PROVISION OF DOCUMENTATION IN SIX LANGUAGES TO THE JOINT ADVISORY GROUP OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE UNCTAD/WTO

Distr. RESTRICTED TD//EX(31)/CRP.1 6 March 2003 ENGLISH ONLY TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD - executive session Geneva, 10–13 March 2003 Item 5 provisional agenda PROVISION OF DOCUMENTATION IN SIX LANGUAGES TO THE JOINT ADVISORY GROUP OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE UNCTAD/WTO Informal background paper prepared ITC secretariat programme Centre reviewed annually Joint Advisory Group International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, open Member States UNCTAD Members WTO. Group legislative budgetary authority, main intergovernmental policy forum Centre, Trade Development Board UNCTAD WTO General Council reviewing report recommendations annually, performing formal role policy organs Centre. . BACKGROUND 1. late 1960s, ITC joint UNCTAD/GATT(WTO) operation, interpretation Group meetings languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian Spanish) related documentation languages (English, French, Russian Spanish). 2. question providing documentation Arabic Chinese addition languages raised time -fourth session JAG 2001, extract Report JAG: " current language arrangements JAG sessions called documentation submitted languages (English, French, Russian Spanish); interpretation effected official United Nations languages. representatives requested documentation languages customary United Nations meetings. representative, insisting joint United Nations/WTO nature JAG, favour increasing administrative costs." TD//EX(31)/CRP.1 page 2 3. issue raised - session JAG 2002 extract Report: " -fourth session Joint Advisory Group, held spring 2001, proposal issuing official documentation Group Arabic Chinese languages, addition current languages issuance (English, French, Russian Spanish). observed administrative costs purpose increased, insisting joint United Nations/WTO nature JAG, agreed reflected report JAG brought attention parent bodies ITC. representatives asked information status request. secretariat informed Group 2001 report submitted General Council WTO UNCTAD Trade Development Board. request costed included ITC budget submission United Nations WTO decision . , ITC authorization proceed documentation current JAG session issued traditional . Responding question representative action juncture, secretariat suggested letter Chairman - session JAG raise issue UNCTAD Trade Development Board WTO Committee Trade Development session’ JAG report presented. occasion budget cycle, formal budgetary request formal endorsement bodies proposal." 4. JAG meeting April 2002, Chair received letter Ambassador Egypt, raise issue Trade Development Board UNCTAD WTO General Council occasion submission JAG report. 5. JAG report discussed twenty-ninth executive session UNCTAD Trade Development Board held September 2002 extract report Trade Development Board: representative Egypt , speaking behalf Group 77 China, documentation ITC translated official UN languages, including Arabic Chinese. Board decision respect budgetary action . representative China agreed ITC documentation translated official UN languages. require joint decision UNCTAD WTO. borne mind ITC documents formed part official TD//EX(31)/CRP.1 page 3 documentation Board’ session issued official languages. representative Denmark, speaking behalf European Union, ITC delivering valuable technical assistance developing countries. assistance important private sector developing countries’ efforts overcome supply side constraints develop export potential. ITC pursue efforts, cooperation UNCTAD international organizations. regard translation ITC documentation, budgetary implications translation additional languages examined. Deputy Secretary-General UNCTAD resources translation included UNCTAD’ budget. Board convey request translation ITC documentation budget bodies Headquarters. Executive Director ITC ITC drawn attention financial implications increasing number languages ITC documentation. member States decide wished proceed. Action Board Board note report Joint Advisory Group - session, noting question translation ITC documentation languages context budget. 6. recommending approval ITC’ 2003 budget proposal, WTO’ Committee Budget, Finance Administration proposed approach agreed General Council WTO: Committee Budget, Finance Administration endorsed approach: () WTO include provision ITC expenditure translation Arabic Chinese JAG documents 2003 Budget, (ii) WTO ITC WTO leave decision issue UN, (iii) line agreement UN cost sharing ITC expenditure, WTO cover costs arising decision, effective date coming force decision. II. PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS 7. JAG funded ITC’ Regular Programme Budget. budgeted SF 271,900 SF 134,000 translation, production distribution documentation SF 82,000 interpretation. addition languages (Arabic Chinese), 2004, amount approximately SF 80,000 year shared WTO UN equal parts. TD//EX(31)/CRP.1 page 4 8. ITC Plans add proposed regular budget 2004/2005 United Nations 2004 WTO detailed reference additional appropriations required General Assembly endorse recommendation increase number languages documentation submitted JAG __________ Advance Copy: Advance Copy