UNHCR will take the following steps to ensure greater compliance with the UNHCR Manual (Chapter 4).

(Per cent of total contribution)

B. OHCHR documents

European Commission

Composition of OHCHR

OHCHR will also invite the Division to participate in relevant meetings of the field representatives of OHCHR.

A number of constructive proposals had been made to enhance the Office's facilitation of the work of special procedures and OHCHR would give them careful consideration.

UNHCR will produce a special ledger when rolling out the Management Systems Renewal Project (MSRP) to the concerned UNHCR offices.

The Commission s approach is misguided.

Mr. Jonathan Claridge, European Commission

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Table 1 Expenditure of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2004

European Union, Delegation of the European Commission

In an introductory statement to the item, the representative of UNHCR made a number of observations and proposals from the Office's perspective.

UNHCR is preparing a comprehensive anti fraud policy that includes information and communication technology concerns relevant to UNHCR.

The advance has been posted to a UNHCR UNDP reconciliation account (debit) in MSRP by UNHCR headquarters.

The problem is aggravated by the composition of the new Commission.

With a deficit of 58 million, the financial situation of UNHCR has deteriorated again.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights should be given substantially more resources for this purpose.

UNHCR will remind the field in this respect.

UNHCR agrees with the recommendation.

OHCHR activities at the country level

The Board recommends that UNHCR ensure that its field offices fully comply with the provisions of chapter 4 of its Manual on programme implementation.

In preparation of audit assignments, the UNHCR Audit Service requires access to various UNHCR financial and other reports.

(a) The quality and timeliness of services provided by the Office of the High Commissioner

The Commission s proposal is far from perfect.

Here, too, the Commission plays the role of neutral judge.

I of the present document) that it has undertaken to review governance issues.

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 89 26

It has done so through two reports.

UNHCR agreed with most of the recommendations and committed itself to implement them.

UNHCR must not lose its relative financial stability.

See European Commission, ibid, p.p. 24 25

See European Commission, ibid, p.p. 20 22

The observer for the European Commission also made a statement.

Cooperation with and support from OHCHR

OHCHR also supports the strengthening of their regional networks.

Urges the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

9. Decides to remove the temporal limitation on the continuation of the Office of the High Commissioner contained in its resolution 57 186 and to continue the Office until the refugee problem is solved

While recognizing its role in mobilizing resources for internally displaced persons, UNHCR could not divert funding intended for its work with refugees.

In September, the Standing Committee undertook a preliminary review of financial and budgetary documentation being submitted to the fifty sixth session of the Executive Committee. The Committee received reports on UNHCR's information and communications technology strategy and on internal audit.

OIOS felt that this function, essential for the success of the work of OHCHR, was scattered throughout the Office and had been only partially realized.

This recommendation is being acted upon as UNHCR currently reviews its Practical Guide to the Systematic Use of Standards and Indicators in UNHCR Operations.

UNHCR agreed with the Board's recommendation to ensure that its field offices conduct procurement activities in line with best practices set out in its Manual.

His Government supported UNHCR initiatives to enhance the effectiveness of the Office as well as the principles of voluntary funding of UNHCR programmes, to which the Russian Federation would continue to contribute.