United Nations (Secretariat Appointments)

HC Deb 28 March 1969 vol 780 cc367-8W

Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the posts of United Nations Assistant Secretary General for the Department of Security Council Affairs, Assistant Secretary General for the Department of Political and Security Council Affairs, Under-Secretary for the Department of Political and Security Council Affairs and Under-Secretary General for the Department of Political and Security Council Affairs have always been held by citizens of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or Yugoslavia; what are their precise duties; to what extent such appointments are rotated among different nationalities; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

This post has been held by citizens of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or Yugoslavia as part of the geographical balance within the United Nations Secretariat which the Secretary General must observe in accordance with the repeatedly expressed wishes of the General Assembly. It is within the competence of the Secretary General as Chief Administrative Officer of the Organisation to rotate such appointments within the appropriate geographical area. The exact functions of the post now described as Under Secretary General for the Department of Political and Security Council Affairs are as follows:

"To provide substantive services, secretariats and documentation for the Security Council, for political committees of the General Assembly, for the Disarmament Commission, the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee and other organs or bodies of the United Nations concerned with disarmament negotiations, for the Committee on the Peaceful uses of Outer Space and the Special Committee on the Policies of Apartheid of the Government of the Republic of South Africa; to provide staff and substantive services for other subsidiary committees or commissions established by the Security Council or the General Assembly and concerned with matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security;

To follow, in accordance with Article 54 of the Charter, the activities of regional agencies pertaining to the maintenance of international peace and security;

To arrange for the provision to the Military Staff Committee of services necessary for its due functioning as provided for by the Charter;

To assist the Secretary General in the discharge of his political responsibilities under the Charter and in pursuance of resolutions of United Nations organs."