FIFTH COMMITTEE APPROVES $359 MILLION FOR OPERATIONS IN ANGOLA, RWANDA, LIBERIA, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
Press Release
GA/AB/3060
FIFTH COMMITTEE APPROVES $359 MILLION FOR OPERATIONS IN ANGOLA, RWANDA, LIBERIA, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
19951222 Votes to Adjourn Debate on Iraq's Arrears; Approves Drafts on Board of Auditors, Common SystemThe General Assembly would appropriate and authorize a total of more than $359 million to maintain four peace-keeping operations in Africa and the Balkans for various periods from 1995 to the first half of 1996, if it adopts four draft texts the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) approved without a vote, early this morning. The amount was for the United Nations peace-keeping operations in the former Yugoslavia, the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III) and the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL).
By the provisions of the four draft texts, the Assembly would:
-- Appropriate and authorize about $204.9 million gross for UNAVEM III for the periods from 9 February 1995 to 31 March 1996 -- an appropriation of $34.9 million gross ($36.2 million net) for the period 9 February 1995 to 31 December 1995 in addition to amounts previously appropriated and authorized and $36.7 million gross ($36.1 million net) for the period 1 January to 8 February 1996, and beyond; and a commitment authority for $28.2 million gross ($27.7 million net) monthly until 30 June 1996, should the Security Council extend UNAVEM's mandate beyond 8 February;
-- Authorize $100 million gross ($98.4 million net) for the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO), the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) and the United Nations Peace Forces Headquarters in the former Yugoslavia for the period 1 January to 31 March 1996;
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-- Appropriate some $32.3 million gross ($31.8 million net) for UNAMIR for the period 1 January to 8 March 1996; and
-- Appropriate and authorize about $21.9 gross million for UNOMIL for the first quarter of 1996 -- an appropriation of $9.8 million gross ($9.6 million net) for the period 1 to 31 January 1996 and a commitment authority of $12.1 million gross ($11.8 million net) for the mission from 1 February to 31 March 1996, should the Council extend the Mission's mandate;
In the only action taken by vote, the Committee decided by a recorded vote of 48 in favour to 3 against (Algeria, Cuba and Libya), with 23 abstentions, to support a motion by New Zealand to adjourn debate on a draft resolution Iraq had introduced to have the Assembly decide that its accumulated arrears were due to conditions beyond its control (see Annex). Such a decision would prevent Iraq from losing its vote in the Assembly under the terms of Article 19 of the Charter.
The representatives of Canada, Libya, France, Algeria, Cuba, Iraq, Mexico and Singapore spoke on the motion.
The Committee also approved a draft resolution to have the Assembly request that the Committee on Contributions hold a special one-week session in 1996 to hear the views of some Member States on the application of Article 19. The States are Azerbaijan, Comoros, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Sao Tome and Principe, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The Assembly would then consider the report of that Committee in its resumed session.
Another text the Committee approved on the scale of assessments was a draft decision that would have the Assembly request the Committee on Contributions to reconsider the inclusion of Turkey in the list of countries falling under paragraph 2 of General Assembly resolution 48/223 B of 23 December 1993. By its exclusion from that list, Turkey's assessment rate for the years 1995-1997 has not been adjusted. The representative of Turkey spoke in explanation of position.
The Fifth Committee then approved a draft text that would have the Assembly assess Palau at 0.01 per cent of the regular budget for 1995, 1996 and 1997. It adopted another draft decision that would place Palau in Group (d) in the composition of Member States for apportioning of peace- keeping dues. Palau was admitted to the United Nations in December 1994.
On 11 December 1973, the General Assembly adopted resolution 3101 (XXVIII) which divided the United Nations membership into four groups for apportioning peace-keeping expenses. Those in Group (d) are specifically
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named economically less developed Member States that would pay 10 per cent of their regular budget assessment rates. Countries in Group (c) are economically less developed Member States which would pay 20 per cent. Group (b) contains specifically named economically developed States that are not permanent members of the Council and would pay 100 per cent. In Group (a) are the permanent Security Council members which would pay 100 per cent plus what is left unapportioned. The scheme continues to be applied, with changes to the composition of the four groups.
Further action on a request by Ukraine to be relocated from Group (b) to (c) was deferred when the draft decision providing for such a move was deferred by the Committee to the first resumed session in 1996. The representatives of Ukraine, Russian Federation and Belarus spoke in explanation of position.
On administrative and budgetary aspects of financing peace-keeping operations, the Committee approved a draft text to amend some United Nations financial regulations to make the missions' financial periods begin on 1 July and end on the following 30 June.
The Committee also approved a draft decision that would review, at its resumed session no later than March 1996, the ways of financing support account. By that draft, the Assembly would establish a temporary post of Special Adviser to the Secretary-General and extend the 61 temporary posts it had authorized last July for the period 1 February to 31 March 1996.
A four-part draft resolution the Committee approved on financial statements and the reports of the Board of Auditors would, among other things, request the Secretary-General to urgently complete a feasibility study on the procedures for valuing and transferring the costs of assets redeployed from a peace-keeping operation in liquidation to other missions or United Nations bodies. He would also be requested to submit proposals for establishing an appropriate policy for physically verifying the assets and liabilities of a mission in liquidation before its assets are disposed of and for the financial accounting of the transfers of assets.
The four-part draft resolution approved on the common system would have the Assembly, among other things, request the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) to establish in 1996 a single post-adjustment index for staff at Geneva that represented the cost of living of all staff working there. The draft text would also request the Commission and the executive heads of the United Nations common system to ensure adequate attention to improving non-monetary aspects of conditions of service. It would call on staff associations to resume taking part in the Commission's work in a spirit of cooperation and non-confrontation.
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On the conditions of service of some members of the ICSC and the Chairman of the ACABQ, the Fifth Committee approved an oral draft decision that would have the Assembly request the ACABQ to submit a report on the matter in the resumed session.
The Committee is scheduled to meet again at 5 p.m. today to consider the proposed 1996-1997 budget and review the efficiency of the United Nations.
Financial Statements and Reports of Board of Auditors
AMMAR AMARI (Tunisia), Vice-Chairman of the Committee, who had conducted informal consultations, introduced the draft resolution on financial statements and reports of the Board of Auditors as orally revised for editorial changes. On the terms of office of the Board of Auditors, it had been decided that the matter be taken up at the resumed fiftieth session.
The four-part draft resolution (document A/C.5/50/L.20) would, in part A, have the Assembly reiterate its request to the executive heads of United Nations organizations to submit reports on the measures they have or will take in response to the Board's recommendations. The Assembly would also request the Board to follow up, as early as possible, on the shortcomings in the internal audit coverage of the organizations it had identified to determine whether its recommendations have been implemented and the situation rectified following the establishment of the Office of Internal Oversight Services.
By the terms of the text, the Assembly would request the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and all other entities that depend on voluntary contributions as their main source of income to provide, when asked, more precise and transparent information on their cash situations in their reports to the Assembly.
Provisions in part B wold request the UNHCR to urgently implement the recommendations of the Board of Auditors and report to the next Assembly session and to urgently introduce procedures to enhance the efficiency of the implementation of the Board's recommendations.
In part C, the text would have the Assembly request the Secretary- General to urgently complete a feasibility study on the procedures for valuing and transferring the costs of assets redeployed from a peace-keeping operation in liquidation to other missions or United Nations bodies. He would also be requested to study the most cost-effective ways of liquidating such operations and to submit proposals for establishing policy for physically verifying the assets and liabilities of a mission in liquidation before its assets are disposed of and its liabilities changed. He should also propose standard procedures for transferring assets and propose an appropriate policy for the financial accounting of such transfers for consistent application in peace- keeping missions.
By the provisions of part D, the Assembly would request the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to submit on time its reports on the measures it has or proposes to take in response to the Board's recommendations for 1994 and allow Member States to consider them properly before the beginning of formal discussions in future sessions of the Assembly.
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The Committee approved the draft on financial statements and reports of the Board of Auditors without a vote.
Financing of UNAMIR
MARIA MILANOVICH-ROTHEISER (Austria) introduced the draft text on the financing of UNAMIR, recommending that it be adopted without a vote.
By that draft resolution (document A/C.5/50/L.23), the Assembly would appropriate the amount of $32.3 million gross ($31.8 million net) for the operation of the Mission for the period from 1 January to 8 March 1996. It would decide, as an ad hoc arrangement, to apportion the same amount for the period 1 January to 31 March 1996 among Member States. It would urge all Member States to make every possible effort to ensure the prompt and full payment of their assessed contributions.
The Committee approved the draft on the financing of UNAMIR without a vote.
Financing of UNOMIL
MOVSES ABELIAN (Armenia), Vice-Chairman, who conducted informal consultations on the draft resolution on financing of UNOMIL, introduced the draft text, calling for its adoption without a vote.
By the provisions of a draft resolution on the financing of UNOMIL (document A/C.5/50/L.24), the Assembly would decide to appropriate an amount of $9.8 million gross ($9.6 million net) for the maintenance of the Observer Mission for the period from 1 to 31 January 1996. It would also decide, as an ad hoc arrangement, to apportion the same amount among Member States. For Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission, their respective share in the unencumbered balance of $226,890 gross ($224,900 net) for the period from 23 October 1994 to 30 June 1995 would be set off against the apportionment. For Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission, their share of the unencumbered balance would be set off against their outstanding contributions.
By other terms of the text, the Assembly would authorize the Secretary- General to enter into commitments in the amount of $12.2 million gross ($11.8 million net) for the maintenance of the Mission from 1 February to 31 March 1996, subject to the extension of the Mission's mandate by the Security Council, and that that amount be apportioned among Member States. The Assembly would note with concern the exchange of posts between UNOMIL and the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) which is not properly reflected in the Secretary-General's report.
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The Committee approved the draft on the financing of UNOMIL without a vote.
Financing of Operations in Former Yugoslavia
ERIK HAMMARSKJOLD (Sweden), introducing the draft on the financing of operations in the former Yugoslavia, asked for its adoption without a vote. The funds would be bridging financing until later.
By the draft resolution (document A/C.5/50/L.26) would have the Assembly authorize the Secretary-General to commit $100 million gross ($98.4 million net) for the period 1 January to 31 March 1996 and assess, on ad hoc arrangement, $89.5 million gross ($87.9 million net) for that period.
The Committee approved the draft without a vote.
Financing of UNAVEM
REGINA EMERSON (Portugal), introducing the draft resolution on the financing of UNAVEM III, reviewed its contents, and called for its adoption without a vote.
The draft resolution (document A/C.5/50/L.25) would have the General Assembly appropriate $34.9 million gross ($36.2 million net) for the Mission for the period 9 February to 31 December 1995 in the addition to the $150 million gross ($148 million net) previously appropriated and the $65.9 million gross ($63.1 million net) previously authorized. It would then decide, as an ad hoc arrangement, to apportion $34.9 million gross ($36.2 million net) amount among Member States.
By other terms of the draft text, the Assembly would appropriate and apportion $36.7 million gross ($36.1 million net) for the Mission for the period 1 January to 8 February 1996. Beyond that date, the Assembly would authorize $27.7 million net monthly until 30 June 1996, and assess $76.2 million gross ($74.9 million net), should be Security Council extend the Mission's mandate beyond 8 February 1996.
The Committee approved the draft on the financing of UNAVEM III without a vote.
Scale of Assessments
PATRICK KELLY (Ireland) introduced three draft texts on the scale of assessments.
One of the draft texts on the scale of assessments (document A/C.5/50/L.21), would have the Assembly request the Committee on Contributions
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to hold a special one-week session, as early as possible in 1996, to consider representations from Member States on the application of Article 19 of the Charter and to report thereon to the Assembly's fiftieth session. It would invite Member States to submit detailed information to the Committee on Contributions to explain their requests as soon as possible to facilitate the Committee's work.
The preambular paragraph of the draft resolution notes the requests by Azerbaijan, Comoros, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Republic of Moldova, Sao Tome and Principe, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan that, as an exceptional measure, any arrears of assessed contributions for the regular budget, peace-keeping operations or international tribunals as at 1 January 1996 and for 1996 be attributed to conditions beyond their control. Therefore, the text states, the question of the application of Article 19 of the Charter should not arise.
(Article 19 provides that a Member State shall have no vote in the Assembly if the amount of its arrears to the United Nations regular budget equals or exceeds two years of its dues.)
Mr. KELLY (Ireland) informed the Committee that the Republic of Moldova had been deleted from the preambular paragraph.
By a draft decision on the scale of assessments (document A/C.5/50/L.22), the Assembly would resolve that the rate of assessment for Palau, admitted to membership in the United Nations on 15 December 1994, shall be 0.01 per cent for 1995, 1996 and 1997.
By another draft decision on the scale of assessments (document A/C.5/50/L.28), the Assembly would request the Committee on Contributions to reconsider the inclusion of the Member State involved in the list of countries falling under paragraph 2 of a 1993 Assembly resolution 48/223 B. (That paragraph is on the scheme of limits which prevents excessive changes in the rate of dues a Member State would pay to the regular budget. Turkey had not benefited from the scheme of limits in the previous scale and the Committee on contributions could not find grounds to adjust its rate of assessment for the years 1995-1997.)
The Committee approved the three draft texts without a vote.
Speaking in explanation of position, the representative of Turkey, speaking on the draft decision A/C.5/50/L.28, said that his country's scale of assessment had increased by more than 40 per cent in the past few years. He expressed the hope that the approval of the draft texts would allow the Committee on Contributions to reconsider the scale of assessments for some countries. In that regard, he expected that the necessary adjustment would be made in his country's scale of assessments.
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Draft Resolution on Iraq's Accumulated Arrears
By the provisions of another draft resolution on the scale of assessments (document A/C.5/50/L.8), sponsored by Iraq, would have the General Assembly decide, as a special and temporary arrangement, that Iraq's accumulated arrears had been due to conditions beyond its control and that it would be inappropriate to apply Article 19 of the Charter to that country until the sanctions imposed on it by the Security Council were fully or partially lifted.
That Article provides that a Member State could lose its vote if its arrears to the United Nations regular budget reach or exceed those of two years.
DENISE JOAN ALMAO (New Zealand) said she supported a generous interpretation of the waiver of Article 19 of the Charter. There were a number of States whose situation warranted such a waiver. Iraq was not such a case. That country had access to convertible currency but it was its choice not to pay its contributions to the Organization. It was not expected that a waiver as granted in Article 19 should be granted to Iraq. Therefore, the debate on Iraq should be closed.
The Chairman of the Committee, ERICH VILCHEZ ASHER (Nicaragua) asked the Committee to consider the motion proposed by the representative of New Zealand.
SAM HANSON (Canada) agreed with New Zealand's proposal. Since it was within Iraq's power to obtain a lifting of the sanctions imposed on it by the Security Council, it was within its power to change its situation.
HO TONG YEN (Singapore) asked for clarification on a procedural matter.
Mr. VILCHEZ ASHER (Nicaragua), Committee Chairman, said the Committee would consider New Zealand's proposal that it close the debate on Iraq's request.
IBRAHIM ELMONTASER (Libya) said he objected to the proposal by the representative of New Zealand. The economic situation in Iraq meant that the country had been unable to pay its contribution to the United Nations budget. There was no political reason for Iraq not to pay its contributions. Its request to pay those contributions in local currency had been rejected as had been its request for part of its frozen assets to be released. Iraq had pledged to pay its arrears as soon as the sanctions were lifted. In the meantime, it had requested a waiver of Article 19. Therefore, he supported the draft resolution proposed by Iraq and the waiver of Article 19 in that country's favour.
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SEBASTIEN GIRARD (France), in support of the proposal made by New Zealand, said it was not appropriate to take a decision on the draft resolution. It was not justifiable that Iraq should regain its right to vote.
DJAMEL MOKTEFI (Algeria) said he objected to New Zealand's proposals. The draft resolution should be submitted to a vote.
ANA SILVIA RODRIGUEZ ABASCAL (Cuba) said she was opposed to New Zealand's proposal. The Committee should not close any item of interest to any Member State.
Mr. VILCHEZ ASHER (Nicaragua), Committee Chairman, said the Committee would vote on New Zealand's proposal to close the agenda item on Iraq.
The Committee approved the motion proposed by the representative of New Zealand by a vote of 48 in favour to 3 against (Algeria, Cuba and Libya), with 23 abstentions.
In explanation of position after the vote, the representative of Iraq thanked those Member States that voted against the proposal to stop the draft resolution. He had hoped that Member States would be allowed to air their views. However, he would pursue the issue in the future. "When force was not accompanied by wisdom we would not make progress but go backward", he added.
The representative of Mexico said the Assembly had the right to hear a request of any Member State. Given the Organization's present financial situation some consideration had to be given to the granting of waivers under Article 19 of the Charter. For Iraq, the request had been rejected. She supported the motion for no action on the draft resolution.
The representative of Singapore said he had supported New Zealand's proposal that no action be taken.
The Committee concluded its consideration of the scale of assessments.
Administrative Aspects of Peace-keeping Operations
PETER MADDENS (Belgium) introduced three draft texts for adoption for without a vote: on the methodology for financing the support account for peace-keeping operations, assessment of Palau, and changes to financial rules.
The draft decision on the support account for peace-keeping operations (document A/C.5/50/L.13) would have the Assembly decide to review, at its resumed session no later than March 1996, how the support account is financed in light of changing requirements for backstopping operations at Headquarters.
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By the terms of the draft, the Assembly would also establish as a temporary post the position of Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, extend the 61 temporary posts it authorized last July for the period 1 February to 31 March 1996, and authorize $40,000 for overtime and $900,000 for common services for the period 1 January to 31 March 1996.
The Committee adopted the draft text on support account without a vote.
A draft decision on amendments to the Financial Regulations to change the budget cycle of peace-keeping operations (document A/C.5/50/L.15) intends to make each mission's financial period begin from 1 July and end the following 30 June.
To that text, the Assembly would amend regulations 2.1 and 11.4. and replace them with the following:
-- Financial Regulation 2.1: "The financial period shall consist of two consecutive calendar years, the first of which shall be an even year, except for peace-keeping operations with special accounts, whose financial periods shall be one year from 1 July to 30 June."
That regulation currently reads: "The financial period shall consist of two consecutive calendar years, the first of which shall be an even year."
-- Financial Regulation 11.4: "The accounts for the financial period, except those for peace-keeping operations with special accounts, shall be submitted by the Secretary-General to the Board of Auditors not later than 31 March following the end of the financial period. The annual accounts for peace-keeping operations with special accounts shall be submitted by the Secretary-General to the Board of Auditors not later than 30 September each year."
That regulation currently reads: "The accounts for the financial period shall be submitted by the Secretary-General to the Board of Auditors not later than 31 March following the end of the financial period."
The Committee approved the draft decision to amend the financial regulations without a vote.
By the terms of a draft decision on locating Palau among peace-keeping assessment groups (document A/C.5/50/L.14), the General Assembly would place that country in Group (d) in the composition of Member States for apportioning peace-keeping dues.
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[On 11 December 1973, the General Assembly adopted resolution 3101 (XXVIII) which divided the United Nations membership into four Groups for apportioning peace-keeping expenses. Those in Group (d) are specifically named economically less developed Member States that would pay 10 per cent of their regular budget assessment rates. Countries in Group (c) are economically less developed Member States which would pay 20 per cent. Group (b) contains specifically named economically developed States that are not permanent members of the Council and would pay 100 per cent. In Group (a) are the permanent Security Council members which would pay 100 per cent plus what is left unapportioned. The scheme continues to be applied, with changes to the composition of the four groups.]
Palau joined the United Nations in December 1994 and the Committee on Contributions has recommended that it be assessed at 0.01 per cent of the regular budget for 1995, 1996 and 1997.
The Committee approved the draft on Palau without a vote.
The Committee Chairman, ERICH VILCHEZ ASHER (Nicaragua), proposed an oral draft decision to have the Assembly defer action on the draft text on relocating Ukraine in the grouping for peace-keeping assessments to its first resumed session.
The oral draft decision was approved without a vote.
Speaking in explanation of position, the representative of Ukraine said he had accepted the decision with great difficulty. It was the third year, since 1993, that Ukraine had been trying to convince the international community on the need for a change in its group location. Some sympathy had been expressed to his delegation but that would not clear up Ukraine's arrears that were reaching a quarter of a billion dollars. Consensus was hard to reach in the Fifth Committee even though Ukraine was doing its best to reach a decision on the matter. Ukraine would proceed with the draft text in the resumed session. He thanked Member States that had offered to co-sponsor his delegation's draft text.
The representative of Belarus said that his delegation had become a co- sponsor of the draft text to relocate Ukraine in the composition of groups for setting peace-keeping dues. It was regrettable that the Committee had not been able to reach an acceptable decision. It was hoped that a decision would be taken in the near future.
The representative of the Russian Federation said that his delegation had supported relocating Ukraine among the groups because it understood its neighbour's problems in paying its United Nations dues. A solution to the arrears of all member States should be found through a comprehensive reform of the way United Nations expenses were apportioned among Member States. The
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Russian Federation had joined the consensus in the hope that all members of the Assembly would appreciate the patience Ukraine had shown and that a proper decision would be taken on the urgent issue in the resumed session.
The consideration of the matter was concluded for the current stage and it would be taken up again in the resumed session.
Conditions of service of ICSC Officials and ACABQ Chairman
The Committee had before it a report on the conditions of service of non-Secretariat officials serving the General Assembly (document A/C.5/50/12). It contains the views of the Secretary-General on the conditions of service of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). (For background, see Press Release GA/AB/3057, of 18 December.)
MOVSES ABELIAN (Armenia) introduced an oral draft decision that would have the Assembly take note of the Secretary-General's report and request the ACABQ to report on the matter to the first resumed session of the Assembly.
The proposed oral draft text was approved.
Proposed 1996-1997 Budget
MARTIN SHARP (Australia), who had conducted informal consultations on the proposed budget for 1996-1997, said that consultations had been conducted in a cooperative spirit but Committee members were not currently in a position to present a draft resolution that might enjoy consensus. Such a draft might be produced in the next few hours, perhaps in time for the next formal meeting of the Committee later today. Since he would be returning to Australia, he could not complete the informal negotiations. The Chairman could decide who might complete them. He suggested that the Vice-Chairman, Ammar Amari, could complete the negotiation on the regular budget for the next two years.
United Nations Common System
The Committee took note of the reports of the Secretary-General and the ACABQ on the financial and administrative implications of the ICSC recommendations concerning remuneration for professional and General Services staff.
Ms. ALMAO (New Zealand) introduced the draft resolution on the United Nations Common System.
A four-part draft resolution on the United Nations common system before the Committee (document A/C.5/50/L.27), addresses conditions of service of the
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professional and higher categories of staff (part I), General Service and other locally-recruited categories (part II), work programme (part III) and the functioning of the ICSC (part IV).
By the terms of part I of the draft, the Assembly would decide to defer its consideration of conditions of service of professional and higher categories of staff to its resumed fiftieth session and requests the Commission to review its recommendations and conclusions. It would take note of the recruitment and retention problems faced by some organizations regarding certain specialized occupations and would recall its endorsement in principle of the use of special occupation rates in such organizations. The Assembly would request those organizations to collect data to substantiate those problems and request the Commission to make recommendations regarding the conditions for the application of such rates.
On post adjustment matters, the Assembly would request the Commission to establish in 1996 a single post adjustment index for staff at the Geneva duty station, which is fully representative of the cost of living of all staff working in that duty station, and which ensures equality of treatment with staff in other headquarters duty stations. It would also request the Commission to address and refer to its working group on post adjustment, as appropriate, the concerns raised by the Fifth Committee regarding the operation of the post adjustment system.
By the provisions of part II of the draft text, the Assembly would request the Commission, as part of its review of the methodology for setting salaries for General Service and locally recruited categories of staff, to resolve inconsistencies between this methodology and the one used for professional staff, by examining the question of overlap in remuneration between the two categories.
By part III of the draft text, the Assembly would request the Commission and the executive heads of the United Nations common system to ensure that adequate attention is given to all aspects of human resources management, including the improvement of non-monetary aspects of conditions of service.
By part IV of the draft text, the Assembly would reaffirm the validity of the Commission's statute, particularly article 6 covering the independence and impartiality of its members.
By other provisions of the text, the Assembly would call upon Member States and the Secretary-General to ensure, through the selection process of candidates for appointment, that the Commission has the requisite technical skills and broad managerial experience among its membership. The Assembly
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would also call on the Coordinating Committee for International Staff Unions and Associations (CCISUA) and the Federation of International Civil Servants Associations (FICSA) to resume participation in the Commission's work.
The Committee approved the draft resolution without a vote.
(annex follows)
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ANNEX
Vote on Adjournment of Debate on Iraq's Arrears
The draft motion by New Zealand to adjourn debate on the draft resolution on Iraq's arrears (document A/C.5/50/L.8) was approved by a recorded vote of 48 in favour to 3 against, with 23 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay.
Against: Algeria, Cuba, Libya.
Abstaining: Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Latvia, Malaysia, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.
Absent: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, Iran, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia.
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