Professional staff with a second language had risen to almost 50 per cent. Thus, while the language incentive had not been completely successful, it had proved a useful tool for improving the linguistic skills of staff members. As he understood it, ICSC had not asked for its elimination but rather had proposed that alternatives should be studied. He felt that until a better alternative was found, the current system should continue. 3. The issue of retirement age had been discussed both under the item on pensions and in connection with the ICSC report. What had started as a technical debate concerned with the financial soundness of the Pension Fund had rapidly become a political discussion centred on geographical distribution and access to decision­ making posts. From the Secretariat's point of view, the issue had a third dimension, that of good management. I ... A/C.S/38/SR.SO English Page 3 (Mr. Ruedas) 4. General Assembly resolution 33/143 had requested the Secretary-General to apply the regulations regarding retirement and not to grant extensions beyond the mandatory age of retirement except for the time required to find a suitable replacement, which should not normally be for more than six months. Two years later, resolution 35/210 had specifically requested the Secretary-General not to grant extensions of more than six months after the age of 60. To carry out those two somewhat conflicting instructions, the Secretary-General had adopted a very restrictive approach. In the five years since the adoption of resolution 33/143, there had been only three cases in which the Secretary-General had decided that the interest of the Organization required an extension of more than six months. Such an approach had caused problems, however, since it was not always easy to find a replacement within six months. In the circumstances he felt that, in the interests 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing administrative and organizational matters within an international organization, specifically regarding staff and retirement age. The language used is formal and bureaucratic, suggesting that the topic is related to the management and governance of the organization.

**Category**
Employment, Administration