27 July 1984

Meeting 50

Staff and administrative questions of the Economic Commission for Western Asia

The Economic and Social Council,

Deeply concerned about the high vacancy rate which has prevailed in the Economic Commission for Western Asia for a number of years,

Convinced that the high vacancy rate has had a serious impact on the work programme of the Commission,

Recognizing that repeated efforts have been made by the secretariat of the Commission to find qualified staff from unrepresented or under-represented States in the region covered by the Commission but that difficulties still persist in the recruitment of such staff,

Recognizing also the importance of knowledge of the Arabic language by the staff of the Commission for the effective performance of their work,

1. Urges unrepresented and under-represented States to endeavour to encourage competent personnel to work in the secretariat of the Economic Commission for Western Asia as staff members on a regular or fixed-term basis;

2. Proposes to the General Assembly that it should authorize the Secretary- General to take all necessary measures to enable the Economic Commission for Western Asia to recruit staff from any State member of the Commission to meet the Commission's personnel requirements;

3. Also proposes to the General Assembly that all members of the Economic Commission for Western Asia should be treated in a manner consistent with their full membership in the Commission with regard to employment in the secretariat of the Commission.