Action on Drafts
The Committee first approved, without a vote, a draft resolution on financial reports and audited financial statements and reports of the Board of Auditors (document A/C.5/57/L.84). The draft was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee, BOGDAN DRAGULESCU (Romania), who had conducted informal consultations on the matter. By the text, the Assembly would accept the audited financial statements on the United Nations peacekeeping operations for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002. Commending the Board of Auditors for the quality of its report, it would take note of and endorse the Board of Auditor’s recommendations, as well as those of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).
The Committee then took up a draft resolution on gratis personnel provided by governments and other entities (document A/C.5/57/L.65). Mr. Dragulescu introduced the text, by the terms of which the Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General’s annual report on such personnel, covering the period from
1 January to 31 December 2002, as well as the related ACABQ report. It would request the Secretary-General to provide, in subsequent reports and on a biennial basis, information on the use of gratis personnel, including their nationality, duration of service, department where employed and functions performed.
The Committee approved the draft resolution without a vote.
Programme Budget for Biennium 2002-2003
Under this agenda item, the Committee had before it a draft decision on the standards of accommodation for air travel (document A/C.5/57/L.64). Following informal consultations, OLEKSII IVASCHENKO (Ukraine) introduced the text, by the terms of which the Assembly would decide to take note of the related reports of the Secretary-General and the ACABQ and request the Secretary-General to report on the matter on a biennial basis.
Acting without a vote, the Committee approved the draft decision.
Next before the Committee was a draft resolution on the salary and retirement allowance of the Secretary-General and the salary and pensionable remuneration of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (document A/C.5/57/L.74). The Committee approved the draft, which was introduced by Vice-Chairman of the Committee, GUILLERMO KENDALL (Argentina), following informal consultations, without a vote.
According to the text, the Assembly would concur with the ACABQ’s recommendations concerning the salary and retirement allowance of the Secretary-General, as well as with the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on the salary and pensionable remuneration of the UNDP Administrator. It would also approve the amendment to paragraph 1 of annex I of the United Nations Staff Regulations, with effect from 1 January 2003. The ACABQ would be requested to submit proposals to the Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, with a view to formalizing conditions and procedures related to the salary and retirement allowance of the Secretary-General and the salary and pensionable remuneration of the UNDP Administrator.
Vice-Chairman of the Committee MICHEL TILEMANS (
Belgium) then introduced a draft resolution on the financial situation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) (document A/C.5/57/L.88), by the terms of which the Assembly would approve the release of the amount of $250,000 that was set aside in the contingency fund for the current biennium as the additional provision to the Institute to continue its core activities in 2003. At the same time, the Assembly would stress that the contingency fund is not intended to be used as a recurring source of programme funding. The Secretary-General would be requested to report to the fifty-eighth session on the financial situation of the Institute.
Expressing regret that the nomination of the Director for INSTRAW had not yet taken place, impairing the capacity of the Institute to function properly, the Assembly would further urge the Secretary-General to appoint immediately a Director at the D-2 level and inform the Working Group on the Future Operations of INSTRAW of the designation of the nominee. One year after the appointment of the Director, the Institute would be requested to report on its work programme and the implementation of the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services contained in its report on the audit of the Institute.
Commenting on the draft, the representative of the
United States said that his delegation had acted in the spirit of compromise and good will during negotiations on the text and would not stand in the way of its adoption. He wanted to remind the Committee, however, that in 2001 the Committee had agreed to provide a $600,000 subvention to INSTRAW. In 2002, an amount of $250,000 had been given to the Institute. Now, another $250,000 would be released from the contingency fund to allow the Institute to be effective. Time had come for results. He hoped that the Director of the Institute would be appointed in the near future and would be able to draw resources for the Institute. He hoped no further funds would be requested from the contingency fund.
The text was then adopted without a vote.
Speaking after the approval of the draft, the representative of
Morocco, on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, welcomed the achieved consensus on the draft and urged the Secretary-General to appoint immediately a Director at the D-2 level for INSTRAW headquarters in the Dominican Republic. She said the Group attached great importance to the proper functioning of INSTRAW and believed that a permanent solution should be found to the financial problem of the institution. She thanked those Member States that had made pledges or contributed financially to the Institute and appealed to other Member States to do likewise.
The representative of
Peru, on behalf of the Rio Group, agreed with the position of the Group of 77 and China and said that due importance should be attached to the gender issues. The Rio Group wanted to reiterate the urgent need for an appointment of a Director for the Institute. She hoped that such an appointment would allow INSTRAW to proceed with the revitalization of the Institute and continuation of its important work for the advancement of women.
The representative of the
Dominican Republic, associating himself with statements made on behalf of the Group of 77 and the Rio Group, said he was pleased at the consensus in approving the draft resolution. With the release of the second $250,000 pursuant to recommendations of the Working Group and the imminent appointment of the Director, he hoped that INSTRAW would develop its activities with a view to revitalization. One more step had been taken in the right direction to make resources available to institutions that carried out commendable work for the developing world. He urged voluntary contributions for revitalization of the Institute.
The Committee then turned to another draft resolution (document A/C.5/57/L.90), which was also approved without a vote. By the text, the Assembly would take note of
the proposed budget outline for 2004/2005 for the International Trade Centre (ITC) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)/World Trade Organization (WTO) and request the Secretary-General to provide for documentary language service to the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) of the Centre in Arabic and Chinese within the proposed programme budget to be submitted for the biennium. Also by the text, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to initiate consultations with the ITC and WTO for a joint review of the administrative arrangements for the ITC and reaffirm paragraph 30 of its resolution 56/253, which, in turn, reaffirms the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation. It also reaffirms that the application of rule 105.6(a) should continue to reflect the understanding that approval of the medium-term plan and the programme budget constitute the reaffirmation of the mandate reflected therein.
The draft was introduced by Mr. DRAGULESCU (
Romania).
Speaking after approval of the text, the representative of
Cuba said that her delegation’s acceptance of the reference to regulation 105.6(a) did not prejudice any position taken in reference to other matters. The reference to that rule affected only 50 per cent of the ITC budget. That reference did not prejudice any subsequent decision on the 50 per cent financed by the WTO. It was important to realize that the text was dealing with an independent organization with an independent set of rules. It was not in the Organization’s power to impose its rules on it.
Office of Internal Oversight Services
By the terms of a draft resolution contained in document A/C.5/57/L.94, which was introduced by COLLEN V. KELAPILE (Botswana), the Assembly would take note of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) on the management review of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and request the Secretary-General to report on the matter at its fifty-eighth session.
It would also decide to revert to the issue of administration and management of the Office of the High Commissioner in the context of its consideration of the proposed programme budget for 2004/2005, as well as the issues relevant to the functioning of the Office addressed in its resolution 57/300, in the context of the procedures its establishes for consideration of the progress report on the implementation of the reform measures considered in that resolution.
The text was approved without a vote.
The representative of Cuba, explaining her position on the text, said that under paragraphs 2 and 3 it was fundamental that there be an intergovernmental debate on the report of the Secretary-General as requested, including the recommendations of the OIOS. She expressed reservations on those recommendations, which went beyond the OIOS mandate. She reserved specific views on the recommendations until the intergovernmental review, as scheduled in paragraph 3.
Financing of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. TILEMANS (Belgium) then introduced the draft resolution on the administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations (document A/C.5/57/L.79), which addresses such issues as results-based budgeting; communication and information technology; training; recruitment; travel; and procurement.
By the terms of the text, the Assembly would welcome the Secretary-General’s efforts to implement the results-based budgeting format and the timely presentation of the proposed peacekeeping budgets for 2003/2004. When applying the results-based budgeting to peacekeeping financing, it would request the Secretary-General to take into account the specific characteristics and mandates of each mission. It would also reiterate that the format of budget presentation should be in accordance with the mandates of the General Assembly and reaffirm that the budget documentation should contain all information needed for Member States to reach well-informed decisions, including full justification of required resources.
The Secretary-General would also be requested to develop further the link between mission objectives and resources required for 2004/2005. At the sixtieth resumed session, the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) would be requested to present an evaluation of the implementation of results-based budgeting in peacekeeping operations.
The Assembly would note with concern the observations of the ACABQ on the expansion of communication and information technology programmes in some peacekeeping missions undergoing downsizing and its caution against an apparent tendency to acquire the most up-to-date communications and data processing equipment, which might not be appropriate to the practical needs of the missions. It would request the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the functional requirements of field missions in that respect and to ensure that such a report is consistent with the direction of the Organization’s broader information and communications technology strategy.
On training, the Secretary-General would be requested to ensure that investments in training are need-based, aimed at improving efficiency and performance and congruent with the career development of staff. Another request would be to refine the management policy of training and related Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and missions’ travel costs.
Noting with concern the continuing delays in the recruitment of personnel in the DPKO, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to encourage greater use of national staff, whenever possible and cost-effective, and urge him to expedite recruitment for field missions. It would also stress that any reclassification of posts should be consistent with relevant resolutions and United Nations rules and regulations. Regarding travel, the Assembly would reiterate that future resource requests should be adequately justified, including how such travel will help achieve a measurable result in fulfilling stated objectives.
On procurement and contract management, the Secretary-General would be requested to submit a comprehensive report to the fifty-eighth resumed session, containing specific proposals addressing any possible conflict of interest that might arise in that area concerning United Nations staff members associated with the procurement cycle. According to the text, such proposals should address the feasibility of establishing a code of ethics, a declaration of independence and provisions to ensure confidentiality of information associated with staff members’ functions.
Speaking before action on the text, the representative of the United Statesannounced that of 1 May his country had paid $134 million towards assessments totalling $139 million, 96.6 per cent of his country’s peacekeeping assessments. The United States had also paid an additional $227 million towards outstanding assessments totalling $361 million from prior years.
The text was approved without a vote.
Speaking in explanation, the representative of
Cuba reiterated her understanding about operative paragraph 5 that the Secretariat would continue its current format for budget reports, providing all information. The Member States must know what the resources were being used for, she said.
The representative of Nigeria said it was her understanding that the resolution would cover broad policy issues and not specific financial issues for individual missions. Regarding the section on recruitment, she expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chairman and delegates for support regarding dealing with issues of high vacancy rates. Paragraph 16 noted the continuing delays in recruitment in the DPKO and its impact on peacekeeping operations, particularly in Africa. She hoped that, through adoption of the draft, vacancy rates would be brought down substantially.
Also before the Committee was a draft resolution on the
management of contingent-owned equipment arrangements (document A/C.5/57/L.71). HAILE SELASSIE GETACHEW (
Ethiopia) introduced the text, by the terms of which the Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General’s report, and the ACABQ’s recommendations in its related report. It would affirm the importance of conducting peacekeeping operations with maximum efficiency and the need to minimize delays in processing reimbursements to troop- and equipment-contributing countries.
Recognizing that delay and uncertainty in reimbursements to troop-contributing countries of troop and contingent-owned-equipment costs adversely affected the ability of troop-contributing countries to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report taking into account the ACABQ’s observations, and make suggestions for any modification to the current reporting cycle to the Working Group on Reimbursement of Contingent-owned Equipment at its forthcoming meeting in February 2004.
It would also request the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the basis of the Working Group’s recommendations on issues requiring legislative action by the Assembly.
The Committee approved the draft without a vote.
A draft resolution on the status of implementation of the strategic deployment stocks (document A/C.5/57/L.72), introduced by Mr. KENDALL (Argentina), would have the Assembly take note of the Secretary-General’s report and endorse the ACABQ’s recommendations, requesting the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation.
[In its report (document A/57/772/Add.9), the ACABQ notes as of February 2003, obligations, disbursements and “pre-encumbrances” -- requisitions that are being processed prior to raising obligations -- related to strategic deployment stocks amounted to some $115.8 million. Of that amount, only relatively small amounts reflect actual disbursements and obligations. In that regard, it expresses concern that the low level of disbursements and obligations is indicative of slow progress in the implementation of the strategic deployment stocks.]
Also by the draft, the Assembly would decide to extend the validity period in respect of the resources approved in its resolution 56/292 to 30 June 2004. The Secretary-General would also be requested to submit separate reports on the implementation of strategic deployment stocks and on the budget and performance of the United Nations Logistics Base (UNLB).
Acting without a vote, the Committee approved the draft resolution.
The Committee then turned to a draft resolution on death and disability benefits (document A/C.5/57/L.73). Mr. GETACHEW (Ethiopia) introduced the text, by the terms of which the Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General’s report and decide that, in future, information on death and disability benefits be included in the overview of the general report on peacekeeping operations.
The draft was approved without a vote.
The Committee then turned to a draft resolution on the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund (document A/C.5/57/L.76), which was introduced by Mr. TILEMANS (Belgium). By the terms of the draft, the Assembly would take note of the status of contributions to the Fund as of 31 December 2002. It would endorse the ACABQ’s recommendation thereon, and request the Secretary-General to ensure its full implementation. It would decide to apply some $33.25 million, representing the amount in excess of the authorized level of $150 million for the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund, to the requirements of the support account for peacekeeping operations for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004. The Assembly would also request the Secretary-General, consequent upon the full establishment of the strategic deployment stocks and the pre-mandate commitment authority, to review the level of the Fund and to report thereon at the second part of its fifty-eighth session.
It approved the text without a vote.
The Committee next took up a draft decision on the
write-off of contingent-owned equipment at liquidated missions (document A/C.5/57/L.77). Mr. GETACHEW (
Ethiopia) introduced the text, by the terms of which the Assembly, having considered the note by the Secretary-General and the related report of the ACABQ, would concur with the Secretariat’s request. [In the Secretary-General’s note, the Secretariat requested Member States to concur with proposed reimbursable amounts in order to certify claims by 30 June 2003.]
Acting without a vote, the Committee approved the draft decision.
As the Committee turned to the peacekeeping support account, Mr. TILEMANS (Belgium) then introduced a draft resolution contained in document A/C.5/57/L.85. By the text, the Assembly would approve the support account requirements for 2003/2004 in the amount of $70.29 million, including 702 continuing posts, deciding to maintain for another budget period the current funding mechanism for the account. It would also take note of the Secretary-General’s report on the financial performance of the support account for 2001/2002.
Recognizing the importance of the United Nations being able to respond to conflict situations and rapidly deploy peacekeeping operations within 30 to
90 days upon adoption of relevant Security Council resolutions, the Assembly would also recognize that adequate support should be provided for all phases of peacekeeping, including liquidation and termination of missions.
The Secretary-General would be requested to review the level of the support account, on a regular basis, taking into consideration the number, size and complexity of peacekeeping operations. The Board of Auditors would be requested to review the implementation of the recommendations of the Special Committee for Peacekeeping Operations and the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations, to gauge the effects of management reform measures. The Assembly would also urge the Secretary-General to continue to identify measures to increase the productivity and efficiency of the support account and affirm the need for both adequate funding for backstopping of peacekeeping operations and full justification for such funding in budget submissions.
Further, the Assembly would reaffirm the need to ensure delegation of authority to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and field missions in strict compliance with relevant decisions, resolutions, rules and procedures and reaffirm that any delegation of authority requires full accountability of programme managers. It would request the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on measures in this regard and the criteria used for the recruitment of support accounts posts, bearing in mind that the system of desirable ranges does not currently apply to support account posts.
Turning to staff requirements, the Assembly would regret that the D-2 post for Change Management is still vacant and urge the Secretary-General to fill it as soon as possible. It would also decide to review at its resumed fifty-eighth session the existing posts approved in several resolutions, including 55/238, 56/231 and 56/293, in order to consider their justification, taking into account the ongoing evaluation by the OIOS of the recent restructuring of the Peacekeeping Department.
Among the OIOS posts to be funded through the support account, the Assembly would approve the establishment of eight posts for the Investigations Division, to be divided evenly between the regional hubs in Vienna and Nairobi, and decide to review them in the next support account budget. Instead of approving the amount covering six months of consultancy services for three experts, the Assembly would establish, on a trial basis, a P-4 post in the Monitoring, Evaluation and Consulting Division to undertake oversight functions with regard to military aspects of peacekeeping. It would also approve the transfer of 27 resident auditors to the support account from peacekeeping operations budgets, to be deployed as necessary, bearing in mind that whenever a mission’s mandate is adjusted or terminated, the number of audit posts should be adjusted or terminated accordingly.
Another human resources decision would involve the need to rejustify in subsequent budget submissions any support account posts that remain vacant and new posts that are not filled for 12 months from the date of their establishment. The Assembly would also request the Secretary-General to include in the next support account report details on both upward and downward reclassification of posts, as well as the breakdown of appointments to reclassified posts in the previous two years and annual data thereafter.
On gender mainstreaming, the Assembly would decide that the gender adviser would be responsible for all relevant operational and related activities within individual mandates of various peacekeeping missions, as well as each mission’s operations in the field. It would affirm that the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women is the competent capacity for gender mainstreaming of the United Nations as a whole. In this regard, the DPKO would be requested to establish an effective coordinating mechanism with the Special Adviser ensuring that all plans of action on gender mainstreaming in peacekeeping operations are consistent with existing mandates.
Stressing that creation of a gender adviser in the Best Practices Unit should not in itself lead to the establishment of a gender unit in the DPKO, the Assembly would also emphasize the importance of not duplicating functions and capacities that already exist elsewhere in the Secretariat. It would decide to review the establishment and the level of the gender adviser post in the context of the above-mentioned review of recently authorized posts within the DPKO.
The Committee approved the text without a vote.
In explanation, the representative of
Canada, also speaking on behalf of Australia and New Zealand, said he was pleased that the post of gender adviser had been established in the DPKO. It was an important step forward. However, the post merited a higher classification and he looked forward to further discussions in that regard. The Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General had the responsibility for gender mainstreaming throughout the Organization, however, as gender mainstreaming was the responsibility of the Secretary-General. Nothing in the resolution should prevent the Secretary-General from proposing strengthening gender mainstreaming in other departments.
The representative of
Algeria said that he appreciated the fact that consensus had been reached on the text. Of particular interest was the decision related to the review of the support account posts approved in the last four resolutions on the matter, including today’s. He hoped the Secretariat would include in its next report on the support account all the necessary information and justification to facilitate the review of all those posts.
The representative of South Africa said that, according to paragraph 18 of the draft, the Assembly would decide that support account posts that remained vacant for 12 months would require rejustification in future budget submissions. She agreed to that provision with the understanding that the arrangement would not be applied to regular budget, tribunal or individual missions. In addition, the decision should not have a negative impact on the role of the United Nations in ensuring and maintaining peace and security around the world. While the arrangement might ensure greater accountability by the Secretariat in filling the posts, it could also further exacerbate the high vacancy rate.
The representative of
Egypt, referring to paragraphs 20 to 23, said that divided accountability should not be the policy in the Secretariat. Capacities and functions should be streamlined and duplications avoided. He, therefore, valued paragraph 22 regarding functions and capacities in the Secretariat. Streamlining of management was very important to the work of the Organization.
The representative of
Cuba associated herself with statements from the representatives of Algeria, South Africa and Egypt.
The representative of
Trinidad and Tobago associated himself with those delegations that had said, regarding paragraphs 20 to 24, that the post deserved a higher classification. He stressed the need for a single gender adviser in DPKO.
Mr. TILEMANS (Belgium) introduced the draft resolution on feasibility of consolidating the accounts of the various peacekeeping operations (document A/C.5/57/L.86), by which the Assembly would decide to defer consideration of that question to the second part of its resumed fifty-eighth session, and request the Secretary-General to provide a comprehensive report, taking into account the views expressed, questions raised and information requested by Member States, including a simulation of the options proposed.
The text was approved without a vote.
Speaking after approval of the text, the representative of Egypt said that his delegation wanted to reconfirm that the decision was one way of resolving the problems facing countries providing contingents for peacekeeping and were owed money by the United Nations. The proposal would also help to resolve the budgetary problems, which led to delays in payment of assessed contributions.
The report to be provided by the Secretary-General should be clear and neutral, he said. All the questions should be answered. The purpose of the report, in fact, was to help Member States obtain the information needed to make important decisions. It was necessary to explain the impact that the decision could make on the situation. The ACABQ also should offer its observations on the impact of the proposal, so that a proper decision could be taken on the matter.
Approving, without a vote a draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Logistics Base (UNLB) at Brindisi, Italy (document A/C.5/57/L.91), the Committee recommended that the Assembly take note of its financial performance for 2001/2002 and approve the cost estimate of some $22.21 million for 2003/2004. By the terms of the text, the Assembly would decide to apply $702,800 in unencumbered balance and other income to the resources required for the upcoming financial period.
The Assembly would decide to continue its consideration of the UNLB financing during its fifty-eighth session. When conducting a comprehensive examination of the merits of establishing in Brindisi a global procurement hub for all peacekeeping missions, the Secretary-General would be requested to address the merits of relocating all support account posts and non-post resources pertaining to the Logistics Division at Headquarters to Brindisi, as well as those related to communications and information technology services for peacekeeping.
The text was introduced by Mr. KENDALL (Argentina).
In connection with the review of the rates of reimbursement to the governments of troop-contributing States, the Committee had before it a draft resolution contained in document A/C.5/57/L.92. By the text, the Assembly would request the Working Group on reform procedures for determining such reimbursement to consider the proposed methodology contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the matter and to report on the results of its review during the fifty-ninth session.
The text was adopted without a vote following an introduction by
Mr. GETACHEW (Ethiopia).
Also adopted without a vote was a draft resolution on the OIOS report on the audit of the policies and procedures of the DPKO for recruiting international civilian staff for field missions (document A/C.5/57/L.93), which was introduced by Mr. KELAPILE (Botswana). By the terms of this text, the Assembly would take note of the report and request the Secretary-General to conduct, through the OIOS, a follow-up audit on such policies and procedures. A report on the matter would be submitted to the Assembly at its resumed fifty-eighth session.
On the financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), the Committee had before it a draft resolution contained in document A/C.5/57/L.70, by the terms of which the Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General’s report on the financial performance of the Force in 2001/2002 and decide to appropriate some $41.81 million for the 2003/2004 financial period, inclusive of some $40.01 million for the maintenance of the Force, $1.38 million for the support account and $422,400 for the Logistics Base.
By the text, the Assembly would also take note of the status of contributions to the Force as at 31 March, including the outstanding amount of $25.7 million (some 2 per cent of the total assessed contributions). It would note with concern that only 33 Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full and urge all others to ensure their payment.
The Assembly would further endorse the recommendations of the Advisory Committee and request the Secretary-General to ensure full compliance with them, without prejudice to a future discussion and decision on the proposal to create the post of Deputy Force Commander. In connection with the request for three General Service staff posts, the Assembly would authorize the Secretary-General to fill them for a period not to exceed one year and invite him to resubmit it, with full justification, in connection with the budget proposal for 2004/2005. Full justification would also be requested in connection with the proposed upgrade of the Chief Administration Officer for the mission. The Assembly would decide to eliminate the vacant Field Service driver position in the Office of the Force Commander.
The draft also addresses the difficulties resulting from the relocation of the Force’s headquarters from Damascus to Camp Faouar, welcoming the fact that all outstanding issues have been satisfactorily resolved. In this regard, the Assembly would emphasize the need for continuing the dialogue between staff and management, consistent with the existent mechanisms in all peacekeeping missions.
Introducing the text, Mr. KENDALL (Argentina) said that in operative paragraph 19, the correct number was $40.09 million, and in paragraph 21, $982,100.
The Director of the Peacekeeping Financing Division, CATHERINE POLLARD, explained that the use of the term “take note” in paragraph 9 of the draft, in the Secretariat’s interpretation, meant neither approval nor disapproval of the contents. In its resolution 55/488, the General Assembly had reiterated that the terms “take note” and “notes” were neutral terms that constituted neither approval, nor disapproval.
The representative of
Syria thanked the Secretariat for that clarification and asked that UNDOF be informed of the meaning of that term.
The text was then approved without a vote.
The Committee then took up the draft resolution on financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) (document A/C.5/57/L.78), which had been introduced by Morocco on behalf of the Group of 77 and China (see Press Release GA/AB/3569 of 29 May). By the terms of the draft, the Assembly would take note of the financial performance report for the Force for the 2001-2003 period and would decide to appropriate to the special account for UNIFIL the amount of
$94.06 million for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004, inclusive of
$90 million for the maintenance of the Force, $3.11 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations, and $950,200 for the Logistics Base.
As for the unencumbered balance and other income of some $20.86 million for the period ended on 30 June 2002, the respective shares of Member States that had fulfilled their financial obligations to the Force would be set off against their apportionment for 2003/2004. The shares of those States that had not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Force would be set off against their outstanding obligations. T he increase of $398,800 in estimated staff assessment income in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2002 shall be added to the credit from the unencumbered balance and other income.
Emphasizing that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active missions, the Assembly would also encourage the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel participating in the Force under the auspices of the United Nations.
Further, the Assembly, expressing deep concern that Israel did not comply with several previous resolutions on the matter, the latest of which was resolution 56/214 of 21 December 2001, would stress that that country should strictly abide by them and would stress once again that Israel shall pay
$1.12 million from the incident at Qana on 18 April 1996.
The representative of the United States said that the fourth preambular paragraph and operative paragraphs 3, 4 and 14 of the text were not procedurally appropriate. They violated the spirit of Article 17 of the Charter, which held that “expenses shall be a collective responsibility” of the Organization.
On the request of the United States, the Committee decided to hold a separate vote on those paragraphs.
The representative of Lebanon, on the point of order, asked the Secretariat to confirm that the amount in operative paragraph 14 was the total actual expenses resulting from the incident at Qana.
Ms. POLLARD confirmed that the amount, indeed, was the amount receivable from the Government of Israel.
The Committee then decided to retain the paragraphs in question by a vote of 80 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 47 abstentions (see
Annex I).
Speaking in explanation of vote after the vote, the representative of Israel said that his delegation had voted against the paragraphs. Its position was well known and had been articulated in previous sessions. He would refrain from repeating it. However, he wanted to make clear that his delegation objected to introduction of political language in technical resolutions and singling out one country in a discriminatory manner. Such resolutions harmed the credibility and reputation of the Committee.
The representative of Lebanon said that his country complied with the principle of collective responsibility, in particular, in accordance with the General Assembly resolution, which set the principles for the scale of assessments on peacekeeping. But that did not contradict the responsibility of a State for its acts and their consequences, including compensation for damage. According to Assembly resolution 55/235, where circumstances warranted, special consideration should be given to the situation of the States that were victims of events or actions that led to peacekeeping operations. For that reason, compensation should be paid to the United Nations for the damage as a result of the attack in Qana.
The representative of
Peru, also in explanation of the vote, said she had voted in favour of the paragraphs, but there were political elements in them that should be dealt with in a different context.
The representative of the United States requested a recorded vote on the draft resolution as a whole.
Voting on the draft as a whole, the Committee then approved the text by a vote of 129 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States) with no abstentions (Annex II).
Speaking in explanation of vote after the vote, the representative of Australia (also on behalf of Canada and New Zealand) said that she was pleased with the fact that the adoption of the resolution had provided for the necessary mission financing. She regretted, however, that once again the consensus had not been possible. The text contained political elements inappropriate in a technical resolution. For that reason, her delegation had abstained in the vote on the inclusion of the paragraphs. She also noted that as of 31 March, only 23 Member States had fulfilled their financial obligations to UNIFIL and urged all States to pay their dues without delay.
The representative of Greece (speaking on behalf of the European Union) said that his delegation had abstained in the first vote, but voted positively on the draft on the whole. The position of the European Union was well known and had been expressed on previous occasions.
The draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (document A/C.5/57/L.67) would have the Assembly take note of the status of contributions to the Mission as of 31 March 2003, including contributions outstanding in the amount of some $105.2 million, representing about 7 per cent of total assessed contributions. Noting with concern that only 33 Member States have paid their contributions in full, it would urge all Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions.
By further terms of the draft, the Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General’s financial performance report for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002. It would decide to appropriate to the special account for the Mission the amount of $329.74 million for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004, inclusive of $315.52 million for the maintenance of the Mission,
$10.89 million for the peacekeeping support account and $3.33 million for the United Nations Logistics Base.
DEWI SAVITRI WAHAB (Indonesia), who had conducted informal consultations on the text, introduced the draft resolution, which was approved by the Committee without a vote.
The representative of Egypt, speaking in explanation of the vote after the vote, drew attention to comments and reservations expressed by the ACABQ concerning the budget proposed regarding information and communications technology. Replies from the Secretariat to the Advisory Committee and replies to Members States’ questions had not clarified the situation. He, therefore, did not understand how additional resources proposed by the Secretariat could be justified. The comments made must be taken into account for future budgets.
Also in explanation of position, Greece (on behalf of the European Union) drew attention to the ACABQ observations with regard to the expenditures on information and communications technology and said that he hoped they would be applied to UNMIK.
The draft resolution on financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) (document A/C.5/57/L.80) was introduced by KARLA SAMAYOA-RECARI (Guatemala), and approved without a vote. By the text, the Assembly would appropriate to the special account for UNMISET $193.34 million for the period 2003-2004, inclusive of $185 million for the maintenance of the Mission,
$6.38 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations, and
$1.95 million for the Logistics Base.
As for the unencumbered balance of $21.62 million at 30 June 2002, for those Member States that had fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission, their respective shares of those amounts would be set off against the apportionment for 2003/2004. Outstanding obligations of Member States that had not fulfilled their financial obligations to UNTAET, and the Support Mission would be set off against their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income.
The Assembly would request that additional resources referred to in the report of the Advisory Committee (document A/57/772/Add.11) would be used to strengthen national judicial capacity consistent with the needs of the Timorese people and the mandate of the Support Mission.
The Committee approved without a vote the draft resolution on financing of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) (document A/C.5/57/L.66), which was introduced by RONALD ELKHUIZEN (Netherlands), who had conducted informal consultations on the item. According to the draft, the Assembly would appropriate to the special account of UNMEE $196.89 million for the 2003/2004 period, inclusive of $188.4 million for the maintenance of the Mission, $6.5 million for the support account and $1.99 million for the Logistics Base.
The respective shares of the unencumbered balance of $23.94 million at
30 June 2002 of Member States that had fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission would be set off against their apportionment. Outstanding obligations of Member States that had not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission would be set off against their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income.
The draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission and the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (document A/C.5/57/L.87) was introduced by Mr. DRAGULESCU (Romania) and approved without a vote. By the terms of the draft, the Assembly would authorize the Secretary-General to retain amount of $12.46 million from the balance of appropriation of $72.83 million to meet the cost of outstanding government claims.
The Committee had before it a draft resolution on financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 687 (1991): United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) (document A/C.5/57/L.81), by the terms of which the Assembly would take note of the status of contributions to the Mission as of 31 March 2003, including outstanding contributions amounting to some
$10.2 million, or about 3 per cent of the total assessed contributions, and note with concern that only 36 Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full. It would express its continued appreciation to the Government of Kuwait to defray two thirds of the cost of the Observation Mission, effective 1 November 1993.
By further terms of the draft, the Assembly would decide to continue its consideration -– at the main part of the fifty-eighth session -- of the Secretary-General’s report on the financial performance of the Mission for the period from
1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002, and of the treatment of the unspent balance of some $6.44 million in respect of the financial period ending 30 June 2002.
On budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004, the Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General’s report on the Mission’s budget and his note on the financing of the Observation Mission from 1 July 2003 to
30 June 2004. It would authorize the Secretary-General to enter into commitments in an amount not exceeding $12 million for the period from 1 July to 31 October 2003, to be financed from the accumulated fund balance in the Special Account for UNIKOM.
The text was introduced by FELICITY BUCHANAN (New Zealand), who had conducted informal consultations on the item. It was approved without a vote.
By the terms of a draft resolution on financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) (document A/C.5/57/L.82), the Assembly would decide to appropriate to the Special Account of UNAMSIL $543.49 million for the 2003/2004 period, inclusive of $520.05 million for the maintenance of the Mission, $17.95 million for the support account and $5.49 million of Logistics Base.
The respective shares of the unencumbered balance and other income of
$56.56 million at 30 June 2002 of Member States that had fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission would be set off against their apportionment. Outstanding obligations of Member States that had not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission would be set off against their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income.
The Assembly would further decide to reduce the appropriation authorized for the Mission for the 2001/2002 period from $717.6 million to $676.6 million, the amount apportioned among Member States in respect of the same period. The Assembly would also approve the decrease in the estimated staff assessment income for the 2001/2002 period from $8.32 million to $7.99 million.
The text, introduced by ASDRUBAL PULIDO DE LEON (Venezuela), was approved without a vote.
MARIA ROSARIO AGUINALDO (Philippines), who had conducted informal consultations on the item, introduced a draft resolution on financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) (document A/C.5/57/L.83). By the text, the Assembly would appropriate to the Mission’s Special Account for 2003/2004 the amount of $43.4 million, inclusive of
$41.53 million for the maintenance of the Mission, $1.43 million for the support account, and $438,400 for the Logistics Base.
The respective shares of the unencumbered balance and other income of $12.29 million at 30 June 2002 of Member States that had fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission would be set off against their apportionment. Outstanding obligations of Member States that had not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission would be set off against their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income.
The draft was approved without a vote.
Also before the Committee was a draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) (document A/C.5/57/L.69), by which the Assembly would decide to take note of the status of contributions to the Mission as of 31 March 2003, including outstanding contributions of some
$20.2 million, representing about 9 per cent of the total assessed contributions. Only 31 Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full. It would also take note of the Secretary-General’s financial performance report for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002.
Regarding budget estimates for 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004, the Assembly would, by further terms of the text, decide to appropriate to the Special Account for UNFICYP some $45.77 million, including $43.8 million for the maintenance of the Force, $1.51 million for the support account, and $462,400 for the Logistics Base.
On the financing of the appropriation, the Assembly would note with appreciation that a one-third share of the net appropriation will be funded through voluntary contributions from the Government of Cyprus and some
$6.5 million from the Government of Greece.
Also according to the draft, the Assembly would decide that, taking into account the unspent balance and other income totalling some $5.38 million for the financial period ending 30 June 2002, for Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Force, there shall be set off against their apportionment their respective share of the unspent balance in the amount of $2.74 million. For Member States that have not fulfilled their obligations, there shall be set off against their outstanding obligations their respective share of the unspent balance. The decrease of $38,000 in estimated staff assessment income for the period ending 30 June 2002 will be set off against the credits from the amount of some $2.74 million.
The Assembly would further decide that, taking into account its voluntary contribution for the financial period ending 30 June 2002, that one third of the net unspent balance in the amount of $1.78 million shall be returned to the Government of Cyprus. It would also decide, taking into account its voluntary contribution for the financial period ended 30 June 2002, that the prorated share of the net unspent balance and other income in the amount of $853,400 be returned to the Government of Greece.
The draft resolution was introduced by Mr. KENDALL (Argentina) who had conducted informal consultations on the matter. It was approved without a vote.
