American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 1997 and 1998, this process enabled the United States to support "omnibus" resolutions regarding NSGTS. In 1999, the United States continued its informal consultations with the United Kingdom and the Chairman of the C-24, and also engaged other committee members. The United States again joined consensus on the "omnibus" resolution, "Questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands." Despite a productive dialogue with the C-24, the United States voted against a series of resolutions addressing decolonization issues because of unacceptable references to land tenure, and economic and military activities. The United States voted "no" on Resolutions 54/ 92, "Dissemination of Information on Decolonization," (149 to 2 (U.S.), with 3 abstentions); 54/91, "Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples," (141 to 2 (U.S.), with 14 abstentions); and 54/84, "Economic and Other Activities which Affect the Interests of the Peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories" (153 to 2 (U.S.), with 5 abstentions). Year 2000 Computer Problem (Y2K) The U.S. Mission to the United Nations has been an active member of the UN Informatics Working Group chaired by Ambassador Percy Metsing Mangoaela (Lesotho). Through the Informatics Working Group, the U.S. Mission has assisted in the drafting of resolutions directed at improving information technology at the United Nations, and raising awareness of the Y2K problem on a global level. The U.S. Mission provided extensive support to the United Nations related to the planning and organization of the June 22 National Y2K Coordinators Meeting at UN Headquarters in New York. The meeting focused on regional perparedness, community and contingency planning, and dealing with Y2K failures. Y2K Coordinators from 170 countries participated in the meeting. In addition, the Working Group on Informatics worked with the UN Secretariat to ensure that the member states that had not addressed the Y2K problem were made aware of the implications for their own systems and those of their counterparts. In order to facilitate the task of the member states, the Working Group on Informatics took a two-fold approach: 1) a letter from the Information Technology Services Division was circulated to all member states, and included references to reading materials and companies dealing with solutions to the problem; and 2) a separate page on the UN's web site was created to provide all relevant information on the Y2K problem. Security Council Thematic Debates The Security Council has shown an increased willingness to discuss general issues related to peace and security concerns inherent in today's complex humanitarian emergencies. The result was an increased number of thematic debates during 1999 that frequently allowed non-members of the Council to participate. The practice of having thematic debates started in 1992 with "An Agenda for Peace," and continued in 1993 with the Security Council President's statement on the safety of UN forces and personnel deployed in conditions of strife. Thematic debates continued in 1997 with the condemnation of attacks on UN personnel and on the use of force against refugees and civilians in conflict situations. In 1998, there was debate on the protection of humanitarian assistance to refugees and others in conflict situations. The United States has supported keeping the Security Council regularly informed on the humanitarian aspects of potential conflicts and has supported review by the Council of ways to strengthen the protection of civilian populations and the early commencement of post-conflict integration, rehabilitation, and peace-building. The United States has called on the Security Council to support initiatives aimed at strengthening capacities for confronting humanitarian and human rights crises. In a statement to the Security Council on January 21, 1999, Ambassador Burleigh, Charge d'Affaires a.i., said: The United States believes the Security Council should review ways to ensure a smooth transition from international peacekeeping to post-conflict peace-building. We believe it would be desirable for the Secretary General to make recommendations to the appropriate UN agencies to assist in peace-building efforts as peacekeeping operations are drawn down. We stress the importance of a division of labor between peacekeeping activities and longer term peace-building programs. There is a need for closer cooperation and dialogue between the Security Council and various bodies within the UN system. [USUN Press Release #2-(99) 1/21/00] In this context, the Security Council held eight thematic debates during 1999: Promoting Peace and Security: Humanitarian Activities Relevant to the Security Council [Meeting held 1/21/99] Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [S/PRST/1999/6 (2/12/99)]; [S/RES/1265 (9/17/99)] Maintenance of Peace and Security and Post-conflict Peace-building: Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration of Ex-combatants in a Peacekeeping Environment [S/PRST/1999/21 (7/8/99)] Promoting Peace and Security: Humanitarian Assistance to Refugees in Africa [Meeting held 7/26/99] Children in Armed Conflict [S/RES/1261 (8/25/99)] Small Arms [S/PRST/1999/28 (9/24/99)] Responsibility of the Security Council in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security (Terrorism) [S/RES/1269 (10/19/99)] Role of the Security Council in the Prevention of Armed Conflicts [S/ PRST/1999/34 (11/30/99)] Admission of New Members The United Nations admitted the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of Nauru, and the Kingdom of Tonga as members in 1999. As outlined in Chapter II, Article 4 of the UN Charter, membership is open to "peaceloving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations." Admission is "effected by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council." The Security Council considered the applications of Kiribati and Nauru on June 25. It unanimously approved Resolution 1248, which recommended to the General Assembly that Kiribati be admitted to membership. The corresponding resolution on Nauru (Resolution 1249) was also adopted, but by a vote of 14 (U.S.) to 0. China abstained, arguing that Nauru's ties to Taiwan demonstrated that it had not complied with General Assembly Resolution 2758 (1971), which seated the People's Republic of China and expelled Taiwan. The Security Council on July 28 approved without a vote Resolution 1253, which recommended the admission of Tonga. The General Assembly on September 14 approved the admission of Kiribati, Nauru, and Tonga, adopting Resolutions 54/1, 54/2, and 54/3, respectively, without a vote. The United States, as host country, welcomed the new members and expressed the belief that their participation in the United Nations would benefit all members as the United Nations works to advance the goals of a peaceful and prosperous international community. The admissions of Kiribati, Nauru, and Tonga are the first since December 1994 and bring the number of UN members to 188. With the admission of Tuvalu, whose application is now before the United Nations, Switzerland and the Holy See would be the only states that are not UN members. Both currently hold observer status in the organization. Part 2 Reform of the Reform of the United Nations During 1999, UN Secretary General Annan continued to move forward with his program of administrative and budgetary reforms. The 20002001 UN budget came in at virtually the same level as the initial budget approved for the previous biennium, 1998-1999; administrative overhead costs were steadily reduced; and the Office of Internal Oversight Services identified millions of dollars in cost savings. Many of the Secretary General's "Track One" and "Track Two" reforms were implemented, improving the efficiency of UN activities in the areas of development, humanitarian relief, human rights, and peacekeeping. By the end of 1999, however, the General Assembly had not yet acted on some other recommendations put forward by the Secretary General that are priorities for the United States: results-based budgeting, which uses performance indicators to assess progress toward specific objectives, and sunset provisions for new UN programs. The United States continues to press for implementation of these measures. Apart from these efforts, discussions continued on reforming peacekeeping operations and possibly expanding the Security Council to 20 or 21 members, including permanent seats for Germany and Japan. Secretary General's Reform Initiatives UN Secretary General Kofi Annan incorporated many U.S. ideas on improving UN economic and social institutions, activities, and programs into his two 1997 reform packages ("Track One" and "Track Two" reforms). The United States worked to generate member state support for their prompt implementation. In December 1997, the General Assembly adopted the Track One measures and most of the Track Two recommendations by consensus. Track One In March 1997, the Secretary General announced ten administrative, budgetary, managerial, and personnel reforms that he could undertake on his own authority. The budget of the United Nations has remained essentially flat for several years; over 900 personnel positions have been abolished within the United Nations; a Code of Conduct has been adopted; and administrative costs are being reduced. Track Two In July 1997, the Secretary General proposed a more comprehensive set of reforms which streamlined some departments; improved administrative activities; and effected major improvements in development, humanitarian relief, human rights, and peacekeeping activities. Key measures in effect include creating a Deputy Secretary General position; adopting a cabinet-style management structure that brings together senior officials responsible for core UN functions; enhancing coordination of UN development activities at headquarters and in the field; improving delivery of humanitarian assistance; and integrating human rights concerns throughout all UN activities. U.S. View Overall, the United States supports the Secretary General's proposals as a major contribution to the ongoing UN reform process. Action is still needed on two Track Two management proposals: resultsbased budgeting, which focuses on expected results by using performance indicators to measure achievement of those results, and sunset provisions for new UN programs. Getting these provisions implemented will be a top U.S. reform priority for the 55th General Assembly. Reforms in International Organizations: UN As approved by the General Assembly in December 1999, the UN budget for 2000-2001 amounts to $2,535.7 million and reflects a nominal increase of 0.1 percent over the target level for zero nominal growth ($2,533.0 million). The United States disassociated from, but did not block, the consensus adoption of the 2000-2001 budget. As approved, the budget is well below the Secretary General's request of $2,655.0 million, which if adopted would have represented a nominal increase of 4.8 percent. The approved 2000-2001 UN budget continues the trend of essentially straight-line budgets since the mid-1990s. I. Maintenance of Budget Levels Under UN procedure, UN budget levels are revised annually to take account of updated rates of exchange and inflation, as well as other factors that affect budgeted appropriations, e.g., changes in staff vacancy rates, or decisions taken by UN governing bodies. The revised budget levels must be approved by the General Assembly. It has been the practice of the General Assembly to take such decisions by consensus. Nations can expend funds only up to the level authorized by the General Assembly, and it does not have the authority to borrow externally. II. Program Evaluation and Sunset Procedures The United During 1999, the UN's Central Evaluation Unit conducted its normal evaluations of management in several program areas. In addition, the General Assembly and the Secretariat took steps to require managers to evaluate programs in terms of their impact or progress toward objectives. For example, the General Assembly adopted a resolution that focused attention on Secretariat-wide implementation of the existing rules for pro |