$19 MILLION NEEDED TO FINANCE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNALS FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND RWANDA IN APRIL, MAY, FIFTH COMMITTEE TOLD
Press Release
GA/AB/3069
$19 MILLION NEEDED TO FINANCE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNALS FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND RWANDA IN APRIL, MAY, FIFTH COMMITTEE TOLD
19960402 Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has asked the General Assembly to authorize about $19 million as interim financing for the International Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda for April and May, pending the comments of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) was told this morning.The Committee agreed to consider taking action on the Secretary- General's proposals this afternoon.
Introducing the Secretary-General's reports, United Nations Controller, Yukio Takasu, said that those funds would be needed because the commitment authority granted to the two Tribunals for January to March had expired. For April to May, the Yugoslavia Tribunal needs $6.6 million gross while that for Rwanda requires $12.3 million gross. The sum for the Rwanda Tribunal includes such start-up costs as for the construction and renovation of the Arusha International Centre and the building of court rooms, holding cells and office space.
The representative of France expressed concern at the procedure that was being followed to fund those Tribunals. He expressed regret that the ACABQ had not submitted its comments, leaving the Fifth Committee to offer financial authorization without all the documents it needed. A major cause of concern, as in the case of the Rwanda Tribunal, was that the interim amounts would not be based on a pro rata allocation of its 12-month estimates.
The ACABQ's report on the Tribunals is due before the Fifth Committee in the second part of its resumed session in May.
In his report on financing the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (document A/C.5/50/41) the Secretary-General states that the body would need $40.8 million, including 342 posts, in 1996. That would reflect an increase of 84 posts.
According to Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the Trials and Appeals Chambers require $2.1 million. Of that amount, $1.6 million would be for the judges' salaries and allowances: annual salary of $145,000 for each of the 11 judges; an additional special allowance of $15,000 yearly for the Tribunal President; and an additional special allowance of $94 for the Vice-President for every day she acts as President, up to a cap of $9,400 per year. Also sought by the Secretary-General is $137,400 for installation allowance, removal of household effects and education grant.
The Prosecutor's office requires $14.4 million for the following: $12.5 million for 126 temporary posts and to establish 36 more, raising the total to 162; and $1.9 million for travel for investigations.
The Registry needs $16.5 million, of which $11.9 million is for a staff of 174. About $7.8 million is needed for programme support, which includes contractual services, general operating costs, supplies, and furniture and equipment.
The Hague-based Tribunal consists of the following agencies: two Trial Chambers and an Appeals Chamber; the Prosecutor; and a Registry, servicing both the Chambers and the Prosecutor. The Chambers of 11 judges appointed are headed by the President of the Tribunal, assisted by the Vice-President.
The Prosecutor investigates and prosecutes people for serious violations of international law in the former Yugoslavia since 1 January 1991. Appointed by the Security Council, after being nominated by the Secretary-General, for a four-year term, the Prosecutor is eligible for reappointment. That office acts independently as a separate organ of the Tribunal. The Tribunal's Registry is led by a Registrar named by the Secretary-General after consulting with the Tribunal President.
For the financing of the International Tribunal for Rwanda (document A/C.5/50/54), the Secretary-General estimates $38.8 million (net) for the Tribunal's operation in 1996. The amount includes proposals for 404 posts, an increase of 241 posts over those authorized for 1995. The estimate includes $7.1 million (net), previously authorized for the period from 1 January to 31 March 1996 by the ACABQ. The Secretary-General assumes that the current mode of financing of the Tribunal -- a 50/50 cost-sharing arrangement based on the scale of assessment for 1996 and the credits arising from the budget of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) -- will remain operative until reviewed by the General Assembly.
In 1996, the Tribunal is expected to hold 12 trials. The financial requirements therefore cover the establishment of the Tribunal and court proceedings. The proposed costs are for the judges chambers, the Office of the Prosecutor, the Registry and programme support.
Fifth Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/AB/3069 53rd Meeting (AM) 2 April 1996
For the judges'chambers, a total of $1.3 million is estimated. That includes $797,300 for the salaries and allowances of six judges and the special allowance for the Tribunal's President and for the Vice-President when he/she acts as President. Other costs relate the judges' common costs, temporary posts, consultants and travel.
A total of $12.2 million is estimated for the Office of the Prosecutor. Of that amount, $10 million is estimated for the salary and common staff costs for the immediate Office of the Prosecutor, and the sections responsible for investigations, prosecution, legal services, information management and records.
An amount of $9.7 million is estimated for the Registry which is responsible for the administration and servicing of the judicial infrastructure, the report states. Salary and common staff costs are estimated at $5.6 million. An amount of $3 million is included in the total costs to provide counsel to any accused unable to provide their own. That estimate is based on the number of hours required by a lawyer to prepare for the case and actual court presentation before the Trial and Appeal Chambers. Resources estimated at $600,000 are requested for travel for the Registrar to deliver warrants of arrests and for liaison and other duties undertaken by him and the Chief of Administration.
Programme support requirements for the Tribunal including premises, equipment and vehicles will account for $15.5 million. That amount includes $8.4 million for premises in Arusha -- the seat of the Tribunal, in Kigali -- the location of the Prosecutor's office, and in the Hague.
Regarding voluntary contributions to the Tribunal, the Secretary-General states that as of February 1996, cash contributions from Member States to the voluntary fund for the Rwanda Tribunal amounted to $5.2 million. As of January, contributions in the form of loan of personnel had been received from Denmark (2), the Netherlands (19), Norway (3), Sweden (3), Switzerland (3), United Kingdom (5) and the United States (3). Those personnel continue to assist with investigations and serve as legal and expert advisers. Experts are currently assigned to the strategy and investigative teams of the Investigations Section, as well as in advisory capacity in the Prosecutor's secretariat and the Legal Services Section.
The report states that some Member States have also made contributions in kind. The United States has made such contributions in the form of equipment and associated training for the staff of the Prosecutor's Office, of a value of approximately $2.3 million. Additional contributions received by that Office include those from the United Kingdom ($31,700), the Open Society Institute ($105,000) and the Rockefeller Foundation ($50,000). Trust fund resources would be used for the witness protection schemes and aircraft
Fifth Committee - 4 - Press Release GA/AB/3069 53rd Meeting (AM) 2 April 1996
charters to provide direct transportation between Kigali and Arusha for investigators, prosecutors, the accused, witnesses and victims.
The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to hear a statement by the Under-Secretary-General for Administration and Management, Joseph E. Connor, on the Organization's financial situation and budget reduction measures when he introduces the Secretary-General's reports on those matters. The Committee is also expected to take action on draft decisions on the International Civilian Mission to Haiti (MICIVIH), the United Nations Human Rights Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA) and the Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.
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