A/RES/55/258 II Human resources planning Reaffirms the provisions contained in section III of its resolution 53/221; III Contractual arrangements Having considered the proposals of the Secretary-General on new contractual arrangements, 1. Decides to revert to this issue at its fifty-seventh session; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to submit his definitive proposals, in accordance with the steps outlined in paragraph 50 of his report, on new contractual arrangements, spelling out the differences between existing and proposed types of appointments, for consideration by the General Assembly; IV Recruitment and placement Recognizing the value of a transparent process of recruitment, placement and promotion in the Organization, Having considered the proposals of the Secretary-General concerning changes to the system of recruitment, placement and promotion, 1. Endorses the views and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in paragraphs 8 to 11 and annex VIII of its report,4 subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 2. Requests the Secretary-General 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; 3. Reiterates that all external vacancy announcements should be submitted to the permanent missions of Member States and be displayed on the notice boards in United Nations premises, as well as posted on the United Nations home page, decides that they should be effectively circulated on the date of issue and that the deadline for the submission of applications should be at least two months from the date of issue and, for unplanned vacancies, such as, inter alia, death or sudden departure of staff, the SecretaryGeneral may reduce the deadline for applications for external vacancies to 30 days if he deems it to be in the best interests of the Organization, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly thereon; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate internal vacancy announcements to permanent missions when issued; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to issue a monthly bulletin electronically that would encompass all Professional and General Service vacancies in the United Nations, including peacekeeping operations, without prejudice to the traditional means of dissemination of vacancy announcements; 4 2 A/55/499.