OVER $850 MILLION RECOMMENDED FOR 1997-1998 PEACE-KEEPING BUDGETS AS FIFTH COMMITTEE SUSPENDS RESUMED SESSION
Press Release
GA/AB/3156
OVER $850 MILLION RECOMMENDED FOR 1997-1998 PEACE-KEEPING BUDGETS AS FIFTH COMMITTEE SUSPENDS RESUMED SESSION
19970609 Text on UNIFIL, Object of Two Votes, Says Israel Should Pay Qana Costs; Drafts on Procurement Reform, Death or Disability Compensations also ApprovedThe General Assembly would approve some $853 million gross for the budgets of a dozen active peace-keeping operations for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, should it approve about two dozen draft texts approved early Saturday morning, 7 June, as the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) concluded the second part of its resumed fifty-first session.
The amount, which includes provisions for the support account for peace- keeping, reflect a drop from the more than $1.2 billion sought for the previous 12-month period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997.
All drafts, many of which were orally revised, were approved without a vote, with the exception of the amended draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which was the subject of two votes.
The Committee first approved by a vote of 58 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 52 abstentions, operative paragraph 7 of the draft. That paragraph would have Israel bear some $1.7 million as the costs of the 18 April 1996 incident at UNIFIL headquarters at Qana, Lebanon. (For voting details, see Annex I.)
Following the vote on operative paragraph 7, the draft as a whole was approved by a vote of 107 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 3 abstentions (Japan, Russian Federation, Ukraine). (See Annex II.) Under the text provisions, the Assembly would approve some $126.7 million gross ($122.6 million net) and assess about $125 million gross ($120.9 million net) for the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998.
Explanations of position on the UNIFIL draft were made by the representatives of Israel, United States, Russian Federation, Japan, Netherlands (on behalf of the European Union), Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and United Republic of Tanzania.
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Under administrative and budgetary aspects of peace-keeping, a text approved would have the Assembly establish uniform and standardized rates of death or disability compensations for peace-keepers to ensure equal treatment of all contingent troops. The rates would pay one-time lump sums of $50,000 for service-incurred deaths occurring after 30 June.
Other texts under that agenda item would have the Assembly approve funds for the support account for peace-keeping operations for the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, which would be shared out among various missions. It would authorize the Secretary-General to commit resources for the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, for the period from 1 July to 15 October.
Speaking after action on that agenda item were the representatives of Pakistan, India, United States and Republic of Korea.
Under review of United Nations efficiency, the Committee approved a draft on procurement reform that would have the Assembly ask the Secretary- General to expedite steps being taken to establish a Supplier Roster on the widest geographical basis possible and to report to its fifty-second session. It would also emphasize that concerted efforts should be made to identify potential vendors in developing countries and in countries with economies in transition, and to increase the representation from those States in bidding and award of contracts in order to develop a supplier base more representative of the United Nations membership. The Secretary-General would also be asked to take immediate action to ensure compliance with the established procedures for procurement, based on international competitive bidding and the widest possible geographical base.
In addition to the funding of active operations for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, the Committee approved draft texts on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia; on three closing peace-keeping accounts -- the United Nations Peace Forces in the former Yugoslavia (UNPF), United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) and United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR); on administrative and budgetary aspects of peace-keeping financing; on review of the United Nations efficiency; and aspects of the 1996-1997 regular budget.
By other drafts, the Assembly would appropriate some $29.8 million gross ($27.4 million net) for the former Yugoslavia Tribunal and $18.4 million gross ($15.1 million net) for the Rwanda Tribunal for the period 1 July to 31 December. The representative of the United States spoke after action on the latter draft.
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Active peace-keeping operations, for which 1997-1998 budgets were approved, include: the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM), United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) and the United Nations Support Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH).
Also: the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT), United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES), United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) and the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP).
Appropriations were also approved for the UNPF, UNMIH and UNAMIR, closed missions in the process of liquidation.
The representatives of Syria and Germany spoke in explanation of position after the action on the draft on UNDOF.
Other action taken by the Committee included a text on the Office of Internal Oversight Services by which the Assembly would ask the Secretary- General to continue efforts to recover the financial loss of $1.5 million resulting from the non-implementation of the United Nations Access Control System.
A draft proposal on management in the Organization would have the Assembly note documents such as the report of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) on accountability, management improvement and oversight in the United Nations.
A draft decision on informatics in the United Nations, categorized under aspects of the 1996-1997 regular budget, would have the Assembly endorse the Secretary-General's report on telecommunications in the Organization, which concludes that it may no longer be cost beneficial to buy facilities in that field.
The Committee decided to continue deliberations, in the next part of its resumed session, in September, on gratis personnel loaned to the Organization, on strengthening of external oversight mechanisms and on the Secretary- General's report on the Office of Internal Oversight Services.
The Fifth Committee is scheduled to meet again from 8 to 12 September.
Committee Work Programme
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met on Friday night, 6 June, to conclude the second part of its resumed session. It was scheduled to consider aspects of review of United Nations administrative and financial efficiency; 15 peace-keeping budgets; the financing of the International Criminal Tribunals; administrative and budgetary aspects of peace-keeping financing; aspects of the 1996-1997 regular budget; and the construction of regional commission conference facilities at Addis Ababa and Bangkok.
Drafts for Action
Under the review of United Nations administrative and financial efficiency, the Assembly would consider three resolutions on: procurement reform; reports of the Office of Internal Oversight; and on management in the United Nations.
A draft resolution on procurement reform (document A/C.5/51/L.70) contains 38 operative paragraphs. Paragraph 11 which is in brackets, would have the Assembly decide to introduce in the Organization's procurement system the provision that, among equally qualified vendors, preference should be given in the award of contracts for procuring goods and services to vendors from Member States current with their assessed contributions. Preference would also be given to vendors from Member States unable to pay their assessed contributions promptly and in full for reasons beyond their control, in the context of Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations, and to vendors from Member States which are net creditors to the Organization.
The Assembly would express concern that over the last two years eight procurement-related arbitration claims were instituted against the United Nations, totalling more than $90 million. The Secretary-General would be requested to submit to the Assembly at its fifty-second session a comprehensive report on procurement-related arbitration cases taking into account the obligations of the United Nations under the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.
By other provisions of the draft, the Assembly would express concern about the insufficient use of expertise in procurement planning in eight peace-keeping missions, including the United Nations Protection Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Nations Operations in Somalia (UNOSOM), which led to payments for aircraft services not utilized, assessed at $2.4 million in the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM) and $0.4 million in the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL). The Assembly would express its regret that, owing to deficiencies in procurement planning and omissions to indicate specifications clearly, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees suffered a financial loss of about $3 million.
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The Secretary-General would be asked to discontinue the practice on the use of suppliers recommended by requisitioners, which undermines the principle of segregation of responsibilities between requesting and procurement entities. He would also be requested to ensure that in no case will a consultant who has been engaged to prepare specifications and to assist in technical evaluation be allowed to recommend vendors for invitations to bid.
On the issue of the supplier roster, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to expedite the steps being taken to establish a Supplier Roster on as wide a geographical basis as possible and to report thereon, including a revised list of suppliers through the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Question (ACABQ) to the Assembly's fifty-second session. The Assembly would also emphasize that concerted efforts should be made to identify potential vendors in the developing countries and countries with economies in transition and to increase the representation from those countries in bidding and award of contracts in order to develop a supplier base more representative of the Organization's membership.
Also by the draft text, the Assembly would regret that more progress has not been made, in particular, in improving the procedures and the cost- effectiveness of the procurement process and in broadening the representativeness of the supplier base. The Assembly would also request the Secretary-General to expedite efforts to develop a single format for the provision of data and a common reporting system for procurement undertaken in the field and at Headquarters under his responsibility, to produce a complete set of statistics to be included in future reports on procurement to the Assembly.
While welcoming the electronic announcement of United Nations contract awards through Procurement Update issued by the Inter-Agency Procurement Services Office on the Internet, the Assembly would encourage the Secretary- General to make further use of that medium. It would request the Secretary- General to report through the ACABQ to the Assembly at its fifty-second session on the establishment of a standard procedure for preparing performance evaluation reports on vendors, in particular those with major contracts.
Other terms of the draft resolution would request the Secretary-General to: take immediate action to ensure compliance with the established procedures for procurement, based on international competitive bidding and the widest possible geographical base of procurement; review the possibility of consolidating the Organization's procurement functions and report to the Assembly no later than September 1997; establish annual consolidated procurement plans as a part of procurement reform; and complete the preparation of a new Procurement Manual as soon as possible and to provide the necessary training for procurement personnel.
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An eight-part draft resolution on the reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (document A/C.5/51/L.72) would, among other things, have the Assembly take note of the Office's report on the investigation into the seminars of the Special Committee on decolonization and that the Special Committee had considered it.
It would also have the Assembly express deep concern about the findings in the Oversight Office report regarding the non-implementation of the United Nations Access Control System which led to a financial loss of $1.5 million. It would ask the Secretary-General to continue efforts to recover the loss.
Under other provisions of the draft resolution, the Assembly would endorse the Office's recommendations. They include the need for the United Nations to immediately establish a security working group of professionals from government agencies to evaluate current physical security with a view to identifying the Organization's deficiencies and needs. The Organization should demand feasibility studies before undertaking projects involving new technology or when it lacked in-house expertise on a project.
The draft would also have the Assembly take note of the Oversight Office reports on the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and the United Nations Postal Administration. The Assembly would also take note of the assurances of UNEP's Executive Director that the Centre has begun implementation of all the recommendations contained in the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and encourage the Centre to implement fully the recommendations as approved by the Commission on Human Settlements.
By a draft text on management in the United Nations (document A/C.5/51/L.75), the Assembly would take note of the following documents: report of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) on accountability, management improvement and oversight in the United Nations (document A/50/503 and Add.1 and 2) and the related comments of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) (document A/51/522); report of the JIU on management in the United Nations: work in progress (document A/50/507) and the related comments of the Secretary-General (document A/50/507/Add.1); report of the JIU on common services in New York (document A/51/686) and the related comments of the Secretary-General (document A/51/686/Add.1); report of the JIU on the United Nations system common premises and services in the field (document A/49/629) and the related comments of the ACC (document A/51/124-E/1996/44).
Under aspects of the 1996-1997 regular budget, a draft decision on informatics in the United Nations (document A/C.5/51/L.76) would have the Assembly endorse the Secretary-General's report on telecommunications in the Organization.
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The report on telecommunications (document A/C.5/51/46) concludes that it may no longer be cost-beneficial to buy and operate telecommunications facilities for all United Nations locations because high-speed digital telecommunications services are becoming available at lower prices from commercial sources. Additional efforts will be made to ensure more efficiencies in running the United Nations global network, using more outsourcing as appropriate and cooperating with specialized agencies. For the 1998-1999 biennium, the Secretary-General would ask for resources for telecommunications under the proposed budget.
The Secretary-General's report on construction of additional conference facilities at Addis Ababa and Bangkok (document A/C.5/51/37) states that, despite numerous delays in the implementation of the project at Addis Ababa substantial completion of the new conference facilities took place on 21 April 1996, with handover of the premises to the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on 22 April 1996.
Regarding the financial aspects of the project, the Secretary-General anticipates no additional appropriation would be required in the regular budget beyond the $107.6 million originally approved. That is because the revised project cost could be covered by interest earned by the projects' accounts.
A further report of the Secretary-General on the facilities at Addis Ababa and Bangkok (document A/C.5/51/37/Add.1) states that the project would cost a total of some $115.2 million, subject to settlement of the anticipated telephone claim and exchange rate fluctuations, reflecting an increase of about $7.7 million over the $107.6 million already appropriated.
The Secretary-General asks the Assembly to authorize him to pay for the increase with the interest in the construction accounts of the ECA and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The interest in those accounts, as of 31 December 1996, was about $7.9 million, of which $7.8 million is in the ECA account.
The draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) (document A/C.5/51/L.78) would have the Assembly approve and assess some $33.6 million gross ($32.7 million net) for the mission for the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. As with all other peace-keeping budgets, the amounts for UNDOF include prorated provisions for the support account for peace-keeping operations.
The UNDOF was established in 1974 to supervise the cease-fire called for by the Security Council and the agreement on disengagement between Israeli and Syrian forces.
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A draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) (document A/C.5/51/L.71) is sponsored by the United Republic of Tanzania, on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China.
Recalling its request for the Secretary-General to report the full evaluation of the damages and costs of the 18 April 1996 Qana incident, according to the draft, the Assembly would decide, in operative paragraph 6, to exclude the incident's direct costs of $844,319 and the $880,300 used to relocate the affected Fijian battalion from the budget of UNIFIL for the period from 1 February to 30 June 1996.
By operative paragraph 7, the Assembly would decide that the total of the two sums -- $1,724,619 -- be borne only by Israel.
Another provision of the draft would have the Assembly approve $126.7 million gross ($122.6 million net) and assess $125 million gross ($120.9 million net) for UNIFIL for the same 12-month period.
The Assembly would also credit to States their respective shares in an unencumbered balance of some $2.9 million gross ($2.7 million net) related to the period ending 30 June 1996.
By the terms of a draft resolution on the financing of United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) (document A/C.5/51/L.74) the Assembly would approve $51.5 million gross ($49.6 million net) for maintaining the Observation Mission for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. That amount would include $2 million for the support account and an amount for the United Nations Logistics Base. Two-thirds of the total amount would be funded through voluntary contributions from the Government of Kuwait subject to the review by the Security Council on the question of terminating or continuing the mission.
The Assembly would also decide, for Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Observation Mission, to set off against the assessment their respective share in the unencumbered balance of $1.7 million gross ($1.4 million net). That amount represents one-third of the unencumbered balance of $4.6 million gross ($4.3 million net) for the period from 1 January to 30 June 1996. For Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Observation Mission, their share of the unencumbered balance of $1.7 million shall be set off against their outstanding obligations.
By the draft, the Assembly would decide further that two-thirds of the net unencumbered balance of $4.3 million, equivalent to $2.8 million shall be returned to the Government of Kuwait. The Assembly would request the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to recover the overpayment of
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mission subsistence allowance in the estimated amount of $988,443.50. The Secretary-General should report to the Assembly at its fifty-second session on the results of action taken for its recovery, including measures taken with respect to those responsible for the overpayment.
A draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) (document A/C.5/51/L.59) would have the Assembly approve and assess about $30.2 million gross ($28.4 million net) for the mission for the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998.
A draft on the funding of the United Nations Protection Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNPROFOR), the United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO), the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) and the United Nations Peace Forces headquarters (document A/C.5/51/L.60) would have the General Assembly appropriate a total of $240.6 million gross ($236.4 million net) for the period from 1 January to 30 June 1996. The sum had previously been authorized by the Assembly and spent by the mission. It would have the Assembly assess, in an ad hoc arrangement, an additional about $151.1 million gross ($148.4 million net) of the total. The new assessment would be an addition to the $89.5 million gross ($87.9 million net) assessed previously by the Assembly.
For the period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, it would have the Assembly appropriate and apportion some $50.3 million gross ($47 million net) for the forces. The unencumbered balance in the forces' accounts would be credited to Member States.
By the terms of a draft resolution on the financing of United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) (document A/C.5/51/L.77), the Assembly would approve $48 million gross ($45.9 million net) but assess almost $29 million gross ($26.9 million net) for the Force for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. The amount to be approved would include $1.1 million for the cost of terminal benefits for locally employed civilians relating to the period of employment after 15 June 1993.
By other terms of the text, the Assembly would note the agreement of the Government of Greece to earmark, for the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, $2.8 million from its annual voluntary contribution of $6.5 million to the Force. The Assembly would request the Secretary-General to direct the Office of Internal Oversight Services to evaluate and report to it on the events and circumstances that led to United Nations responsibility for termination pay to the locally employed civilians in UNFICYP, including all aspects of accountability and responsibility of the United Nations staff.
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By another draft resolution on the financing of United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) (document A/C.5/51/L.61), the Assembly would approve and assess $18.6 million gross ($17.6 million net) for maintaining the Mission for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998.
Also by the draft, the Assembly would decide further that for Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Observer Mission, there shall be set off against the apportionment their respective share in the unencumbered balance of $1.1 million gross ($831,900 net) for the period ending 30 June 1996. For those Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Observer Mission their share of the unencumbered balance shall be set off against their outstanding obligations.
By the terms of a draft text on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) (document A/C.5/51/L.62), the Assembly would decide that, for Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission, their share of the unencumbered balance of $7 million gross ($6,8 million net) for the period from 1 March to 30 June 1996 shall be credited to those Member States. The Assembly would also decide that for Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission, their share of the unencumbered balance shall be set off against their outstanding obligations.
By other terms of the draft, the Assembly would express its concern about the problems with procurement practices and assets management in the UNMIH as pointed out in the reports of the Board of Auditors and the Office of Internal Oversight Services. It would request the Secretary-General to report to the Assembly at its fifty-second session on measures taken to address the problems raised in those reports.
By the terms of the draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) (document A/C.5/51/L.63), the Assembly would approve and assess some $20.4 million gross ($18.9 million net) for maintaining the Mission for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998.
By a draft decision on the financing of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) (document A/C.5/51/L.64), the Assembly would take note of the additional requirements in the amount of $5 million gross ($5 million net) for operating the Assistance Mission for the period from 1 January to 30 June 1996. It would decide to authorize the Secretary-General to utilize credits arising from the liquidation of obligations pertaining to prior periods in an equal amount to meet the additional requirements.
By the draft text, the Assembly would decide to reduce the appropriation for the period from 10 June to 31 December 1995 from $110 million gross ($107.6 million net) to $99.6 million gross ($97.5 million net) to reflect the amount apportioned under the terms of resolution 49/20B in July 1995.
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A draft resolution on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (document A/C.5/51/L.79) would have the Assembly appropriate $29.8 million gross ($27.4 million net) for the period from 1 July to 31 December 1997. Half of that amount would be assessed according to the scale of assessments for the regular budget while the other half would be transferred from credits in the United Nations Protection Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNPROFOR).
A draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) (document A/C.5/51/L.65) would have the Assembly approve and assess $8.3 million gross ($7.7 million net) for the Mission for the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998.
It would credit to Member States their respective shares in an unencumbered balance of about $1.6 million gross ($1.4 million net) related to the period from 17 June to 15 December 1995 and another balance of some $1.3 million gross and net for the period 16 December 1995 to 30 June 1996.
A draft resolution on the financing of the International Tribunal for Rwanda (document A/C.5/51/L.80), would have the Assembly decide to appropriate to the Tribunals Special Account $18.4 million gross ($15.1 million net) for the period from 1 July to 31 December 1997. The Assembly would decide further that Member States shall waive their respective shares in the remaining credits arising from previous UNAMIR budgets of $9.2 million gross ($7.6 million net) to be transferred to the Tribunal's Special Account from the UNAMIR's Special Account. The Assembly would decide to apportion that amount among Member States according to the scale of assessments for 1997.
By other provisions of the text, the Assembly would approve the budgetary recommendations of the ACABQ subject to provisions in the resolution which note that an estimated unencumbered balance of $3.6 million would remain at the end of June 1997.
The Assembly would request the Secretary-General to submit a report on the conditions of service of the judges of the Rwanda Tribunal no later than 30 November. While stressing the importance of recruiting qualified personnel with relevant knowledge, skills and experience, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to report on the issue of delegation of authority to recruit professional and higher level staff in the context of the proposed 1998 budget.
The Assembly would also decide that the Tribunal staff assigned to Kigali shall continue to be subject to the established United Nations common system compensation and benefit provisions. That decision would be made pending consideration by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) of
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a proposed choice for international staff in Kigali to be compensated according to the financial rules covering a mission duty station or a family duty station.
A consolidated, six-part draft resolution on budgetary aspects of peace- keeping financing (document A/C.5/51/L.73), deals with contingent-owned equipment, death and disability benefits, mission subsistence allowance and the Peace-keeping Reserve Fund.
In part II, on the death and disability benefits, the draft would have the Assembly adopt a system of self-insurance for the United Nations and to establish uniform and standardized rates for paying death or disability compensation for United Nations peace-keepers. It would pay a one-time lump- sum $50,000 for service-incurred death occurring after 30 June.
Awards for permanent disabilities would be fractions of the $50,000, depending on the degree of disability. For example, the loss of an arm from the shoulder would fetch 60 per cent of $50,000, or $30,000; a hand, 54 per cent, or $27,000; a leg from above the knee, 40 per cent, or $20,000; loss of hearing, 35 per cent, or $17,500; and of sight in one eye, 24 per cent, or $12,000.
The purpose of uniform and standardized rates of compensation is to ensure equal treatment of all contingent troops, the text would have the Assembly reaffirm. It would ask the Secretary-General to seek assurances from Member States that amounts payable to beneficiaries for incidents shall be not less than what was paid or reimbursed to Member States, so as to avoid unequal treatment of contingent troops by Member States.
Further, the draft would have the Assembly request the Secretary-General to continue processing all claims for death and disability compensations as expeditiously as possible.
Under part IV, on mission subsistence allowance, the draft would have the Assembly ask the Secretary-General to phase out over six months the supplement to the mission subsistence allowance paid to senior officials. It would then request the ICSC to develop, for submission to the Assembly's fifty-second session, a proposal to provide a post allowance and separate maintenance allowance for personnel who leave their families at their home duty station while they are on mission assignment. Pending a review of mission allowance criteria, the Secretary-General would be asked to administer mission subsistence allowance on the basis of a seven-day, rather than a five-day, week.
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In part VI, on the Peace-keeping Reserve Fund, the draft would have the Assembly decide that, as from 1 January 1998, and no later than 30 June 1998, the shares in the Fund of the following Member States shall be determined as follows:
-- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Korea and San Marino shall contribute their shares to the Fund according to the peace-keeping scale of apportionment in effect on the date of their first assessment for missions; and
-- Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania shall contribute according to the scale in effect on the date of their first assessment after 1 January 1998 for peace-keeping operations.
The draft resolution on the support account for peace-keeping operations (document A/C.5/51/L.81) would have the Assembly approve some $33 million net for the support account for the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, subject to the provisions of the draft text. The Assembly would appropriate $158,500 for general temporary assistance to process the backlog of claims and note that the current backlog of claims of death and disability is 564. The text would have the Assembly endorse the ACABQ's recommendations of creating a P-4 and General Service post in the Claims and Management Information Section and would ask the Secretary-General to use the P-2 post proposed for redeployment to the Personnel Management and Support Service to help process claims.
According to the text, the Assembly would approve $1 million for the renting of premises and authorize the Secretary-General to commit an additional sum of up to $808,500 for renting of premises. It would decide that posts funded from the support account shall be filled according to the United Nations Charter and relevant Assembly resolutions. The Secretary- General would be called upon to stop immediately the practice of giving short- term appointees consultant contracts for short periods and then rehiring them on short-term contracts.
Part I of a two-part draft resolution on the financing, generally, of peace-keeping operations (document A/C.5/51/L.82) would have the Assembly ask the ACABQ to prepare a report on the administration of voluntary contributions to peace-keeping operations by 31 December.
In part II, on the United Nations Logistics Base in Brindisi, Italy, the draft would have the Assembly authorize the Secretary-General, in the interim period 1 July to 15 October, to commit funds for the Base not exceeding the current level of expenditures for the last three months. It would also ask the Secretary-General to finalize the proposals on the management of peace- keeping assets and on the role of the Base in that context.
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A draft resolution on the financing of United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) (document A/C.5/51/L.68) would have the Assembly approve and assess $178.9 million gross ($170.3 million net) for the mission for the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998.
It would have the Assembly credit Member States their respective shares in an unencumbered balance of some $6.5 million gross and net related to the period ending 30 June 1996.
A draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) (document A/C.5/51/L.66) would approve and assess $275.3 million gross ($266.2 million net) for the mission for the 12 month-period, subject to Security Council actions on the mission's mandate.
By the draft, the Assembly would credit Member States their respective share in an unencumbered balance of some $18.8 million gross and net for the period 15 January to 30 June 1996.
A draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) (document A/C.5/51/L.69) would have the Assembly approve and assess $46.5 million gross ($45 million net) for the mission for the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998.
It would have the Assembly credit Member States their respective shares in an unencumbered balance of some $5.3 million gross ($5.1 million net) related to the period ending 30 June 1996.
A draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Support Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH) (document A/C.5/51/L.67), would have the Assembly approve and assess $15.1 million gross ($14.5 million net) for the Mission for the period from 1 July 1997 to 15 March 1998.
Action
MARY JO ARAGON (Philippines) introduced the eight-part draft resolution on the reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (document A/C.5/51/L.72).
The Committee approved the draft resolution, as orally amended, without a vote.
The representative of Germany made a comment on the oral amendment.
The representative of Cuba made some oral amendments to the Spanish version of the text.
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Acting Committee Chairman, KLAUS-DIETER STEIN (Germany), then introduced the draft decision on management in the United Nations (document A/C.5/51/L.75).
The Committee approved the draft decision without a vote.
Acting Committee Chairman, Mr. STEIN (Germany) introduced the draft resolution on procurement reform (document A/C.5/51/L.70). He read an oral amendment which replaced the bracketed operative paragraph 11 with the following text: "takes note that a proposal is under consideration to introduce in the United Nations procurement system an incentive regarding equally qualified vendors from Member States".
He said that the draft resolution had taken note of many reports on the United Nations procurement system, including those by the Secretary-General, the ACABQ and the Board of Auditors. The information that was requested of the Secretary-General would be included in his next report on procurement reform and that requested of the Board of Auditors and the Office of Internal Oversight would be included in the annual reports of those two bodies.
The Committee approved the draft resolution, as orally revised, without a vote.
MARTA PENA (Mexico), who had conducted informal consultations on the matter of gratis personnel, said the Committee had failed to reach a consensus. The agenda item should be considered at the resumed session of the Fifth Committee in September.
The Committee then decided to defer consideration of the question to the next resumed session.
SYED RAFIQUL ALOM (Bangladesh), who had conducted informal consultations on the strengthening of external oversight mechanisms, said the consultations had not produced consensus. The agenda item should be kept on the Committee's agenda for the next resumed session.
The Committee decide to defer consideration of the question to the next resumed session in September.
Submitted under the item on aspects of the 1996-1997 budget, the draft decision on informatics in the United Nations (document A/C.5/51/L.76) was approved without a vote.
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REGINA EMERSON (Portugal), who had conducted informal consultations on a text on the financing of UNDOF, introduced the draft (document A/C.5/51/L.78). She called for its adoption without a vote even though some of the figures were not yet available.
JEAN-PIERRE HALBWACHS, United Nations Controller, said the Secretariat was working on the figures which would be inserted in due course.
The draft resolution was approved without a vote.
Speaking in explanation of position, TAMMAM SULAIMAN (Syria) expressed serious reservations regarding the adopted text as international law required an aggressor to bear the costs of its aggression, thus Israel should have borne the costs of financing UNDOF. To add insult to injury, Israel continued to refuse to withdraw from occupied territory. Today was the thirtieth anniversary of Israel's occupation of Arab territories, defying the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council and the rule of law, which required it to withdraw from occupied Arab territories.
WOLFGANG STOCKL (Germany) said the amounts approved for all peace- keeping operations would not be fully covered by contributions because one Member State had cut its assessments unilaterally. That would further jeopardize the implementation of the peace-keeping missions. Germany would not stand for the non-payment of assessments by other Member States or for an effective change in its share of assessments for peace-keeping operations.
Ms. EMERSON (Portugal), as coordinator of the consultations on financing of UNIFIL, said, regretfully, she had to inform the Committee that despite her efforts in informal consultations, Member States had not agreed on a consensus text on the financing of the Force.
The Acting Chairman, Mr. STEIN (Germany) then drew the Committee's attention to the draft resolution on UNIFIL (document A/C.5/51/L.71) submitted by the Group of 77 and China last Thursday.
Ms. PENA (Mexico) said, having considered the draft resolution, she would like to propose a number of amendments which would allow her to accept the draft text. The following new paragraph should be inserted between operative paragraphs 4 and 5: "endorses the observations and recommendations of the ACABQ, subject to provisions of the resolution".
Further, she continued, operative paragraph 6 should be replaced by the following: "authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the amount of $1,773,618 to cover the costs resulting from the incident at United Nations
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headquarters in Qana on 18 April 1996". She proposed the deletion of "only" from paragraph 7. It would now read: "decides also that the total amount mentioned in paragraph 6 above, namely $1,724,618, shall be borne by Israel".
Regarding paragraph 8, she said the budget for the next financial year should exclude the costs resulting from the Qana incident.
BOCK YEO, Deputy Director, Peace-keeping Financing Division, Department of Administration and Management, said he understood the change in the figures being requested by Mexico. He pointed out the changes in the figures which reflected the deletion of the costs for the Qana incident.
ZVI COHEN (Israel) said his country's action in providing medical assistance to members of UNIFIL was a humanitarian gesture which should not be interpreted as an admission of responsibility.
The statement was interrupted by a point of order by the representative of Lebanon, HICHAM HAMDAN.
Following the ruling of the Acting Chairman, that the Committee had not yet proceeded to the vote, the representative of Israel continued his statement.
Continuing, Mr. COHEN (Israel) said he was proud to have contributed to humanitarian projects throughout the world. He wanted his statement to be included in the official record of the meeting.
LINDA SHENWICK (United States) asked for a suspension of the meeting to consult with her capital on Mexico's proposal on the draft resolution.
The meeting was suspended at 1:24 a.m.
When the meeting resumed at 1:39 a.m., the Acting Chairman, Mr. STEIN (Germany) asked whether the Committee would adopt the amendments proposed by Mexico's representative. The Committee did adopt.
The Acting CHAIRMAN then presented the draft resolution, as a whole, for adoption.
Ms. SHENWICK (United States) asked for a separate vote to delete operative paragraph 7, under which the Assembly would decide "also that the total amount mentioned in paragraph 6 above, namely $1,724,618, shall be borne by Israel".
The Committee approved operative paragraph 7 by a vote of 58 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 52 abstentions. (For details of the vote, see Annex I.)
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The Acting Committee CHAIRMAN said the paragraph was retained.
He then presented the draft text as a whole for action.
Ms. SHENWICK (United States) asked for a vote on the draft.
The Committee approved the text, as orally amended, by a vote of 107 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 3 abstentions (Japan, Russian Federation and Ukraine). (For details, see Annex II.)
Speaking in explanation of position, DAVID PELEG (Israel) expressed regret that extraneous political issues discussed at length in the Security Council and the General Assembly had been introduced into the Committee's work. He had voted against the draft because his delegation could not support it.
Ms. SHENWICK (United States) said the action raised problems regarding the roles of the Fifth Committee, the Security Council and the Secretary- General. She was deeply concerned with operative paragraph 7 which assessed only one country. She was not trying to shield Israel, but to stress a principle. The current action had far-reaching implications since UNIFIL would succeed only with the political support of all. The adoption of the draft would make it hard for Israel or the United States to support the Force. It would also make it difficult for the United States to approve the extension of UNIFIL's mandate next month.
NIKOLAI LOZINSKI (Russian Federation) expressed regret that the issue had had to come to a vote. Departure from the principle of approving draft resolutions without vote were fraught with dangers for the financing of peace- keeping operations. As for political problems surrounding the Force, the Russian Federation had stated its position in a previous meeting of the Assembly. The UNIFIL could not function without adequate financing, he added.
KAZUO WATANABE (Japan) said he had abstained because his delegation regretted that a vote had become necessary in a Committee that should deal with budgetary matters. Japan had stated its views on the Middle East in other forums and would not repeat them in the Committee. All concerned parties should make necessary and appropriate arrangements to ensure that UNIFIL worked well.
PAUL MENKVELD (Netherlands), speaking for the European Union, said the financing should be based on a consideration of the fact that the funding of United Nations peace-keeping operations should remain collective. Costs should be kept in the peace-keeping budgets but appeals for voluntary contributions should be welcome. The European Union had abstained on
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paragraph 7. Since the political issues surrounding Qana had been discussed in the Assembly plenary, the Fifth Committee consultations should have been confined to budgetary matters.
JONE DRAUNIMASI (Fiji) said his country had been serving in UNIFIL since 1978, losing 30 lives in the process. The principal participants in the Middle East conflicts should not use innocent civilians as pawns and should show respect for the lives of civilians as well as for United Nations agencies. The peace-keeping budgets should be appropriated in their entirety without recourse to voluntary contributions. He asked for full compensation for its soldiers wounded at the Qana incident.
MILES ARMITAGE (Australia) expressed regret that a consensus had not been possible. The adoption had departed somehow from the normal budgetary procedures. He was troubled by the decision to ask one Member State to pay for the Qana incident even though United Nations political organs had not yet held one State solely responsible for it. Actions that limited the objectivity of peace-keeping financing should be avoided. Such observations had led his delegation to abstain from voting for the resolution.
But, he continued, his delegation condemned any aggression directed towards those trying to maintain peace around the world.
WEN CHIN POWLES (New Zealand) said the Fifth Committee had the task of ensuring that peace-keeping costs were borne by all Member States. The costs included those of damages. A small nation had suffered from the Israeli shelling of the Qana headquarters, and troop contributors expected costs to be apportioned to cover everything. She had voted for the draft resolution since it would ensure that Fiji was compensated. Measures should be taken to ensure the safety and protection of United Nations personnel, especially peace- keepers. Actions that threatened them must be avoided.
MUHAMMAD YUSSUF (United Republic of Tanzania), speaking for his delegation, expressed his Government's gratitude to all those who had voted for the resolution on UNIFIL. It was a very important resolution and his Government welcomed it. He took the opportunity to extend a hand of friendship to those who voted against, or abstained from voting for the resolution.
Mr. ALOM (Bangladesh), Committee Vice-Chairman, then introduced the draft resolution on the financing of UNIKOM (document A/C.5/51/L.74). He proposed the deletion of the brackets on paragraphs 8 and 9 in the resolution.
ZIYAD MONAYAIR (Kuwait) made a comment on the issue of reimbursements in the resolution and the progress made on that matter.
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The Committee approved the draft resolution, as orally amended, without a vote.
LOVEMORE MAZEMO (Zimbabwe) introduced the draft resolution on financing of MINURSO (document A/C.5/51/L.59). Noting that the Security Council had recently extended MINURSO's mandate, he proposed amendments to the last line of the second preambular paragraph, which would read "the most recent of which was resolution 1108 (1997) of 22 May 1997". That revision reflected the most recent Security Council resolution on the mission.
In addition, he proposed the insertion of two technical paragraphs between paragraphs 8 and 9. The two new paragraphs would take into account the extension of the mandate.
The Committee approved the draft resolution, as orally revised, without a vote.
MOVSES ABELIAN (Armenia) introduced the draft resolutions on the financing of peace-keeping operations in the former Yugoslavia: UNPROFOR; UNCRO; UNPREDEP; the United Nations Peace Forces headquarters (document A/C.5/51/L.60); UNMIBH (document A/C.5/51/L.68) and UNPREDEP (document A/C.5/51/L.69).
Mr. HALBWACHS, United Nations Controller, made the following revisions to the draft resolution contained in document A/C.5/51/L.60. Regarding operative paragraph 11, he said the amounts therein had been put in brackets pending a decision on the financing of the former Yugoslavia Tribunal. The revised figures were now available. Member States would now waive the credit in the amount of "$87,793,328 gross" "($92,251,479 net)" which would be transferred to the Special Account for the Tribunal.
Mr. LOZINSKI (Russian Federation) commented on the gross and net figures given by the Controller.
Mr. HALBWACHS, United Nations Controller, said they were correct. He offered to explain them to the representative of the Russian Federation.
The Committee approved the draft resolution contained in document A/C.5/51/L.60 as orally amended, without a vote.
The Committee then approved the draft resolutions on UNMIBH and UNPREDEP without a vote.
PETER MADDENS (Belgium), who had conducted consultations on the financing of UNFICYP, introduced the draft resolution on the mission (document A/C.5/51/L.77). Problems related to some civilian staff who had been made redundant had been tackled with the help of Greece and Cyprus, he said.
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The draft resolution was approved without a vote.
NICHOLAS THORNE (United Kingdom), referring to the problems of local staff that had been made redundant, said the action of the Committee would enable the redundancy claims of the civilian personnel to be addressed. He thanked Greece and Cyprus for agreeing to let their voluntary contributions be used to tackle the problem.
IHOR HOUMENNY (Ukraine), who had conducted informal consultations on the draft resolutions on financing of UNOMIG, UNMOT and UNTAES, introduced the three texts on those missions and asked for their approval without vote.
The drafts on UNOMIG, UNMOT and UNTAES were approved without votes.
Mr. ARMITAGE (Australia), who had conducted informal consultations on the financing of UNSMIH introduced the draft resolution contained in document A/C.5/51/L.62 on UNMIH and the draft resolution contained in document A/C.5/51/L.67 on UNSMIH. He reviewed their contents and asked for their approval without a vote.
The drafts were approved without a vote.
Mr. MAZEMO (Zimbabwe), who had conducted consultations on the financing of UNOMIL and UNAMIR, introduced the two draft texts on the operations in Liberia and Rwanda and recommended their approval without a vote.
They were approved without a vote.
SAM HANSON (Canada), who had conducted informal consultations on the financing of the Rwanda and former Yugoslavia Tribunals, introduced two draft texts on the Tribunals and recommended their approval without a vote.
They were approved without a vote.
Speaking in explanation of position, THOMAS REPASCH (United States) expressed regret that hopes for a thorough review of the proposed budgets of the Tribunals had not been satisfied due to the lateness of documents. The lateness and incomplete nature of reports were a cause of concern. Guidance and assistance for the Tribunals should be improved and qualified staff hired. He called for further attempts to check the large budget and stop the recruitment of unqualified staff.
The Committee then took up the issue of administrative and budgetary aspects of peace-keeping financing.
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AMIR DOSSAL, Chief, Finance Management and Support Service, Department of Peace-keeping Operations, responded to questions on inland transportation to points of embarkation, which had been raised at a previous meeting by the representative of the Netherlands. He confirmed that, in the old methodology, such costs were not normally reimbursed. Also, under the transitional arrangement, when Member States opted for reimbursement under the old methodology for budgetary periods before 1 July 1996, claims for reimbursement for those costs to points of embarkation would not normally be accepted by the Secretariat.
RAJAT SAHA (India) asked whether, by saying that under the old method reimbursement of inland transportation would not normally be reimbursable, he meant that they would be paid under certain circumstances.
Mr. DOSSAL said that presumption was correct.
THOMAS SCHLESINGER (Austria) introduced the draft resolutions on administrative and budgetary aspects of peace-keeping financing: document A/C.5/51/L.73 -- on contingent-owned equipment, death and disability benefits and mission subsistence allowance and the peace-keeping reserve fund; document A/C.5/51/L.81 -- support account; and document A/C.5/51/L.82 -- on voluntary contributions to peace-keeping operations and on the funding of the United Nations Logistics Base in Brindisi.
Regarding the draft resolution on the support account, he said the brackets had been removed from paragraph 13 regarding approval of post and non-post resource requirements. The rest of the bracketed text -- paragraphs 14 to 17 -- would be replaced by new paragraphs which dealt with amounts for general temporary assistance, specific posts, death and disability claims, and an appropriation of $1 million for rental of premises.
With those revisions, he recommended that the three resolutions be approved without a vote.
JANIE LETROT (France) expressed concern about taking action on draft texts that had not been translated into all official languages. However, she would make an exception and would agree to take account of the amendments that had not been translated yet.
MICHAEL BOYNTON (United States), referring to the draft contained in document A/C.5/51/L.73, drew attention to the need to take account of the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on mission subsistence allowance. He would therefore agree to the relevant changes regarding two peace-keeping operations.
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ANA SILVIA RODRIGUEZ ABASCAL (Cuba) made reference to the proposal made by the United States representative. She asked what had been the understanding in the informal consultations on the matter. She would not be able to go along with new proposals at this time. Regarding the support account, she asked the coordinator about the equivalent amount that would be used to finance posts included under general temporary assistance (to process the backlog of death and disability claims) -- referred to in paragraph 14 of the resolution (L.81).
Ms. PENA (Mexico) agreed with the position taken by France on the importance of having all draft texts translated into all the official languages, although she understood the difficulties the Committee faced as the negotiations wound down.
Mr. HANSON (Canada) said he shared the concern expressed by the representatives of France and Mexico.
Mr. SCHLESINGER (Austria) said that the paragraphs on the mission subsistence allowance had been approved in informal consultations without the objections of any delegation. The amount of $158,500 for general temporary assistance in the revised operative paragraph 14 was the standard cost of one P-3 and one General Service post.
Ms. RODRIGUEZ ABASCAL (Cuba) said the understanding on what the money would pay for should be included in the records of the Fifth Committee. Since her delegation was unfamiliar with the recommendations on the matter by the Office of Internal Oversight Services it could not make a decision on the addition of a new paragraph to the text, as proposed by a delegation.
The draft resolution contained in document A/C.5/51/L.81, on the support account, was approved without a vote as revised.
Mr. BOYNTON (United States) explained that the Oversight Office had, among other things, called for efforts to recover overpayment of mission subsistence allowance.
NORMA GOICOCHEA ESTENOZ (Cuba) said the Committee should not approve the addition of changes that had not been agreed upon beforehand. She would not accept the proposed amendments to the text.
Mr. BOYNTON (United States) said the informal consultations had agreed to add references to the recommendations of the Oversight Office to the draft on UNOMIG. He would go along with whatever the Chairman proposed.
The Acting CHAIRMAN asked the United States to join the consensus and then propose amendments in the plenary.
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The draft resolution contained in document A/C.5/51/L.73 on contingent- owned equipment, death and disability benefits and mission subsistence allowance and the peace-keeping reserve fund was approved without a vote.
The draft resolution contained in document A/C.5/51/L.82 on voluntary contributions to peace-keeping operations and on the funding of the United Nations Logistics Base in Brindisi was approved without a vote.
Speaking on explanation of position, AMJAD SIAL (Pakistan) said the Fifth Committee had taken an historic and giant step on the issue of death and disability compensation, which would establish the equality of troops.
Mr. SAHA (India) said the draft on death and disability compensation was an outstanding effort to bring about equality amongst Member States.
Mr. BOYNTON (United States) said that he had reluctantly joined the consensus on the support account. No changes had been proposed to take into account the revolving status of the Department of Peace-keeping Operations. He was concerned about double-budgeting on lease costs for a certain period. The resources for the ACABQ were unjustified, considering the reduction of the requirements to discuss peace-keeping operations.
SOONG CHULL SHIN (Republic of Korea) welcomed the decision on the Peace- keeping Reserve Fund and would fully comply with its provisions.
PRAYONO ATIYANTO (Indonesia) welcomed the decision on death and disability benefits, the payment of which should be sped-up.
MARY JO ARAGON (Philippines) said that, since no consensus could be reached on the Secretary-General's report on the Internal Oversight Office, the matter should continue to be discussed in the next part of the resumed session in September.
The Committee decided to continue discussing the matter at the resumed session, to be held from 8 to 12 September.
The Committee had therefore concluded its work for the second part of the resumed session.
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Other Matters
Mr. SAHA (India) expressed regret that questions raised by his delegation regarding document A/51/893, on human resources, had not been answered by the Secretariat, despite the assurances of its representatives. Even though the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management, Denis Halliday, had stated that he would consult on the matter and respond to the Committee, he had not yet done so. The advice tendered by the Office of Legal Affairs should be relayed to the Fifth Committee. He expressed disappointment that the Secretariat had not answered his delegation's questions.
Mr. WATANABE (Japan) said the Committee's organization of work had not been efficient, leading to a waste of time. Sometimes, the lateness of documents had caused delays, which should be avoided in the next part of the resumed session.
(annexes follow)
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Fifth Committee Press Release GA/AB/3156 70th Meeting (Night) 9 June 1997
ANNEX I
Vote on Operative Paragraph 7 of Draft on Financing of UNIFIL
Operative paragraph 7 of the draft resolution on the financing of UNIFIL (document A/C.5/51/L.71) was approved by a recorded vote of 58 in favour to 2 against, with 52 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Against: Israel, United States.
Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Absent: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua-Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Gabon, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Iceland, Jamaica, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zambia.
(END OF ANNEX I)
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Fifth Committee Press Release GA/AB/3156 70th Meeting (Night) 9 June 1997
ANNEX II
Vote on Financing of UNIFIL
The draft on the financing of UNIFIL was approved by a recorded of 107 in favour to 2 against, with 3 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Against: Israel, United States.
Abstaining: Japan, Russian Federation, Ukraine.
Absent: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Gabon, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Iceland, Iran, Jamaica, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zambia.
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