BUDGET COMMITTEE SEEKS $931,000 TO MAINTAIN RWANDA COMMISSION; SECRETARY-GENERAL ASKED FOR REPORT
Press Release
GA/AB/3074
BUDGET COMMITTEE SEEKS $931,000 TO MAINTAIN RWANDA COMMISSION; SECRETARY-GENERAL ASKED FOR REPORT
19960509 Action Likely Tomorrow on Financing of Other UN Mission; Official Says Liberia Operation Affected by Country's Deteriorating SituationSecretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali would be authorized to commit up to $931,800 net to maintain the Commission of Inquiry in Rwanda, should the General Assembly adopt a draft decision approved this afternoon by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).
The Committee took that action as it considered aspects of the 1996-1997 budget under which the Commission would be funded. The amount would fall under the budget section on peace-keeping and special missions. The Secretary-General would be asked, according to the draft, to propose to the Assembly, no later than 15 May, how to absorb those costs in the budget, including, inter alia, in part II, dealing with political affairs. (Part II has been appropriated $168.6 million, of which $102.9 million is for peace- keeping and special missions.)
The draft recalls that the Assembly had already asked the Secretary- General to save $104 million from the budget while fully implementing all mandated programmes and activities.
The Committee postponed action on financing the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) until tomorrow, based on a recommendation of the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), C.S.M. Mselle. He said that a deteriorating situation and other events had overtaken his Committee's report. The Secretary-General had sent an envoy to assess the situation and advise on Security Council action.
Speaking on the funding of the International Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the representative of Italy, also speaking for the European Union, said that the Assembly should address the Secretariat's efforts to charge a 13 per cent support cost on donors who made voluntary contributions. He questioned the basis and the criteria for calculating that cost and called for greater transparency in the use of such contributions and the expenditures of the Trust Funds of the Tribunals.
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The Secretary-General's reports on today's agenda items were introduced by the United Nations Controller, Yukio Takasu.
Statements were made by the representatives of the United States, Uganda, Tunisia, Kuwait and the Netherlands.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 10 May, to continue discussing UNOMIL. It then takes up the financing of the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMBH), the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES), as well as the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force in The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (UNPREDEP).
Committee Work Programme
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this afternoon to consider the revised estimates for the Commission of Inquiry in Rwanda under the 1996-1997 programme budget and continue discussing the funding of the International Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. The Committee will also begin consideration of the financing of the following peace-keeping and other operations: the activities arising from Security Council resolution 687 (1991) on the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM); the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL); and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR).
For background information on the International Tribunals, see Press Release GA/AB/3073 of Tuesday, 7 May).
1996-1997 Regular Budget: Revised Estimates
The Secretary-General's report, containing revised estimates on the Commission of Inquiry (document A/C.5/50/60), asks the General Assembly to appropriate an additional $931,800 to maintain the Commission, mandated by the Security Council in September 1995, to follow up on its earlier investigations on the transfer of arms and related matériel to former Rwandan government forces in Rwanda, Zaire, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Kenya. The amount would pay for the Commission's members, temporary posts, air operations, mission subsistence allowance and staff travel. The Commission will be headed by a D-2-level United Nations employee and supported by three international (1 P-5, 1 P-3, and 1 General Service), and five local staff. While the Commission had submitted its final report, the Council decided in resolution 1053 (1996) of 23 April 1996 to maintain it.
Describing the Commission's activities as extraordinary, the Secretary- General states that they should, therefore, be dealt with outside certain procedures related to the contingency fund. (According to those provisions, revised estimates from such extraordinary expenses as those for maintaining peace and security shall not be covered by the fund. The Secretary-General should try to absorb them through savings from the budget without hurting programme delivery or without prejudice to the use of the contingency fund.)
Financing of Peace-keeping Operations
The Secretary-General's report on UNIKOM (document A/50/892) contains the Mission's proposed budget for the 12-month period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 which amounts to $57.8 million gross ($55.5 million net). This reflects an overall decrease of 3.7 per cent in gross terms when compared with the prorated resources approved for the preceding 12-month period of $60 million gross ($57.4 million net). The decrease in the budget is mainly due to an exclusion of the provision for the support account for peace-keeping
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operations during the budget period. The budget provides for maintaining the Mission, consisting of 255 military observers and 904 troops, supported by a civilian establishment of 256.
The Assembly is asked to appropriate $18.1 million gross ($16 million net) for the period from 1 July 1995 to 30 April 1996, authorized and assessed on Member States; and to appropriate and assess $3.6 million gross ($3.2 million net) for the period from 1 May to 30 June 1996, subject to the review by the Security Council of the question of UNIKOM's termination or continuation.
For the maintenance of the Mission for the 12-month period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, the Assembly is requested to approve $57.8 million gross ($55.5 million net), inclusive of the two-thirds portion equivalent to $37 million to be funded from voluntary contributions from the Kuwaiti Government. It is also asked to appropriate one third of the Mission's approved cost, $20.8 million gross ($18.5 million net), for the 12-month period to be assessed at the monthly rate of $1.7 million gross ($1.5 million net), subject to the Council's review of the question of UNIKOM's termination or continuation. The Assembly is also asked to credit Member States the unencumbered balance of $7 million gross ($7.8 million net) for the period ending 31 October 1993.
The Secretary-General reports that, as at 15 February, Kuwait has provided two thirds of the UNIKOM's cost, totalling $78.1 million for the period from 1 November 1993 to 31 October 1995. Regarding reimbursements to troop-contributing governments, he noted that full reimbursement for troop costs has been made to the relevant countries up to 31 July 1995. It is estimated that $4.7 million is due for troop costs for the period ending 31 December 1995. Currently, troops are provided by Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh and Germany.
In its report on UNIKOM (document A/50/950), the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) recommends that the Assembly appropriate and assess the amounts requested by the Secretary-General for the periods 1 July 1995 to 30 April 1996 and 1 May to 30 June 1996. It also recommends that the Assembly credit Member States the unencumbered balance for the periods ending 31 October 1993.
However, for the maintenance of the Mission for the 12-month period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, the ACABQ recommends that the Assembly approve $50.7 million gross ($48.7 million net), as a result of the proposed reductions of approximately $7.1 million in the total estimates. Those reductions would result from a decrease in the number of military observers and changes in subsistence allowance rates. The ACABQ also recommends that the Assembly appropriate the reduced amount of $18.3 million gross ($16.2 million net), for the 12-month period beginning 1 July 1996, as one
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third of the Mission's approved cost, to be assessed at the monthly rate of $1.5 million gross ($1.4 million net), subject to the Council's review of the question of UNIKOM's termination or continuation.
The Secretary-General's report on UNOMIL (document A/50/650.Add.2) contains the Mission's revised budget for the period from 1 January to 30 June 1996 and provides information on the resources provided for the period 1 July to 31 December 1995. Revised requirements for the period 1 January to 30 June 1996 amount to $26.8 million gross ($25.9 million net) and include $11.5 million "rolled over" from the period ending 31 December 1995.
The Assembly is asked to appropriate $15.4 million gross ($14.8 million net), inclusive of $12.2 million gross ($11.8 million net) already authorized and assessed for the period from 1 February to 31 May 1996 and to assess $3.2 million gross ($3 million net) for that period. It is also asked to appropriate and assess $1.6 million gross ($1.5 million net) for the period 1 to 30 June 1996 subject to the decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of UNOMIL.
In a later report on UNOMIL (document A/50/650/Add.3), the Secretary- General provides the Mission's proposed budget for the 12-month period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. The budget amounts to $27.6 million gross ($25.8 million net) which reflects a 21 per cent decrease in gross terms (when compared with $35 million gross ($33.6 million net) for the preceding 12- month period. The decrease is due mainly to the expected completion, by 31 July 1996, of the disarmament and demobilization programme (at the time the report was prepared). The budget provides for the maintenance of UNOMIL at a strength of 160 military observers, a civilian establishment of 220 international and local staff, in addition to 510 local staff and United Nations Volunteers for the month of July 1996 only.
The Secretary-General asks the Assembly to appropriate $27.6 million gross ($25.9 million net) for the 12-month period beginning 1 July 1996 and to assess that amount at the rate of $3.6 million gross ($3.4 million net) for the month of July and $2.2 million gross ($2.1 million net) monthly thereafter. That action is subject to the extension(s) of the Mission's mandate by the Security Council.
Regarding the revised estimates for UNOMIL, the ACABQ (document A/50/922) recommends that the Assembly appropriate $10.2 million gross ($9.7 million net) for the period from 1 February to 31 May 1996, already authorized and assessed. It also recommends that the Assembly appropriate $1.6 million gross ($1.5 million net) for UNOMIL's maintenance for the period from 1 to 30 June 1996, should the Security Council extend its mandate beyond 31 May 1996.
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The ACABQ notes that the revised estimates for 1 January to 30 June 1996 -- $26.7 million gross ($25.9 million net) -- is $9.3 million gross ($9.4 million net) higher than the original cost estimate of $17.5 million gross ($16.5 million net) submitted in a previous report of the Secretary- General. The Committee also noted that the limited implementation of the operational plan for the period from 1 July to 31 December 1995 accounted for reductions of $10.9 million in non-recurrent costs and $3.1 million in recurrent costs. The estimated amounts for disarmament and demobilization in the amount to $11.5 million have been "rolled over" to the next budget period -- 1 January to 30 June 1996, thus resulting in the increase indicated.
Regarding the proposed budget for July 1996 to June 1997, the Advisory Committee noted the "roll-over" of $5.2 million gross ($5.1 million net) also resulting from delays in the disarmament and demobilization programme. It, therefore, recommends that the Assembly appropriate $32.8 million gross ($31 million net) to be assessed at the rate of $8.7 million gross ($8.5 million net) for the month of July 1996, and $2.2 million gross ($2.1 million net) monthly thereafter, subject to UNOMIL's extension.
The ACABQ drew attention to the absence of performance reports for UNOMIL and raised several questions regarding the political situation in Liberia, the report states. At the time, Secretariat officials informed the Committee of a revised plan for disarmament and demobilization that had been accepted by the Economic Community of West African States' Monitoring Observer Group (ECOMOG), UNOMIL and the Liberian National Transitional Government which was awaiting only the final endorsement of the Council of State. The ACABQ was also informed that the full requirement for the Mission's election component will be presented at a later date as revised cost estimates to the 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 budget period.
Regarding the Mission's information component, the Committee recommends that the necessary measures be taken to adequately disseminate information on the Mission's human rights activities to the general public, the report states. It was informed further that in spite of limitations and delays, the activities of the public information unit have had a significant role in enhancing public awareness about the peace process and the Mission's role. That was reflected in the positive change of attitude by the media and the general public towards UNOMIL and the United Nations in recent months.
The Secretary-General's report on UNAMIR (document A/50/712/Add.1) contains the cost estimates for the Mission's withdrawal from 9 March to 19 April 1996 at a cost of $19.7 million gross ($19.5 million net) and for the Mission's administrative closure from 20 April to 30 September 1996 at a cost of $4.5 million gross ($4.1 million net). The Mission was established by the Security Council on 5 October 1993. The cost estimates provide for the withdrawal of 1,395 military personnel, 161 international civilian staff and 56 United Nations Volunteers, the removal of UNAMIR assets, the completion of
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residual administrative tasks and the establishment of a temporary UNAMIR administrative office at Nairobi. It also includes an additional provision for 72 work/months of civilian staff beyond 30 September 1996.
The Assembly is asked to appropriate and assess $19.7 million gross ($19.5 million net) for the Mission's withdrawal, inclusive of the commitment authority of $4.7 million previously granted by the ACABQ. It is also asked to appropriate and assess $4.5 million gross ($4.1 million net) for the administrative closure of the Mission. In addition, the Assembly is requested to extend UNAMIR's financial period from 10 June to 8 December 1995, to include the period ending on 31 December 1995. It is also requested to approve the revised amount of $96.7 million gross ($94.9 million net) for the Mission's maintenance for the period from 10 June to 31 December 1995.
In other action, the Assembly should credit Member States the amount of $2.9 million gross ($2.6 million net), representing the balance of the amount of $99.7 million gross ($97.5 million net) assessed for the period from 10 June to 8 December 1995 from the appropriation of $110 million gross ($107.6 million net) authorized for the period from 10 June to 31 December 1995. It should also credit Member States the unencumbered balance of $20.7 million gross ($20.2 million net) for the period from 10 December 1994 to 9 June 1995.
In a preliminary report on the disposition of UNAMIR's assets (document A/50/712/Add.2), the Secretary-General advises that the estimated inventory value of the Mission's assets as at 19 October 1995 was approximately $62.5 million. The proposed disposal of the Mission's assets is consistent with the guiding principles endorsed by Assembly resolution 49/233 A, taking into account the unique circumstances and recent history of Rwanda. The Assembly is requested to take note of the report and approve the donation of non-lethal equipment to the Government of Rwanda.
The report states that the assets have been classified into four groups. The first two groups (Groups I and II) comprise assets earmarked for transfer, at no cost, to other peace-keeping operations, and the second, for transfer, at cost, to extrabudgetary programmes undertaken by the United Nations offices/programmes and agencies operating in Rwanda. Group I comprises 65.6 per cent of all assets with an inventory value of approximately $41 million. Group II consists of assets with an inventory value of approximately $6.2 million and represents 10 per cent of the total value of UNAMIR assets.
The other two groups (Groups III and IV) refer to assets that are earmarked for donation for the Government of Rwanda. Group III comprises non-lethal assets valued at approximately $9.2 million (14.7 per cent of UNAMIR total asset value). Group IV comprises assets with no remaining useful life, valued at approximately $6.1 million. This group includes assets that
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have been written off as a result of accidents and damage caused by natural elements and acts of war, abandonment due to the past security situation in Rwanda and loss owing to theft.
Regarding the estimates for UNAMIR's withdrawal and administrative closure, the ACABQ (document A/50/936) recommends that the Assembly take action to appropriate and assess the amounts as requested by the Secretary- General. It also recommends that the Assembly take note of the preliminary report on the disposition of the assets of UNAMIR. However, the ACABQ notes that the report is less detailed than previous ones on the subject; for example, there is no schedule of inventory. It expects that a full inventory will be presented to the Assembly once all the negotiations have been completed.
Regarding the transfer of assets, the ACABQ felt that the existence of a number of missions in Rwanda, including the International Tribunal for Rwanda, warrant that priority be given to transferring the assets to those missions. Upon request, the Committee was provided with a list of equipment valued at $516,155 already transferred to the Tribunal, and with a list of equipment earmarked for transfer to the Tribunal, the report states.
In connection with assets earmarked for donation to the Government of Rwanda, the Committee was informed that items in this group might change depending on the outcome of ongoing negotiations between the United Nations and the Government of Rwanda. With regard to the question of abandoned contingent-owned equipment, the Committee was informed that the matter was still under review, as a number of issues were yet to be settled.
1996-1997 Budget: Commission of Inquiry in Rwanda
C.S.M. MSELLE, Chairman of the ACABQ, introduced and reviewed the report of his committee on the revised estimates for the Commission of Inquiry in Rwanda. Some $391,333 net had been spent on the Commission for a previous period. He commented on estimates for rent, air support operations and vehicles, recommending that the Secretary-General continue to provide some of those services from other United Nations missions, using some of the vehicles, for instance, used UNAMIR. The ACABQ had noted that the $1,000 per month proposed for hospitality was excessive.
The ACABQ recommended that, to retain the Commission, the Secretary- General should be authorized to commit the funds he had sought under section 3 for peace-keeping and special missions of the 1996-1997 budget. Any additional assessments should be considered in the context of the first performance report for the period 1996-1997.
LINDA SHENWICK (United States) said that the costs of the operations should be assumed under the 1996-1997 budget of $2.608 billion. A resolution
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on the matter should be along the lines of that used to grant temporary funding for the United Nations Human Rights Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA). That would provide some commitment authority, pending the receipt of the Secretary-General's report on how he would absorb those costs. He should report by 15 May, through the ACABQ.
NESTAR ODAGO-JALOMAYO (Uganda) sought clarification on the action to be taken by the Committee.
Ms. SHENWICK (United States) said she had proposed that the Committee use the same language as it had when approving similar recent decisions regarding Guatemala and El Salvador.
Mr. ODAGO-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said he would not object to granting the Secretary-General commitment authority to allow the continuation of the Commission of Inquiry, with the understanding that the related budgetary issues would be discussed at a later date.
AMMAR AMARI (Tunisia) sought clarification on the proposals for action by the Committee. He added that he would support the idea proposed by Uganda.
The Committee Chairman, ERICH VILCHEZ ASHER (Nicaragua), proposed an oral draft decision that would, among others, have the General Assembly commit up to $931,800 (net of staff assessment) under the peace-keeping and special missions section (section 3) of the 1996-1997 budget to maintain the Commission of Inquiry. It would also ask the Secretary-General to present to the Assembly, no later than 15 May, proposals on how to absorb those costs in the budget, including in part II which deals with political affairs.
The Committee then adopted the oral decision.
International Criminal Tribunals for Former Yugoslavia, Rwanda
LORENZO FERRARIN (Italy), speaking on behalf of the European Union, endorsed the ACABQ's recommendations on the two International Tribunals. He said the high vacancy rates had led to an underestimation of the actual costs of the fully staffed Tribunals. The Tribunals' cost was a total of $125 million, comprising $70 million for the Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and $55 million for the Tribunal for Rwanda. The total amount was equivalent to 10 per cent of the United Nations annual regular budget.
He noted that important voluntary contributions had been made to both Tribunals which otherwise would have been financed by assessed contributions. It was, therefore, surprising that the Secretariat was seeking to charge a 13 per cent support cost to donors of such contributions. He questioned the basis and the criteria for the calculation of that cost. It was an important issue to be addressed by the Assembly.
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There should be greater transparency regarding the use of voluntary contributions to and expenditures from the Tribunals' Trust Funds, he said. He requested information on the negotiations between the United Nations and the Government of Rwanda regarding the security of Tribunal's personnel and premises. He stressed the need to have an appropriate protection scheme and the need for the necessary resources to be made available.
YUKIO TAKASU, United Nations Controller, sought to clarify any misunderstandings about voluntary contributions. He said the Financial Regulations allowed the Secretary-General to receive such contributions as long as there was no additional financial liability. If there were, Assembly approval was required. The relevant Assembly resolution on voluntary contributions called for 13 per cent as the standard amount to be charged for support costs. On that basis, the Secretariat had established its guidelines. Referring to another resolution on voluntary contributions, he said, as in the case of the Tribunals, such contributions should be considered supplementary funds. In accepting such contributions, it was understood that any indirect financial liability must be borne outside the regular budget.
Financing of UNIKOM
Mr. TAKASU, United Nations Controller, introduced the Secretary- General's report on UNIKOM. Since its estimates were published, there had been attempts to cut the costs of the operation by reducing the number of people involved, he said. That effort had been reported to the Security Council, which had endorsed it. The estimates had been cut by $7 million to $50.7 million. Some $32 million would be voluntarily contributed and the rest should be assessed.
Mr. MSELLE said that the ACABQ had been informed of a $7.1 million cut from the Mission's original estimates.
ZIAD MONAYAIR (Kuwait) said his Government had been up to date with its payments and had, in the last few days, paid more than $19.1 million covering the period November 1995 to 31 April 1996.
Financing of UNOMIL
Mr. TAKASU introduced two reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of UNOMIL, covering two periods: January to June 1996 and July 1996 to June 1997. He said that the Mission's mandates had most recently been extended to the end of May. After recent developments in Liberia, the Security Council had asked the Secretary-General to present a further report with suggestions on what to do with the Mission. Any subsequent changes in estimates would be reported to the Assembly.
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Mr. MSELLE said that the fighting that recently broke out in Liberia and the deterioration of the situation had forced the evacuation of significant numbers of UNOMIL personnel. The Secretary-General had sent an envoy to assess the situation regarding a mission that had been extended to 31 May. The Council would determine what further measures were necessary. Therefore, the recommendations in the ACABQ report had been overtaken by events, and the Fifth Committee should postpone action on them until the Council had considered a further report from the Secretary-General and decided on the Mission's future. The Secretary-General could also report to the Assembly, through the ACABQ, on the budgetary actions required. So far, the Secretary- General had been authorized to use resources for the period ending 31 May. Pending a decision on the Mission's future, the Secretary-General should be given commitment authority for 1 to 30 June.
Mr. ODAGO-JALOMAYO (Uganda) expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore order in that country. The logical action to take would be along the lines of what the ACABQ Chairman had suggested. He strongly endorsed the ACABQ recommendation that the matter be postponed pending some reappraisal.
PAUL MENKVELD (Netherlands) asked what the practical consequences of the ACABQ recommendation would be, when the report of the Secretary-General would be submitted to the Council and when the Committee could again take up the matter.
Mr. TAKASU said that the situation was fluid, with a lot of uncertainty, and the Secretary-General had been mandated to report to the Council by the end of May. Depending on the report, the Secretariat would prepare revised cost estimates. He could not tell how long it would take to submit them, but it could take two to three weeks to prepare and process the report. The Secretary-General already had some $22 million in financial authority, and there was balance of some $350,000 to $400,000 as at the end of June. It would be useful for the Assembly to extend the commitment authority to the end of July so that the revised cost estimates could be considered without a break in financing.
Mr. MSELLE said the figures of the Controller excluded the $5 million that had been carried over from another period. The total amount, therefore, available for January to June was more than the $22 million the Controller had mentioned.
Mr. ODAGO-JALOMAYO (Uganda) agreed that the Committee should grant commitment authority to the Secretary-General for the Mission up to July to ensure that the operation was not hampered by lack of such authority.
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WILLIAM GRANT (United States) said that, although he would have to refer the matter to his capital before he agreed on a proposal, he felt that Uganda's suggestion would be a sensible approach.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. VILCHEZ ASHER (Nicaragua), said the matter would be considered further at tomorrow's meeting and a decision could then be taken.
Financing UNAMIR
Mr. TAKASU, United Nations Controller, introduced the Secretary- General's two reports on the financing of UNAMIR.
Regarding the disposition of the Mission's assets, he said that approximately two thirds of the assets at their original cost were being transferred to United Nations operations, and 10 per cent to United Nations offices in Rwanda. The remainder of the equipment -- 17.7 per cent -- was being donated to the Government of Rwanda based on the principles established by the Assembly and the cost effectiveness of the removal of the equipment. The Secretary-General had requested the Assembly to endorse the donations.
Mr. MSELLE, ACABQ Chairman, noted that UNAMIR had withdrawn from Rwanda and that negotiations were taking place on the establishment of a political office at an estimated cost of $12 million for 1996-1997. He asked that action on the Secretary-General's proposal, to revise the appropriations for UNAMIR for the period 10 June to 31 December 1995, be deferred until the receipt of the Mission's performance report for that period. He recommended, however, that the Committee take note of the Secretary-General's preliminary report on the disposition of assets.
Mr. ODAGO-JALOMAYO (Uganda) referred to the Controller's report on the disposition of assets. He recalled that, in response to Member States' concerns when the Committee had discussed the disposition of assets of the Mission in Cambodia last year, the Assembly had stressed that strict compliance procedures should be applied to subsequent liquidation procedures.
Noting that there had been some donations to the Government of Rwanda and to the Rwanda Tribunal, he expressed hope that the equipment that had been donated to the Government was of some value to that country. He would address the issue in detail in informal consultations. Stressing that he was supportive of the Rwanda Government, he said he hoped that the donated equipment was "not given just in name".
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