Secretariat Report, Programme and Budget

The Representatives,

Recalling Measure 1 (2003) on the establishment of the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty (the Secretariat);

Bearing in mind the Financial Regulations for the Secretariat annexed to Decision 4 (2003);

Decide:

1. to approve the audited Financial Report for 2010/11, annexed to this Decision (Annex 1);

2. to take note of the Secretariat Report 2011/12 (SP 2 rev.1), which includes the Estimate of Income and Expenditures 2011/12, annexed to this Decision (Annex 2);

3. to approve the Secretariat Programme (SP 3 rev.1), including the Budget for 2012/13 and the Forecast Budget for 2013/14, annexed to this Decision (Annex 3);

4. to establish an open-ended Intersessional Contact Group (“ICG”) on financial issues to be convened by the host country of the next Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (“ATCM”). The ICG will:

a) provide guidance, at the request of the Executive Secretary, on the implementation of the budget adopted at this ATCM;
b) take account of the quarterly report of budget implementation, to be provided by the Executive Secretary;
c) provide guidance to the Executive Secretary on the draft budget to be submitted to the next ATCM;
d) undertake any other tasks assigned to it by the ATCM; and
e) report on its work to the next ATCM;

and

5. to request the Executive Secretary to open the ATCM forum for the ICG and to provide assistance to the ICG.