103.Regarding morespecific programmatic issues, somedelegations suggested thattheprovision ofassistance toMemberStatesforconsultations andnegotiations on globaleconomic issues, asproposed insubparagraph SA.3(a).shouldbeattherequest ofintergovernmental organs. Theyalsodoubted thatthe"promotion" of options thatwouldfacilitate progress ineconomic negotiations, referred tointhesameparagraph, wasproperly thefunction oftheOffice. Withrespect tosubparagraph SA.3(g),several delegations considered thattheprimaryresponsibility fortheactivities intheareaofdisarmament anddevelopment shouldliewiththeDepartment forDisarmament Affairs. Onedelegation further remarkedthatinthesection oninternational co-operation foreconomic andsocialdevelopment, mention shouldhavebeenmadeoftheCharter ofEconomic RightsandDutiesofStates. 104.Somedelegations expressed concern abouttheproposal toreclassify one0-2posttothelevelofAssistant Secretary-General, notingthattherecommendation oftheJIU5/didnot,initself,constitute themandate forthereclassification. Otherdelegations, however, thought thatthereclassification of thepostcouldusefully contribute tothestrengthening oftheOffice, inparticular ifitwouldstrengthen co-ordination intheUnitedNations system. Some delegations alsoquestioned theneedfor32work-months ofconsultants, asproposedinparagraph SA.i3. Theyaskedwhether someofthestudies tobeundertaken byconsultants couldnotactually beprepared inthesubstantive departments andemphasized theneedtoavoidduplication ofactivities. Itwasalsothought thatthedescription ofthesecondtaskunderparagraph SA.13wasnotquiteclear,especially themeaning ofthephrase"inthecontext oftheUnitedNations". 105.Responding tothequestion andcomments madeduringthediscussion, theDirector-General saidthatthenatureofthefunctions ofhisOfficemadeitdifficult topresent aprogrammatic text,ashadbeendoneforothersections. HisOfficedealtwithsomeissuesthatwerenon-repetitive, andcertain taskscouldnot beplanned inadvance. Thesection oftheorganization manualontheOffice had -19-.I ,:j '1 I2.Discussion108.Atits25thto27thmeetings, on15May, th~Committee considered section 58 oftheproposed programme budgetforthebiennium 1986-1987. Forthe recommendations oftheCommittee, seeparagraphs 622-623 below. 109.TheExecutive Director ofthecentreforScience andTechnology for Development notedthattheCentrehadbeeninexistence forfiveyearsduringwhich timeithadperformed, according toitsmandate, system-wide tasksinthefieldof science andtechnology. Thespecific tasksforeseen fortheforthcoming biennium weresubsumed underfoursubprogrammes andcontained insubsection Cofsection 58.element wasan 111.QU include ofreso progra havesu light 0 thatpr delegat taskof therew therea and4.3 112.Se bienniu soldsi produci issuew legisla ATAS8u onedel resourc 113.Re explainE restrict Secreta system-" Developn elements programn secretal between referrec focal 114.Th beunde expect element termina priorit . element Secreta designa Centre elementIntroduction1.CentreforScience andTechnologY forDevelopment Section 58.107.Concerning theproposal toreclassify the0-2post,theDirector-General noted thatafterlengthy consideration onthematter, hehadcometotheconclusion that abetterandmoreeffective functioning ofhisOfficerequired suchactionatthat time.Inthatcontext, hecalledittotheCommittee's attention thatinorderto avoidanyfinancial implications. thereclassification ofthe0-2postwasbeing accompanied bytherelinquishing ofaP-5post.Thebasisforthepropo~al wasnot onlytherelevant recommendation intheJIUreportbut,moresignificantly, 'the realandsubstantive requirements oftheOfficeinthelightofexperience. The Director-General further statedthathehadnotregarded asexcessive the utilization of32work-months ofconsultants foranofficethatwasassmallashis andhadsuchlargeresponsibilities. Theconsultants wouldbeengaged onanadhoc basisastheneedarose.106.Turning tothequestion oftheco-ordinating function ofhisOffice, the Director-General assured theCommittee thateveryeffortwasbeingmadetoavoid duplication withtheactivities ofsubstantive departments. Hecitedinstances in whichco-ordination ofactivities hadimproved owingtotheexistence ofhis Office.' WithintheunitedNationsitself,hisOffice hadbeenactively involved in thepreparation oftheproposed programme budgetcurrently beforetheCommittee. Onasystem-wide basis,henotedtheco-ordinating roleofhisOfficein
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the proposed program budget for the biennium 1986-1987, with a focus on the Center for Science and Technology for Development and its role in international economic development, disarmament, and development. The text also touches on issues related to the organization and coordination of the United Nations system.

**Category**
Economic development, Science and technology