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63 RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AAFI-AFICS HELD AT ILO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA ON
TUESDAY, 1 APRIL 2003, 10 AM
The Chairman of the Association, Anders Tholle, opened the meeting, welcomed George Saddler,
President of FAFICS, Caroline Lepeu of the UNJSPF Geneva Office, Jean-François Outreville of the
UNOG Mutual Health Insurance Society, as well as Mr. Bertrand Juppin de la Fondaumière, Director of
Administration the UN office in Geneva, who would be attending the meeting later. He also welcomed and
introduced Mrs Nana Leigh who would be taking over the Association’s Social Assistant functions in place
of Chantal Mannaert.
Election of Presiden
t
Aamir Ali proposed Jack Martin who served in ILO for 35 years and was last an ADG. He was well-known
for upholding the high principles of international civil service. Mr Martin was elected by acclamation.
In his acceptance address, Mr Martin emphasized Article 2 of the Statutes of the Association and
suggested that at this critically difficult time in international affairs when the UN was under attack, the
Assembly might consider what the Association could do to support the work and the role of the UN
system.
Adoption of the Agenda
Adopted.
Report of the Committee
The Chairman introduced the report and proposed to take it up section by section.
Pensions
At the time of actuarial deficit of the Pension Fund, an across the board reduction of 1.5% of pensions
was instituted in 1984 for all new pensioners from the first cost-of-living adjustment due to them. In view
of the actuarial surplus prevailing at the end of 1999 and 2001, the Pension Board had recommended the
restoration of this reduction provided an actuarial surplus existed at the end of 2003. The value of the
investment funds have fallen in value from around US$ 25 billion to about 20 billion due to the recent fall
in the stock market.
The UN General Assembly had merely noted the Pension Board’s recommendation for this restoration
but refrained from approving it. Implementation of other recommendations by the Pension Board had
been approved subject to a trend of surpluses in future actuarial valuations.
John Fraser recounted the history of the reduction of the pension and Aamir Ali pointed out that the
Board, in 1984, had made the recommendation for the reduction and FICSA had sent out letters
questioning the procedure. George Saddler stated that the reduction was 1.5 percentage points and not
1.5%.
In response to questions regarding the trends in choosing pension tracks, UNJSPF representative - Mme
Lepeu - answered that a majority of the pensioners opt for local track and, in view of the falling value of
the US dollar, many requests have been received for estimates of pension entitlements under the local
track. Also, pensioners in different countries of the Euro zone are affected differently by the cost-of-living
increases in their countries of residence although they are all paid in Euros.
Jacques Bacaly proposed a vote of thanks to the staff of the UNJSPF office in Geneva for their efficient
and friendly help to all pensioners.
FAFICS
Aamir Ali had been the Chair of a Working Group to examine various possible changes in FAFICS. There
has been a rapid growth of relatively small national associations of retirees – particularly in Africa, Asia
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