By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, December 22/23 -- With the UN Budget committee at work at 2:30 am on December 23, the number of issues on which a contested vote would be called was whittled down to two, or three at most. The main achievements, though, would be under or unreported, committee members complained to Inner City Press.
Surprising to some, Iran is still calling for a vote on the funding of the Panel of Experts of its Sanctions Committee. On the other side of the coin, the Durban III event in September will be voted against by, among others, Canada -- which has already said it won't participate.
Also causing agita at 2 am is a merger of functions of the offices for the Prevention of Genocide and of the Responsibility to Protect. The opponents of R2P say it has never been approved, and oppose the merger.
As the Fifth Committee members mill around past midnight, with bottles of wine and pizza boxes on tables, a deal is said to be near on R2P, while votes are predicted on Iran's Panel of Expert and on Durban III.
Meanwhile some Committee members bemoan the lack of coverage of the bigger ticket items: continuing contracts and so-called common system. As one heart felt developing world committee member told Inner City Press, staff are 70% of the UN's costs and therefore its major asset.
They need to be given security, especially working in some of the most dangerous places in the world. And to pay funds and programs staff more than Secretariat makes no sense. This too, they say, will be part of the package.
The votes, it is predicted, still come December 23. Watch this site.
