DECISION

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT OF THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL

The Conference

Recalling that the Director-General was appointed by the Conference at its First Session for a term of four years, beginning on 13 May 1997 and ending on 12 May 2001;

Recalling that no recommendation on the terms of appointment of the Director-General was submitted to the Conference, as the responsible organ of the Organisation, at its First Session for a decision;

Noting that no comparison with the practice of organisations within the United Nations system was carried out by the Preparatory Commission when preparing the supporting documentation for the appointment of the Director-General;

Noting that concerns have been expressed that the current arrangements contain substantial anomalies;

Bearing in mind the legal requirement for a proper basis for the terms of appointment of the Director-General;

Desiring to ensure that the terms of appointment are consistent with the practice of organisations within the United Nations system;

Hereby:

Directs the Technical Secretariat to prepare and circulate to Member States, not later than 1 January 1998, a comprehensive survey of the terms of appointment of executive heads of other international organisations and specialised agencies of the United Nations system;

Reaffirms the need to ensure the equivalency between the terms of appointment of the Director-General and those of other executive heads of international organisations and specialised agencies of the United Nations system;

Decides that the Executive Council, at its Eighth Session, in January 1998, shall take a decision on the terms of appointment of the Director-General, which shall include the following elements: net base salary, representation allowance, benefits under the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules (including social security, post adjustment and dependency allowance), housing allowance and a mechanism to ensure that the terms of appointment of the Director-General remain in line with those of other executive heads of international organisations and specialised agencies of the United Nations system, and shall conclude a contract with the Director-General accordingly.

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