By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 22 1995 (IPS)

The North and the South are expressing diametrically opposite views over the ability of the United Nations to tell its story to the world at large.

The United States says the United Nations should “privatise” its public relations functions because the Department of Public Information (DPI) is not cost-effective.

But the 132 developing countries of the Group of 77 say they want the United Nations to open more information centres in Third World countries because these centres are doing a “remarkable” sales pitch for the world body.

Caught in the middle of the conflict is the DPI chief Under- Secretary-General Samir Sanbar who says the DPI is both a blessing and a curse.

“As the public relations arm of the United Nations, we are very visible — and as a result, we are also very vulnerable,” Sanbar told IPS.

Sanbar said his Department has been assigned the task of telling the world why the United Nations is a vital forum for solving problems — “how it aids the weak, feeds the starving, combats war and disease, champions human rights and fundamental freedoms, and promotes the principles of justice and international law.”

And to the best of its ability, the Department has been doing a tremendous job, he said.

But the U.S. and the 15-member European Union say they are disappointed with the DPI which is mandated to provide a better public understanding of the world body.

“With the exception of the public relations activities for the 50th anniversary, criticisms of the United Nations are not being adequately countered by the DPI,” EU spokesman Raphael Munoz of Spain told delegates.

Although the management of public information activities had improved and resources available had been reduced, much work still needs to be done before the EU could be satisfied that the resources devoted to the section were being used efficiently, Munoz said.

The EU wants DPI to use modern technologies — including the Internet — in order to increase productivity.

The Group of 77 has a different story to tell. The DPI is not only “performing creditably well,” but also ensuring a sustained flow of information to technology-deficient Third World nations, says Ronald Allarey of the Philippines, speaking on behalf of the G-77 and China.

The DPI currently has a network of 68 U.N. Information Centres (UNIC) and eight U.N. offices, mostly in developing countries.

A reform-conscious U.S. not only wants to “scale back” the size and cost of the DPI but is also urging the elimination of the 83-member Committee on Information created by the General Assembly in 1978.

The proposed DPI budget for 1995-96 comes to 127.3 million dollars: about four million dollars less than in 1994-1995 and about 3.2 percent less than the Secretariat-wide target of zero growth. Currently, DPI has a staff of 621 worldwide, including 166 U.S. citizens.

Walter Douglas of the U.S.delegation told delegates the first step towards the goal of building a new United Nations is to control the budget and restructure the bureaucracy.

“The U.N. Information Centres — How well do they inform their audiences, especially journalists and educators– about U.N. activities?” he asked.

Since the U.S. wants to gradually privatise the United Nations, Douglas hinted at a possible transfer of DPI functions to the private sector.

If the information centres are not cost-effective, he argued, DPI should examine “outsourci7g” UNIC functions to local university libraries or private institutions.

The proposal to downsize DPI is part of a U.S.-sponsored reform package, which includes the elimination or restructuring of several U.N. social and economic bodies.

These bodies include the U.N. Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the five U.N. regional commissions.

Ju Kuilin of China told delegates the importance of DPI was obvious to all. “The United Nations is gaining in importance and public information was becoming important,” he said.

Public information work was “just as important as the work carried out by tanks in peacekeeping operations,” he added. Therefore it was important that adequate resources be provided to the Department, he said.

Syed Rafiqul Alom of Bangladesh said information centres “were the most important means of disseminating information on the United Nations, particularly in the developing countries.”

Nester Odaga-Jalomay of Uganda placed the problem in an African perspective when he told delegates that DPI was very important for countries in his region.

“While some delegations were talking of Internet, it should be remembered that others were still talking of the telex,” he added.

Excerpt:

By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 22 1995 (IPS)

The North and the South are expressing diametrically opposite views over the ability of the United Nations to tell its story to the world at large.

The United States says the United Nations should “privatise” its public relations functions because the Department of Public Information (DPI) is not cost-effective.

But the 132 developing countries of the Group of 77 say they want the United Nations to open more information centres in Third World countries because these centres are doing a “remarkable” sales pitch for the world body.

Caught in the middle of the conflict is the DPI chief Under- Secretary-General Samir Sanbar who says the DPI is both a blessing and a curse.

“As the public relations arm of the United Nations, we are very visible — and as a result, we are also very vulnerable,” Sanbar told IPS.

Sanbar said his Department has been assigned the task of telling the world why the United Nations is a vital forum for solving problems — “how it aids the weak, feeds the starving, combats war and disease, champions human rights and fundamental freedoms, and promotes the principles of justice and international law.”

And to the best of its ability, the Department has been doing a tremendous job, he said.

But the U.S. and the 15-member European Union say they are disappointed with the DPI which is mandated to provide a better public understanding of the world body.

“With the exception of the public relations activities for the 50th anniversary, criticisms of the United Nations are not being adequately countered by the DPI,” EU spokesman Raphael Munoz of Spain told delegates.

Although the management of public information activities had improved and resources available had been reduced, much work still needs to be done before the EU could be satisfied that the resources devoted to the section were being used efficiently, Munoz said.

The EU wants DPI to use modern technologies — including the Internet — in order to increase productivity.

The Group of 77 has a different story to tell. The DPI is not only “performing creditably well,” but also ensuring a sustained flow of information to technology-deficient Third World nations, says Ronald Allarey of the Philippines, speaking on behalf of the G-77 and China.

The DPI currently has a network of 68 U.N. Information Centres (UNIC) and eight U.N. offices, mostly in developing countries.

A reform-conscious U.S. not only wants to “scale back” the size and cost of the DPI but is also urging the elimination of the 83-member Committee on Information created by the General Assembly in 1978.

The proposed DPI budget for 1995-96 comes to 127.3 million dollars: about four million dollars less than in 1994-1995 and about 3.2 percent less than the Secretariat-wide target of zero growth. Currently, DPI has a staff of 621 worldwide, including 166 U.S. citizens.

Walter Douglas of the U.S.delegation told delegates the first step towards the goal of building a new United Nations is to control the budget and restructure the bureaucracy.

“The U.N. Information Centres — How well do they inform their audiences, especially journalists and educators– about U.N. activities?” he asked.

Since the U.S. wants to gradually privatise the United Nations, Douglas hinted at a possible transfer of DPI functions to the private sector.

If the information centres are not cost-effective, he argued, DPI should examine “outsourci7g” UNIC functions to local university libraries or private institutions.

The proposal to downsize DPI is part of a U.S.-sponsored reform package, which includes the elimination or restructuring of several U.N. social and economic bodies.

These bodies include the U.N. Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the five U.N. regional commissions.

Ju Kuilin of China told delegates the importance of DPI was obvious to all. “The United Nations is gaining in importance and public information was becoming important,” he said.

Public information work was “just as important as the work carried out by tanks in peacekeeping operations,” he added. Therefore it was important that adequate resources be provided to the Department, he said.

Syed Rafiqul Alom of Bangladesh said information centres “were the most important means of disseminating information on the United Nations, particularly in the developing countries.”

Nester Odaga-Jalomay of Uganda placed the problem in an African perspective when he told delegates that DPI was very important for countries in his region.

“While some delegations were talking of Internet, it should be remembered that others were still talking of the telex,” he added.

Excerpt: