COMMITTEE IS TOLD PEACE-KEEPING AGREEMENTS SHOULD ENSURE COOPERATION OF HOST COUNTRIES IN WITHDRAWAL OF UN PEACE-KEEPING PERSONNEL AND ASSETS
Press Release
GA/AB/3075
COMMITTEE IS TOLD PEACE-KEEPING AGREEMENTS SHOULD ENSURE COOPERATION OF HOST COUNTRIES IN WITHDRAWAL OF UN PEACE-KEEPING PERSONNEL AND ASSETS
19960510 Status of forces agreements between the United Nations and countries that host its peace-keeping operations should include a provision to ensure appropriate cooperation by hosts in the withdrawal of United Nations personnel and assets, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) was told this morning.Speaking on the financing of peace-keeping missions, the representative of Italy, also on behalf of the European Union, said that the principles governing the disposition of assets had been endorsed by the Assembly. He added that priority reimbursement for troop and equipment costs should be given to Member States that had paid their peace-keeping dues. Mission budgets could be approved by the Assembly twice a year, at the end of June and December. Those for Bosnia, Croatia, Angola, Liberia and Western Sahara should be considered at the end of 1996.
The representatives of India and the United States also spoke.
In his reports to the General Assembly, the Secretary-General is seeking about $1.26 billion, excluding support account provisions, to finance 15 peace-keeping missions for the 12-month period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997.
The United Nations Controller, Yukio Takasu, introduced the Secretary- General's reports on the United Nations Peace Forces in the former Yugoslavia, the United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO), the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNIMBH), the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) and the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP). The Director of the Peace-keeping Financing Division, of the Department of Administration and Management, Leon Hosang, introduced the report on the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH).
In his 13 March consolidated report on the operations in the former Yugoslavia for the period 1 January to 30 June 1996, the Secretary-General estimated that the missions would cost a rounded $490.3 million gross ($482.6 million net). The Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
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Questions (ACABQ) has recommended cuts of $86.5 million for January to June, said its Chairman, C.S.M. Mselle, while introducing that Committee's reports on the budgets. For the 12-month period July 1996 to June 1997, it had recommended cuts of $23.4 million from a rounded $545.3 million gross total.
The Committee is scheduled to meet again at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 15 May, to take up progress reports on efforts to save some $104 million from the 1996-1997 budget, and human resources management, under which it would consider internal justice reforms.
Committee Work Programme
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this morning to begin discussing the financing of the United Nations peace-keeping operations in the former Yugoslavia, including the liquidation of operations which the Security Council has terminated. They are the United Nations Peace Forces in the former Yugoslavia (UNPF), the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH), the United Nations Confidence-Restoration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO), the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES), the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), and the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP). In addition, the Committee will discuss the financing of the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH). This is the latest batch of reports on peace-keeping financing being considered in this resumed session. The Secretary-General is seeking a total of about $1.3 billion to pay for 15 missions for the 12-month period of 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. (The amount includes the support accounts.)
The Committee had before it the reports of the Secretary-General and the related recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).
Financing of UNMIH
The Secretary-General's report on the financing of UNMIH (documents A/50/363/Add.2 and Corr.1) contains the proposed budget for covering UNMIH's extension until 30 June and the Mission's liquidation over a seven-month period beyond that date. The budget for the period from 1 March to 30 June amounts to $45.8 million gross ($44.8 million net). It makes provision for the repatriation of 2,659 contingent personnel and the maintenance of 1,200 contingent personnel and 300 civilian police monitors, supported by 364 civilian staff. The liquidation budget for the period from 1 July 1996 to 31 January 1997 amounts to $15.6 million gross ($15.2 million net).
The Assembly is asked to appropriate $45.8 million gross ($44.8 million net) for the period from 1 March to 30 June, inclusive of $30 million gross ($28.5 million net) already authorized. The Assembly is also asked to assess an additional amount of $25.8 million gross ($25.8 million net) for the period from 1 March to 30 June, taking account of $20 million gross ($19 million net) already assessed on Member States. The appropriation and assessment of $15.6 million gross ($15.2 million net) for the period 1 July 1996 to 31 January 1997 is also requested.
The Secretary-General reports that a full reimbursement of troop costs for UNMIH has been made through 30 April 1995. Approximately $52.1 million is owed for troops costs for the period ending 31 December 1995. Troops have been provided to UNMIH by Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bangladesh,
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Barbados, Belize, Canada, Djibouti, France, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.
In its report on UNMIH (document A/50/488/Add.2), the ACABQ recommends that the Assembly appropriate $45.3 million gross ($44.3 million net) for the period from 1 March to 30 June 1996. That is inclusive of $30 million gross ($28.5 million net) previously authorized. It asks the Assembly to assess an additional amount of $25.3 million gross ($24.3 million net) for the period 1 March to 30 June 1996. That action should take account of $20 million gross ($19 million net) already assessed on Member States. In addition, the ACABQ recommends that the Assembly appropriate and assess $15.5 million gross ($15.1 million net) for the period 1 July 1996 to 31 January 1997.
Since the Mission was winding down, the ACABQ did not approve provisions for such activities as $165,000 for alterations to the military camps and additional appropriations for road paving and upgrading of airstrips. Until a policy has been adopted by the Assembly, the ACABQ recommends the deletion of $120,000 for the Blue Book publication on UNMIH in two languages. The Committee would revert to the issue in September, in the context of a report from the Secretary-General, and to review the proposals for publications of the Blue Book series in the light of the proposed policy and criteria to be established for such publications.
United Nations Peace-keeping in Former Yugoslavia
In his 13 March consolidated report on financing the missions in the former Yugoslavia for the period 1 January to 30 June 1996 (document A/50/696/Add.4), the Secretary-General estimates that the missions will cost a rounded $490.3 million gross ($482.6 million net), as follows: UNPF: $302.1 million gross ($299 million net); UNMIBH: $52.7 million gross ($50.8 million net); UNTAES: $110.4 million gross ($108.2 million net); and UNPREDEP: $25.2 million gross ($24.7 million net).
The UNPF's budget provides for the phasing out of military and civilian personnel. Those of the other three operations cover the deployment of military observers, civilian police, international staff and the maintenance of vehicles. A related 6 May report of the ACABQ on the former Yugoslavia missions (document A/50/903/Add.1) contains its final comments on the Secretary-General's consolidated report. (The Advisory Committee had presented an interim one (document A/50/903) in March.)
The Secretary-General asks the Assembly to appropriate $302.1 million gross ($299 million net) for the pre-liquidation of the UNPF for the period 1 January to 30 June. That includes $100 million gross ($98.4 million net) previously authorized. The ACABQ recommends $240.6 million gross. Its figure includes some $150 million gross already authorized by last April.
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The Secretary-General also requests the Assembly to assess an additional $212.6 gross ($211.1 million net) for the UNPF for 1 January to 30 June, taking into account the $89.5 million gross ($87.9 million net) assessed last December for the period 1 January to 31 March. The new figure would be offset against an unencumbered balance of $117 million gross ($120.2 million net) for the period ending 31 December 1995. The ACABQ recommends $151.1 million gross, considering the $89.5 million gross already assessed. The new sum would be offset against the unencumbered balance of $112.7 million gross, remaining as of May, for the period ending 31 December 1995.
The Secretary-General's report also asks the Assembly to appropriate $100 million gross ($99.6 million net) for the UNPF, previously authorized and assessed for 1 July to 30 November 1995. The Secretary-General also asks it to appropriate and assess $115.4 million gross ($113.9 million net) for the UNPF, authorized last December, for the period 1-31 December 1995. That amount would be offset against the unencumbered balance for the period ending 31 December. The ACABQ approves both sets of requests.
In a report on financing UNPROFOR, UNCRO, UNPREDEP and UNPF (document A/50/696/Add.5), the Secretary-General asks the General Assembly to appropriate and assess $49.4 million gross ($45.8 million net) to liquidate the UNPF, UNCRO and UNPROFOR. The sum will also provide central support to UNTAES, UNMIBH and UNPREDEP for the period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. The liquidation of the UNPF is to take place from 1 July 1996 to 28 February 1997 at a cost of some $40.2 million gross ($37.1 million net). The $9.2 million gross ($8.7 million net) provided for the new missions would cover transport and air operations and communications for the 12 months of 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997.
In its report (document A/50/903/Add.1), the ACABQ recommends that the Assembly appropriate $49.1 million to liquidate the UNPF, UNCRO and UNPROFOR in the period 1 July 1996 to 28 February 1997 and to provide central support to UNTAES, UNMIBH and UNPREDEP for the period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997.
In his consolidated report on the financing of the peace-keeping operations in the former Yugoslavia (document A/50/696/Add.4), dated 13 March, the Secretary-General states that the estimated budget for UNMIBH's start-up and maintenance, which includes requirements of the Special Coordinator's Office for Sarajevo and the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP), is $52.7 million gross ($50.8 million net). It covers the period 1 January to 30 June. The UNMIBH's budget is based on the deployment of up to 28 military observers, 1,721 civilian police, 252 international staff and 905 local staff, as well as the hiring of two helicopters and the maintenance and operation of 991 vehicles.
The Secretary-General requests the Assembly to establish special accounts for UNMIBH to account for income and expenditures related to the
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missions. He also asks the Assembly to appropriate and assess $52.7 million gross ($50.8 million net) for the Mission for the period 1 January to 30 June.
In its report (document A/50/903), the ACABQ made an interim recommendation by which it asked the Assembly to authorize additional commitments in the amount of $100 million gross for the period from 1 January to 31 May for the financing of all the missions, including UNMIBH.
The Secretary-General's subsequent report on UNMIBH (document A/50/906), dated 29 March, contains the budget for the maintenance of the Mission for the period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. On a full-cost basis, the budget amounts to $158.8 million gross ($150.9 million net).
The Assembly is asked to appropriate the budgeted amount for the 12- month period to be assessed at a monthly rate of $13.2 million gross ($12.6 million net), subject to extensions of the Mission's mandate by the Security Council.
In its subsequent report on the matter (document A/50/903/Add.1), the ACABQ notes that the initial number of police stations for UNMIBH has been reduced from 109 to 53. That reduction contributed to a decrease in the Mission's cost estimates for the period from 1 January to 30 June 1996 by a total amount of $1.4 million. In addition, because of delays in the deployment of UNMIBH personnel, the ACABQ recommends that the cost estimates for the period from 1 January to 30 June be reduced by a total of $7.5 million.
For the UNMIBH's start-up requirements and maintenance for the period from 1 January to 30 June 1996, the ACABQ requests the Assembly to appropriate $43.8 million gross -- a decrease from the cost estimate of $52.7 million gross proposed by the Secretary-General in March -- and additional assessment of $29.8 million gross. That action should take account of $14 million gross already authorized and assessed by the Assembly in April for the period from 1 January to 31 May 1996.
For the 12-month period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, the ACABQ recommends that the Assembly appropriate $147.4 million gross for the maintenance of UNMIBH -- a reduction from the $158.8 million gross the Secretary-General had asked the Assembly to appropriate in March -- to be assessed at a monthly rate of $12.3 million gross, subject to extension of the UNMIBH's mandate by the Security Council.
In his consolidated report (document A/50/696/Add.4) dated 13 March, the Secretary-General presents a budget of $110.4 million gross ($108.2 million net) for the start-up and maintenance of UNTAES for the period from 1 January to 30 June, which includes the budget for the Belgrade and Zagreb liaison offices treated as part of the mission for administrative and budgetary
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purposes. The liaison offices provide support to all the United Nations missions in the former Yugoslavia. The budget provides for the deployment of up to 100 military observers, 5,000 troops, 600 civilian police, 317 international staff and 686 local staff, as well as reimbursement for eight government-provided helicopters and the maintenance and operation of 974 United Nations-owned vehicles and 2,340 contingent-owned vehicles.
The Secretary-General asks the Assembly to establish a special account for UNTAES in order to account for the mission's income and expenditure. The Assembly is also requested to appropriate and assess the amount of $110.4 million gross ($108.2 million net) budgeted for the mission for the period 1 January to 30 June.
In its consolidated report, the ACABQ made an interim recommendation by which it asked the Assembly to authorize additional commitments in the amount of $100 million gross for the period from 1 January to 31 May for the financing of all the missions, including UNTAES.
In a subsequent separate report on UNTAES, dated 1 April (document A/50/909), the Secretary-General provides the budget for the maintenance of UNTAES and the Belgrade and Zagreb offices for the period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. The budget, on a full-cost basis, amounts to $284.8 million gross ($275.4 million net) and is based on the full deployment of 100 military observers, 5,000 troops and 600 civilian police and the phased deployment of 477 international staff, 721 local staff and 100 United Nations volunteers.
The Secretary-General asks the Assembly to appropriate the amount budgeted for UNTAES for the period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, to be assessed at a monthly rate of $23.7 million gross ($22.9 million net), subject to Security Council decisions to extend the mission's mandate.
The ACABQ's subsequent report on the matter (document A/50/903/Add.1) recommends that the cost estimates for the period from 1 January to 30 June be reduced by a total of $16.1 million because of delays in the deployment of UNTAES personnel.
For the start-up requirements and maintenance of UNTAES for the period from 15 January to 30 June, the ACABQ recommends that the Assembly appropriate $94.3 million gross and additional assessment of $64.8 million gross. That action should take account of $29.5 million gross already authorized and assessed by the Assembly in April for the period from 1 January to 31 May.
For the maintenance of UNTAES during the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, the Advisory Committee recommends that the Assembly appropriate $274.1 million gross, to be assessed at a monthly rate of $22.8 million gross, subject to extension of the UNTAES mandate by the Security Council. The appropriation represents a reduction of the initial amount requested by the
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Secretary-General and is a result of a decrease of $5.8 million for civilian personnel due to delays in deployment, plus $5 million that was withheld until the Committee receives justifications for eight helicopters.
In his earlier 13 March consolidated report (document A/50/696/Add.4), the Secretary-General asks the Assembly to appropriate and assess $20.9 million gross ($20.6 million net) to strengthen and maintain UNPREDEP for the period 1 January to 30 May. For the period after 30 May, should the Security Council maintain UNPREDEP beyond that date, he asks the Assembly to authorize and assess $4.2 million gross ($4.1 million net) for 31 May to 30 June.
In a report on UNPREDEP (document A/50/895), the Secretary-General asks the Assembly to appropriate $52.4 million gross ($50.8 million net) for the Force for the 12-month period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. It should be assessed at about $4.4 million gross ($4.2 million net) monthly, subject to extension of the mission's mandate by the Security Council. (The UNPREDEP's current mandate expires on 30 May.)
The amount sought by the Secretary-General would provide for 76 international civilian staff.
The report of the ACABQ (document A/50/903/Add.1) recommends that the Assembly appropriate $51.3 million gross for UNPREDEP for 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, assessed at $4.3 million monthly gross, should the Security Council extend the mission's mandate. It makes that suggestion after recommending a cut in proposals for reimbursing contingent-owned equipment from $4.5 million to $3.5 million.
Operation in Former Yugoslavia
YUKIO TAKASU, United Nations Controller, introducing the Secretary- General's reports on the operations in the former Yugoslavia, said that, as a result of a number of significant changes in those operations, their cost estimates had been adjusted. The earlier reports covered the cost estimates from January to June. Subsequently, the Secretariat had prepared separate reports for each mission. He reported on the liquidation of the older missions and the establishment of the new ones.
Part of the costs for the liquidation of UNCRO, UNPROFOR, UNPREDEP and UNPF was being requested for reimbursement for contingent-owned equipment and the settlement of some 800 third party liability claims. He reminded the Committee that the Secretary-General was awaiting a response to his proposals for financing the rapid reaction force which had been requested since December.
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C.S.M. MSELLE, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions Chairman, introducing his Committee's reports, said he would offer preliminary comments on the operations at this time. The report dated 6 May, contained the Committee's recommendations on all the previous reports of the Secretary-General on the operations. For January to June, the Advisory Committee had recommended a total reduction of the cost estimates by $86.5 million. For the 12-month period July 1996 to June 1997, his Committee had recommended a reduction of $23.4 million as the sum total of all its recommendations. The figures were based on the Secretariat's calculations of the effect of the ACABQ's observations and recommendations. He would elaborate further on the information presented during the informal discussions on the operations.
LORENZO FERRARIN (Italy), also speaking for the European Union, recalled that General Assembly resolution 49/233 on peace-keeping budgets had stated that missions with requirements which did not fluctuate should be considered once a year. For other missions, budget estimates would be considered and approved by the Assembly twice a year -- the end of June and December. Such missions as those in Bosnia, Croatia, Angola, Liberia and Western Sahara should be considered at the end of 1996. The resolutions on them should appropriate funds for the period through 31 December and approve specific monthly assessments, subject to extension of their mandate by the Security Council. They should also ask the Secretary-General to provide the Assembly with updated estimates for the second half of the financial year in preparation for discussions which would take place at the fifty-first regular session.
He said that priority reimbursement for troop and equipment costs should be given to the Member States that had paid up their peace-keeping dues. The usual provisions for paying the support account for peace-keeping operations had not been included in the Secretary-General's report. That was appropriate pending a decision by the Assembly on the mode of financing that account. Like the ACABQ, the European Union believed that the resources should be prorated among the individual mission budgets rather than appropriated and assessed on a separate account. When voluntary contributions covered activities otherwise financed with assessments, such contributions should be fully reflected in the peace-keeping budgets and the assessments consequently reduced. The Secretary-General should submit a report on the matter for the fifty-first Assembly session. The guiding principles of the disposition of mission assets were endorsed by the Assembly in a resolution. The relations between the United Nations and host countries regarding the disposition of assets should be improved. He agreed with the ACABQ recommendation that the status of forces agreement between the United Nations and host countries should include a provision that ensured appropriate cooperation by the host country in the withdrawal of United Nations personnel and assets from missions.
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WILLIAM K. GRANT (United States) said his delegation would be seeking clarification on issues such as the costs estimates for contingent-owned equipment. The details and criteria used to determine the amounts should be provided. The bases for claims and adjustments should also be explained. The length of the pre-liquidation and liquidation phases was a cause for concern. The budget for demining staff and the methods of financing the rapid-reaction force should also be clarified in the informal consultations that would follow.
VIJAY GOKHALE (India) said that he reserved the right to revert to the issues raised by the representative of Italy. He understood that the financing of peace-keeping operations was not an agenda item at the meeting.
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