SUMMARY REPORT OF THE FIRST ORDINARY MEETING

Transcription

1 Administrative Council IFPC/AC-2/02 Original: English 23 January 2013 (Approved 18 February 2013) Second Ordinary Meeting (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, February 2013) SUMMARY REPORT OF THE FIRST ORDINARY MEETING Opening and Adoption of the Provisional Agenda (document IFPC/AC/-1/01) 1. Pending the election of the IFPC s Administrative Council President, the meeting was chaired by Francesco Bandarin, Assistant Director- General for Culture (ADG/CLT), Representative of the Director-General of UNESCO. 2. After welcoming the Council members 1, ADG/CLT emphasized the changed landscape in which the Fund would now operate and the need to ensure synergy with the existing major conventions in the field of culture, as specifically pointed out in Article 3.1 of the Fund s new Statutes. 3. The members of the Administrative Council then introduced themselves, briefly presenting their background and conveying their feelings and expectations as regards the meeting and the work of the IFPC. 1 IFPC Administrative Council members (all present) Mr Silverse Lisamula Anami (Kenya) Mr Saad A. Al Bazei (Saudi Arabia, Donor Country) Mr Roman Bělor (Czech Republic) Mr Chérif Khaznadar (France) H. E. Ms Luisa Rebeca Sánchez Bello (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Donor Country) Mr Nureldin Satti (Sudan) Mr Ramezanali Vasheghani Farahani (Islamic Republic of Iran) Ms María Elisa Velázquez Gutiérrez (Mexico)

2 The Provisional Agenda (document IFPC/AC-1/01) was adopted without amendments. Item 2 of the approved Agenda: Election of the President and the Vice Presidents of the Administrative Council (document IFPC/AC/- 1/02) 5. In conformity with Article 5.A.1 of the IFPC s Statutes, the members eligible for the Post of President of the Administrative Council were: Mr Silverse Lisamula Anami Mr Roman Bělor Mr Chérif Khaznadar Mr Nureldin Satti Mr Ramezanali Vasheghani Farahani Ms María Elisa Velázquez Gutiérrez 6. Before proceeding to the election, the Council was reminded that according to Rules 2.1 and 2.2 of the Draft Rules of Procedure to be discussed thereafter the President would be elected for a renewable term of two years, and would not have the right to vote. 7. The Members of the Administrative Council unanimously elected Mr Nureldin Satti as President and Mr Ramezanali Vasheghani Farahani and Ms María Elisa Velázquez Gutiérrez as Vice-Presidents. 8. In assuming his role as President, Mr Satti thanked his fellow members of the Council for their confidence and support and pledged to do all he can to be worthy of their confidence. 9. Following his election, Mr. Satti chaired the meeting. Item 3 of the approved Agenda: Drawing of Lots of the Members of the Administrative Council who will serve two-year terms (document IFPC/AC/-1/03) 10. The Administrative Council was reminded that Article 5.A.2 of the Fund s Statutes states that: Members of the Administrative Council shall be appointed for a period of four years. When the Council is first established, three members shall be designated for a period of two years. Members shall be immediately re-eligible for a second term of four years of office. Following this second term, members shall no longer be eligible to be appointed to the Council thereafter.

3 Following a brief debate on the reasons underpinning the two-year term of office for only three Members of the Council (and not four of them, as it could be expected) it was suggested that the Secretariat would study the matter and submit to the next meeting possible amendments of Article 5.A.2 of the Fund s Statutes. Such amendments should seek to ensure an equitable balance between new and serving members as well as geographical balance and the presence of members from donor countries. 12. Pending such possible future amendments, it was decided the Administrative Council should immediately proceed, in compliance with the existing rules, to the drawing of lots of the three Members serving for a of two-year period. 13. As a result of the drawing, the members designated to serve for a period of two years are: Dr Saad A. Al-Bazei; Mr Silverse Lisamula Anami and Mr Nureldin Satti. 14. The members nominated for a period of 4 years are: Ms María Elisa Velázquez Gutiérrez; Ms Luisa Rebeca Sánchez Bello; Mr Chérif Khaznadar; Mr Roman Bělor; Mr Ramezanali Vasheghani Farahani. Item 4 of the approved Agenda: Discussion and Adoption of the Draft Rules of Procedure of the Administrative Council of the IFPC (document IFPC/AC/-1/04) 15. The President of the Administrative Council invited the Secretariat to provide a brief introduction to the Draft Rules of Procedure for the Council. It was explained that the document aimed to offer a methodology and functional framework to facilitate the conduct of the Administrative Council s work in all circumstances. It was additionally brought to the Council s attention that the draft presented referred to the new Statutes approved by the Executive Board at its 187th session, and endorsed by the General Conference in its 36 th Session and was based on the IFPC s Rules of Procedure of 1976 and on the regulations of a number of UNESCO governing and consultative bodies. 16. The President addressed the Council to request possible amendments concerning any of the articles. The Administrative Council suggested no amendments or additions to any of the Articles, and the Rules of Procedure were therefore adopted by the Administrative Council as proposed.

4 - 4 - Item 5 of the approved Agenda: Discussion and Adoption of the Post Description of the Executive Officer of the IFPC (document IFPC/AC/- 1/05) 17. This item was proposed by the Secretariat in compliance with Article 6, paragraph 1 of the Fund s Statutes, which reads: The Director-General of UNESCO, after consultation with the Administrative Council, will designate an Executive Officer of the IFPC recruited through UNESCO s external recruitment process who will ensure the intellectual and operational autonomy of the Fund and will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Secretariat of the Fund 18. In presenting the document, the Secretariat outlined that the position was designed for an operational-level grade P3 (requiring 4 to 7 years of relevant professional experience), at a cost of 253,000 US dollars per biennium. The position would be framed in administrative and technical terms by UNESCO staff rules and would be integrated in the Museums and Creativity Section of the Sector of Culture. The post would be advertised for two months. The Council approved the Post Description of the Executive Officer with no amendments. Item 6 of the approved Agenda: Adoption of the Budget for the Preparation and Implementation of the Second Ordinary Meeting of the Administrative Council of the IFPC (document IFPC/AC/-1/06) 19. The Secretariat introduced the item by explaining that this provisional budget, based on past experience and average administrative standards, intended to provide provisional figures for a two-day meeting. It was also explained that the draft budget contained a line related to supernumerary (General Services) assistance for the two months that precede the meeting, in charge of administrative tasks (like the reservation and purchase of airline tickets, hotel reservations and the preparation of reimbursements). 20. During the discussion on this item it was agreed that (i) it should be clearly specified that this draft budget was provisional ; that (ii) the budgetary line of the Executive Officer in charge of the IFPC would be suppressed (since the related costs will not concern specifically the second ordinary meeting); and that (iii) the listed amounts would be slightly less specific (it is unnecessary to mention how many tickets are included under the

5 - 5 - travel line) and rounded up to more comprehensive figures (for instance, per diem and travel expenses should be set at 7,000 US dollars and 15,000 US dollars respectively). 21. The draft provisional budget of the second ordinary meeting of the Administrative Council was adopted with the above amendments. Item 7 of the approved Agenda: Provisional Agenda of the Second Ordinary Meeting of the Administrative Council of the IFPC (document IFPC/AC/-1/07) 22. In introducing the debate, the President underlined that the Agenda for the Second Ordinary Meeting should include items linked to the operational launch of the Fund. 23. The Provisional Agenda proposed by the Secretariat was deemed to meet this requirement and obtained the approval of the Council. It was therefore adopted with the only addition (as previously discussed, see paragraph 10 above) of the item Possible review of Article 5 of the Statutes of the IFPC. 24. It was agreed that the draft agenda will remain open in the coming months for eventual suggestions by the members of the Council. Item 8 of the approved Agenda: Date of the Second Ordinary Meeting of the Administrative Council of the IFPC (document IFPC/AC/-1/08) 25. According to the Fund s Statutes, Article 5.C.11 the Ordinary Meetings of the Council would be held once annually. To ensure that the Fund enter into an operational phase as soon as possible, two potential dates for a Second Ordinary Meeting were proposed so that this next meeting could be held in eight months approximately. During this period the Secretariat would be able to ensure the competitive recruitment of the Fund s Executive Officer and then allow for his or her installation, familiarization and ability to draft the operational guidelines and prepare the first proposals related to fundraising. 26. The Administrative Council decided that its next Ordinary Meeting shall take place on Monday 18 February and Tuesday 19 February Closing of the Meeting

6 President Satti expressed his satisfaction with this first stage of the re-launch of the Fund s operations and thanked his fellow Council members for their active and constructive participation in the meeting and the Secretariat for their diligent and well appreciated support to the Council s work. 28. On behalf of the Director-General, ADG/CLT also expressed his satisfaction and reiterated that the IFPC s reinstatement comes at a timely and important moment in a difficult financial climate. He further stated that the Fund will enhance UNESCO s ability to achieve its objectives in the areas of culture and development.