsuggested that theperiodofreviewmightbetooshort. Another delegation saidthatthereport should haveindicated thecostsandimplications oftheprogramme. 111.TheOfficer-in-Charge saidthatfi.tancial constraints prevented the experimental period frombeingalongeroneandfromcovering awjdergeographic area. However, experts hadindicated thattheDepartment w~uldheabletodraw adequate conclusions fromthedataavailable. Item4(b)(xii). Charges foruseofvideotapes,audiotapesandnewsphot.ographs byMemberStates 112.TheUnder-Sec~etary-General, inhisintroduction tethenoteoncharges for theuseofUnitedNations videotapes,audiotapesandnewsphotographs (A/AC.198/87), saidthattheDepartment madeaudiotapesandnewSphotographs available tothemediafreeofcharge. Thesituation wasdifferent, however, in thecaseofvideotapes,forthehistorical andfinancial reasons giveninthe note. Heassured theCommittee thatitwasnottheDepartment's intention tomake moneyfromvideotapes, whenitsprimary purpose waspublicinformation. However, theDepartment neededtohavesomesafeguards sothatitwasnotoverwhelmed with requests forvideotapes.Ithadlimited fundsavailable forthatpurpose. 113.Hesaidthattpepresent systemofcharges wasbeingreviewed, andasaresult ofthereview, heexpected thecharges forvideotapestobelowered evenfurther, particularly fordeveloping countries. Ontheotherhand,atthisstage, hedid notforesee thepossibility ofeliminating thosecharges altogether. 114.Anumberofdelegations expressed cancern aboutthecostoftapesand photogEaphs. Several delegations saidthatthecosts,particularly fordeveloping countries, should heaslowaspossible. Thiswouldbeconsistent withthepublic information aimoffostering understanding andsupport forUnitedNations activities. Onedelegation expressed concern aboutthehighcostofovertimei another delegation saidthatwhenovertime wasinvolved, fulladditional costs should bebornebytherequestor. Another delegation saidthatitwaspleased the studywasunderway,butitdidnotinclude thekindofdetailincluded inthe reportonthedistribution oftapedradioprogrammes, whichhadmadethatreportso useful. Item4(b)(xiii). Situation regarding thestaffoftheDepartment ofPublic Information inpostssubject togeographical distribution 115.Inreference tothereport onpostsintheDepartment subject togeographical distribution (A/AC.198/86), theUnder-Secretary-General pledged thefirmcommitment oftheDepartment tohaveequitable geographical distribution, whichwasconsonant withthehighest standards ofprofessional competence, efficiency andintegrity. Hebelieved strongly thatthesetworequirements werefullyreconcilable andmust, indeed, beharmonized. TheCommittee members would, however, understand thata perfect geographical balance mightbeattained onlyonaSecretariat-wide basisand. -23--24-117.Adelegation expressed doubtaboutthewaysinwhichthedesirable mid-points wereestablished. Several delegations expressed concern aboutthewaysinwhich stafffromvariouEl regions weregrouped inthetables. Specifically, concern was expressed aboutthegrouping ofstafffromNorthAmerica andtheCaribbean. Item4(b)(xiv). Establishment ofUnitedNations information centres inBeninand Poland119.Responding topointsraised, theOfficer-in-Charge recalled thestatement of theunder-Secretary-General, stating thatperfect balance intermeofequitable geographical distribution couldbeattained onlyonaSecretariat-wide basis. Regarding thecriteria andmethodology used,hereiterated thattheDepartment used thesamemethodasthatintheSecretary-General's report onthecomposition ofthe
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a report from the United Nations Department of Public Information, discussing various aspects of their work, including evaluations, financial constraints, and geographical distribution of staff. The topics discussed are primarily related to information dissemination, public awareness, and the functioning of the department, with no direct references to economic development, natural resources, or humanitarian aid.

**Category**
Transport and communication, Culture, Science and technology