The General Assembly,
 
      Reaffirming the budgetary process as adopted in its resolution 41/213 of
19 December 1986 and subsequent relevant resolutions,
 
      Recalling its resolutions 50/214 and 50/215 of 23 December 1995,
 
      Reaffirming also that changes in mandated programmes and activities are
the prerogative of the General Assembly,
 
      Reaffirming further regulation 5.2 of the Regulations Governing
Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of
Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation, as adopted in its resolution
37/234 of 21 December 1982,
 
      Noting that the Secretary-General, taking into account the views of the
competent intergovernmental bodies, may present proposals for changes to
mandated programmes and activities for consideration and approval by such
bodies,
 
      Noting also that Member States can present proposals for changes to
mandated programmes and activities in the context of the relevant
negotiations,
 
      Reaffirming its decision that savings in the programme budget for the
biennium 1996-1997 will not affect the full implementation of mandated
programmes and activities,
 
      Having considered the interim report of the Secretary-General and the
related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions,
 
      1.    Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;
 
      2.    Requests the Secretary-General to submit, through the Advisory
Committee, a report containing proposals for achieving savings as called for
in resolution 50/214 in the manner indicated in paragraph 16 of the report of
the Advisory Committee, no later than 1 September 1996;
 
      3.    Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, until the
above- mentioned report is considered by the General Assembly, all mandated
programmes and activities are implemented in full;
 
      4.    Notes that the programme budget for the biennium 1996-1997 was
adopted in resolution 50/214 under unique circumstances and, as such, does not
constitute a precedent;
 
      5.    Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that productivity gains
will not have a negative impact on his obligations, under Article 101,
paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, to recruit staff on as wide
a geographical basis as possible, even on a temporary basis;
 
      6.    Also requests the Secretary-General not to take any measures that
do not respect the prerogatives of the General Assembly;
 
      7.    Decides to revert to this question at its fifty-first session upon
receipt of the report of the Secretary-General.