A/RES/72/262 Special subjects relating to the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2018–2019 political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council Recalling section XX of its resolution 70/248 A, section V of its resolution 70/248 B, section XIX of its resolution 71/272 A and section VII of its resolution 71/272 B of 6 April 2017, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General 46 and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, 47 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General; 46 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports of the Advisory Committee, 47 subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Reaffirms its commitment to consider the review of the arrangements on the funding and backstopping of the special political missions and recommendations of the Advisory Committee, and expresses its commitment to consider this matter, with a view to making a decision, without prejudging the outcome, at the main part of its seventy-third session; 4. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to present future budget proposals for the special political missions no later than the last week of October; 5. Reiterates that the Secretary-General has to ensure that the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity serve as the paramount consideration in the employment of staff, with due regard to the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in accordance with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations; 6. Notes that the continuing requirement for posts that have been vacant for two years or longer should be reviewed and justifications provided for their retention, or those posts should be proposed for abolishment; 7. Recalls its stipulation that the use of external consultants should be kept to an absolute minimum and that the Organization should use its in-house capacity to perform core activities or to fulfil functions that are recurrent over the long term; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to take measures to improve transparency in the use of extrabudgetary funding in special political missions; 9. Reaffirms that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters; 10. Decides to reduce the resources for operational requirements for special political missions by 1 per cent; __________________ 46 47 22/27 A/72/371, A/72/371/Add.1, A/72/371/Add.2, A/72/371/Add.3, A/72/371/Add.4, A/72/371/Add.5, A/72/371/Add.6, A/72/371/Add.7 and A/72/371/Add.8. A/72/7/Add.10, A/72/7/Add.11, A/72/7/Add.12, A/72/7/Add.13, A/72/7/Add.14, A/72/7/Add.15, A/72/7/Add.16, A/72/7/Add.17 and A/72/7/Add.18. 17-23363