ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATES OVER $850 MILLION FOR PEACE-KEEPING OPERATIONS, FOR 12-MONTH PERIOD FROM 1 JULY
Press Release
GA/9253
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATES OVER $850 MILLION FOR PEACE-KEEPING OPERATIONS, FOR 12-MONTH PERIOD FROM 1 JULY
19970613 Texts Adopted without Vote, Except on Financing of Lebanon Operation (UNIFIL), Which Assigns Cost of Incident at Qana To IsraelThe General Assembly this morning appropriated just over $850 million gross for the budgets of a dozen active peace-keeping operations for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, as it adopted near two dozen draft texts recommended last week by its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).
The amount, which includes provisions for the support account for peace- keeping, reflects 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 of the texts were approved without a vote, with the exception of that on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), on which two votes were held.
By a vote of 66 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 59 abstentions, it adopted operative paragraph 8 of the UNIFIL text, which states that Israel shall bear responsibility for some $1.8 million as the costs resulting from the 18 April 1996 incident at UNIFIL headquarters at Qana, Lebanon. (For voting details, see Annex I.)
The Assembly then adopted the financing resolution as a whole, by a vote of 127 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 1 abstention (Russian Federation). In doing so, it appropriated about $125 million gross ($120.9 million net) to UNIFIL for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. (See Annex II.)
Statements in explanation of vote were made by the representatives of Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Ukraine, United States and Syria.
Addressing the efficiency of the United Nations, the Assembly adopted a draft resolution on procurement reform, asking the Secretary-General to expedite the establishment of a Supplier Roster on the widest geographical basis possible. It emphasized the need for concerted efforts to identify potential vendors in developing countries and those with economies in transition, and to increase the representation from those States in bidding and award of contracts.
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The Secretary-General was also 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 funding active operations for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, the Assembly adopted texts on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. It appropriated 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.
Active peace-keeping operations for which 1997-1998 budgets were approved include: the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM), the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the 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), the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT), the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES), the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) and the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP).
In addition, appropriations were made for the United Nations Peace Forces in the former Yugoslavia (UNPF), the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR), closed missions whose accounts are in the process of liquidation.
In other action, the Assembly adopted a decision on the Office of Internal Oversight Services, by which it asked the Secretary-General to continue efforts to recover the financial loss of $1.5 million resulting from non-implementation of the United Nations Access Control System. By another decision, it took note of documents including a report by the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) on accountability, management improvement and oversight in the United Nations. By a decision on informatics in the United Nations, it endorsed a report of the Secretary-General which concludes that it may no longer be cost-efficient for the Organization to buy telecommunication facilities.
At the outset of the meeting, Assembly President Razali Ismail (Malaysia), informed delegations of the death of Benny Kimberg, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations since 1995. On behalf of the Assembly, he conveyed condolences to the Government and people of Denmark and to the bereaved family, after which the Assembly observed a minute of silence for Mr. Kimberg.
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Statements of tribute were made by the representatives of Gambia (for the African States), Papua New Guinea (Asian States), Ukraine (Eastern European States), Saint Lucia (Latin American and Caribbean States), Ireland (Western European and Other States), United States (as host country) and Denmark.
The President also announced that Nicaragua and Vanuatu had made the necessary payments to reduce their arrears below the amount specified in the Charter by which they would have lost their vote in the Assembly.
The Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 17 June, to consider the implementation of the decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, as well as the appointment of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. It is also expected to take up a Fifth Committee report on administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of peace-keeping operations.
General Assembly Work Programme
The General Assembly met this morning to consider 20 reports from its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) on issues ranging from the financing of peace-keeping operations and the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, to a review of the United Nations efficiency, aspects of the 1996-1997 regular budget, and human resources management.
The Assembly was to consider drafts recommended by the Fifth Committee that would appropriate more than $850 million gross for the 12-month period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 for the financing of active peace-keeping operations.
The report of the Fifth Committee on review of United Nations efficiency (document A/51/922) contains three draft texts, on procurement reform, reports of the Office of Internal Oversight, and management in the United Nations.
By the draft resolution on procurement reform, the Assembly would express concern that over the past two years eight procurement-related arbitration claims were instituted against the United Nations, for more than $90 million. The Secretary-General would be asked to submit to the Assembly at its next 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 (UNPROFOR) and the United Nations Operation 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 failure to indicate specifications clearly, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) suffered a financial loss of about $3 million.
The Secretary-General would be asked to stop the practice of using suppliers recommended by requisitioners, which undermines the principle of segregation of responsibilities between requesting and procurement entities. He would also be asked 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.
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On the issue of the supplier roster, the Assembly would ask 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 next session. The Assembly would also emphasize that concerted efforts should be made to identify potential vendors in the developing countries and those 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, as well as a common reporting system for procurement undertaken in the field and at Headquarters under his responsibility, so as to produce a complete set of statistics to be included in future reports on procurement to the Assembly.
The Assembly would welcomed the electronic announcement of United Nations contract awards through Procurement Update, issued on the Internet by the Inter-Agency Procurement Services Office, and encourage the Secretary- General to make further use of that medium. It would ask that he report through the ACABQ to the Assembly at its next session on the establishment of a standard procedure for preparing performance evaluation reports on vendors, in particular those having major contracts.
Other terms of the draft resolution would ask 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 on the matter no later than September 1997; establish annual consolidated procurement plans as a part of procurement reform; complete the preparation of a new Procurement Manual as soon as possible; and provide the necessary training for procurement personnel.
The eight-part draft decision I on the reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services 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 that report.
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It would also have the Assembly express deep concern about the findings in the Oversight Office report on 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 that loss.
Under other provisions of the draft resolution, the Assembly would endorse the Office's recommendations, which cite the need for the United Nations to establish immediately 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), the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and the United Nations Postal Administration. The Assembly would take note of the assurances of Habitat's Executive Director that the Centre has begun implementing all of the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and encourage it to implement them fully.
By draft decision II on management in the United Nations, the Assembly would take note of the following documents: a report of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) on accountability, management improvement and oversight in the United Nations, as well as the related comments of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC); a JIU report on "management in the United Nations" and comments by the Secretary-General; a report of the JIU on common services in New York, with the Secretary-General's comments; and a JIU report on the United Nations system common premises and services in the field, along with related comments by the ACC.
The Fifth Committee report on aspects of the 1996-1997 budget (document A/51/750/Add.2) transmits a draft decision on informatics in the United Nations, by which the Assembly would endorse the Secretary-General's report on telecommunications in the Organization.
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, as 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 cooperation with specialized agencies. For the 1998-1999 biennium, the Secretary-General would ask for resources for telecommunications under the proposed budget.
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A Fifth Committee report on the status of 37 redeployed staff members (document A/51/643/Add.3) contains a draft decision that would have the Assembly take note of the information provided to it on the matter. That conference-room paper had indicated that 24 of the 37 staff members in question had been reassigned to established positions or placed where their skills could be used properly. One General Service staff member had taken an agreed termination. Consequently, as of May, 12 staff (6 Professional and 6 General Service) were currently placed in temporary functions. The Secretariat would reassign them to established positions when they completed their temporary assignments.
The Fifth Committee report on the financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) (document A/51/724/Add.1) transmits a draft resolution, which would have the Assembly appropriate some $33.6 million gross ($32.7 million net) for the mission for the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. The amount would be assessed at a monthly rate of $2.8 million gross ($2.7 million net).
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.
The Fifth Committee report on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) (document A/51/725/Add.1) transmits draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.71, as amended.
Recalling its request for the Secretary-General to report the full evaluation of the damages and costs of the 18 April 1996 incident at United Nations headquarters at Qana, Lebanon, the draft would, in operative paragraph 7, have the Assembly authorize the Secretary-General to commit up to $1,773,618 for UNIFIL to cover the incident's costs. By the terms of operative paragraph 8, that amount shall be borne by Israel.
Another provision of the draft would have the Assembly appropriate about $125 million gross ($120.9 million net) for UNIFIL for the same 12-month period. The amount would be assessed at a monthly rate of $10.4 million gross ($10.1 million net).
The Fifth Committee report on the financing of the United Nations Iraq- Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) (document A/51/726/Add.1) transmits a draft resolution by which the Assembly would approve $51.5 million gross ($49.6 million net) for maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. One third of that amount, or $18.4 million gross ($16.5 million net), would be assessed at a monthly rate of $1.5 million gross ($1.4 million net). The remaining two thirds of the $51.5 million gross would be voluntarily contributed by Kuwaiti Government.
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The Assembly would credit to Member States 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.
The Assembly would also decide 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 ask the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to recover the overpayment of mission subsistence allowance, in the estimated amount of $988,443.50. He would also be asked to report to the Assembly at its next session on the results of action taken for its recovery, including measures taken with respect to those responsible for the overpayment.
The Fifth Committee report on the financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) (document A/51/502/Add.1) transmits a draft resolution by which the Assembly would appropriate some $30.2 million gross ($28.4 million net) for the Mission. Most of that amount would be assessed at the monthly rate of some $2.5 million gross ($2.4 million net). The Assembly would credit to Member States their respective shares in an unencumbered balance of some $19.4 million gross ($16.7 million net), relating to the period ending 30 June 1996.
The Fifth Committee also reports on the financing of operations in the former Yugoslavia. Its report relating to 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/51/639/Add.2) transmits a draft resolution by which the Assembly would 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 in addition to $89.5 million gross ($87.9 million net) previously assessed by the Assembly.
For the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, the Assembly would appropriate and apportion some $50.3 million gross ($47 million net) for the forces. An unencumbered balance of about $87.8 million gross ($92.3 million net) in the various forces' accounts for the period ending 30 June 1996 would be credited to Member States.
The Fifth Committee report on financing of United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) (document A/51/921) transmits a draft resolution by which the Assembly would appropriate $48 million gross ($45.9 million net) and assess almost $29 million gross ($26.9 million net) for the period from 1 July
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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 ask 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.
The Fifth Committee report on financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) (document A/51/503/Add.1) transmits a draft resolution by which the Assembly would appropriate $18.6 million gross ($17.6 million net) for the Mission for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. The amount would be assessed at a monthly rate of $1.6 million gross ($1.5 million net).
The Assembly would further decide that, for Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the 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 Mission, their share of the unencumbered balance shall be set off against their outstanding obligations.
On a draft resolution in the Fifth Committee's report on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) (document A/51/637/Add.1), 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 them. 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 Mission, as pointed out in reports of the Board of Auditors and the Office of Internal Oversight Services. It would ask the Secretary-General to report to the Assembly at its next session on measures taken to address the problems raised in those reports.
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A draft resolution in the Committee's report on the financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL), (document A/51/504/Add.2) would have the Assembly approve some $20.4 million gross ($18.9 million net) for the Mission for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. That amount would be assessed at a monthly rate of $1.7 million gross ($1.6 million net).
The Committee's report on the financing of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) (document A/51/918) transmits a draft resolution by which the Assembly would take note of the additional requirements of $5,046,900 million gross ($5,011,600 net) for operation of the Mission from 1 January to 30 June 1996. It would authorize the Secretary-General to use credits arising from the liquidation of obligations pertaining to prior periods in an equal amount to meet the additional requirements.
The Assembly would also decide to reduce the appropriation for the period 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 its resolution 49/20B of July 1995.
The Fifth Committee report on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (document A/51/743/Add.1) transmits a draft resolution which 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 account of UNPROFOR.
A draft resolution in the Committee's report on the financing of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) (document A/51/920) 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 $1.5 million gross ($1.4 million net) relating to the period from 17 June to 15 December 1995, as well as a balance of some $1,312,200 gross ($1,260,800 net) for the period from 16 December 1995 to 30 June 1996.
By a draft resolution in the Committee's report on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (document A/51/744/Add.1), the Assembly would appropriate $18.4 million gross ($15.1 million net) to the Tribunal for the period from 1 July to 31 December. It would decide 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),
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to be transferred to the Tribunal's Special Account from the UNAMIR's Special Account. That amount would be apportioned 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 ask the Secretary-General to submit to it, no later than 30 November, a report on the conditions of service of the judges of the Rwanda Tribunal. While stressing the importance of recruiting qualified personnel with relevant knowledge, skills and experience, the Assembly would ask 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.
In addition, the Assembly would 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) a proposal by which international staff in Kigali would be able to choose to be compensated according to the financial rules covering a mission duty station or a family duty station.
The Fifth Committee report on the financing of United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) (document A/51/710/Add.1) transmits a draft resolution which would have the Assembly appropriate $178.9 million gross ($170.3 million net) for the Mission for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. That sum would be assessed at a monthly rate of $14.9 million gross ($14.2 million net). Member States would be credited for their respective shares in an unencumbered balance of some $6, 516,800 gross ($6,500,800 net) relating to the period ending 30 June 1996.
The Fifth Committee also considered the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES). By a draft resolution, its report on the financing of UNTAES (document A/51/711/Add.1), the Assembly would appropriate about $275.3 million gross ($266.2 million net) for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 and assess it at the monthly rate of almost $23 million gross ($22.2 million net). Member States would be credited for their respective share in an unencumbered balance of some $18,826,400 gross ($18,800.000 net) for the period ending 30 June 1996.
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A draft resolution in the Committee's report on the financing of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) (document A/51/712/Add.1) would have the Assembly appropriate $46.5 million gross ($45 million net) for the Force for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. That sum would be assessed at a monthly rate of $4.3 million gross ($4.1 million net) for the period from 1 July to 31 October 1997, and at a rate of $3.7 million gross ($3.6 million net) thereafter.
Member States would be credited for their respective shares in an unencumbered balance of some $5.3 million gross ($5.1 million net) for the period ending 30 June 1996.
The Committee's report on the financing of the United Nations Support Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH) (document A/51/638/Add.2) transmits a draft resolution by which the Assembly would appropriate and apportion some $15.1 million gross ($14.5 million net) for the Mission for the period from 1 July 1997 to 15 March 1998.
Action on Fifth Committee Reports
The draft resolution and decisions on the efficiency of the United Nations, on aspects of the 1996-1997 regular budget, and on human resources management were adopted without a vote, as was the draft resolution on the finances of UNDOF.
Draft Resolution on UNIFIL
DAVID PELEG (Israel), speaking before the vote on the financing of UNIFIL, said the draft resolution was fundamentally flawed and unprecedented, since it singled out one country to bear the financial costs of a military incident. The Fifth Committee was supposed to deal with non-political, budgetary and technical matters. It was not mandated to assign blame for political incidents. Member States were assessed for the peace-keeping operations based on the special peace-keeping scale of assessments. The Secretary-General's report had reported $880,300 as the cost for relocating the Fijian battalion headquarters, which had little to do directly with the incident. The report said the battalion headquarters had to be relocated because the neighbouring town was growing to encompass it. Even though the base was being relocated for demographic reasons, Israel was being blamed.
He said Israel's action had been a defensive measure in response to Hezbollah attacks on Israel. Terrorists should be blamed for the sequence of actions. Lebanon, too, should share part of the blame, since its territory had become a base for terrorist actions. Both the United Nations and Israel had confirmed the existence of terrorist activities near UNIFIL headquarters at Qana -- actions that had elicited an artillery response. Israel rejected
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the terms of the draft resolution and was neither morally nor legally bound by its recommendation that Israel should pay for all the costs of the incident.
A separate vote was then held on operative paragraph 8 of the text, which reads: "Decides also that the total amount mentioned in paragraph 7 above, namely 1,773,618 dollar shall be borne by Israel". The paragraph was adopted by 66 votes in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 59 abstentions (see Annex I).
The resolution as a whole was then adopted by 127 votes in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 1 abstention (Russian Federation) (see Annex II).
Action on Fifth Committee Reports
The draft resolution and decisions on the efficiency of the United Nations, on aspects of the 1996-1997 regular budget, and on human resources management were adopted without a vote, as was the draft resolution on the finances of UNDOF.
Draft Resolution on UNIFIL
DAVID PELEG (Israel), speaking before the vote on the finances of UNIFIL, said the draft resolution was fundamentally flawed and unprecedented, since it singled out one country to bear the financial costs of a military incident. The Fifth Committee was supposed to deal with non-political, budgetary and technical matters. It was not mandated to assign blame for political incidents. Member States were assessed for the peace-keeping operations based on the special peace-keeping scale of assessments. The Secretary-General's report had reported $880,300 as the cost for relocating the Fijian battalion headquarters, which had little to do directly with the incident. The report said the battalion headquarters had to be relocated because the neighbouring town was growing to encompass it. Even though the base was being relocated for demographic reasons, Israel was being blamed.
He said Israel's action had been a defensive measure in response to Hezbollah attacks on Israel. Terrorists should be blamed for the sequence of actions. Lebanon, too, should share part of the blame, since its territory had become a base for terrorist actions. Both the United Nations and Israel had confirmed the existence of terrorist activities near UNIFIL headquarters at Qana -- actions that had elicited an artillery response. Israel rejected the terms of the draft resolution and was neither morally nor legally bound by its recommendation that Israel pay for all the costs of the incident.
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A separate vote was then held on operative paragraph 8 of the text, which reads: "Decides also that the total amount mentioned in paragraph 7 above, namely 1,773,618 dollar shall be borne by Israel". The paragraph was adopted by 66 votes in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 59 abstentions (see Annex I).
The resolution as a whole was then adopted by 127 votes in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 1 abstention (Russian Federation) (see Annex II).
HICHAM HAMDAN (Lebanon), speaking in explanation of vote, said adoption of the UNIFIL resolution recognized that Israel should be held responsible for the costs and losses caused by bombardment of the headquarters in Qana. Adoption of the text was not only a victory for Lebanon but for international law and the credibility of the United Nations. When Lebanon proposed that Israel be made to bear the costs of the bombing, its objective was to bolster the credibility of international forces and underscore their importance.
Everyone understood that UNIFIL was not simply a safety valve for southern Lebanon, he said. It also safeguarded peace in the region. Hopefully, today's action would deter other parties from perpetrating similar acts and would strengthen the United Nations. Through the resolution, the Assembly was reaffirming that individual Member States should defray the costs of their actions.
SEYED MORTEZA MIRMOHAMMED (Iran) said the expenses of the two peace- keeping forces should be borne by the aggressor, which was the occupying party.
ANATOLI M. ZLENKO (Ukraine) said his country had supported the resolution, in view of UNIFIL's important role in the Middle East peace- building process. However, his country deeply regretted that the resolution was adopted by votes in both the Fifth Committee and in the Assembly. It was a matter of great concern that the resolution on the financing of UNIFIL might be substantially devalued, with a negatives effect on the practical implementation of a valuable peace-keeping operation. A compromise should have been found.
SUSAN MEG SHEAROUSE (United States) said that over the past few weeks, her delegation had worked in good faith to find compromise language so the Assembly might adopt a consensus text. The United States had not wished to see an undesirable precedent set in the Fifth Committee and had sought to avoid a politicization of its tasks. Her Government deeply regretted that the author of the text had not seriously considered offers of compromise.
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TAMMAM SULAIMAN (Syria) welcomed the adoption of the resolution and thanked all those who had support it. The resolution reflected the international community's conviction that the United Nations should not reward an aggressor for its aggression. It also expressed the international community's condemnation of Israel's aggression, and its belief that Israel should be held responsible for its act of terrorism against UNIFIL headquarters in Qana last year.
Israel could not be permitted to commit such an attack and then call on Member States to pay for its cost, he said. While this was both a financial and administrative matter, as well as a technical question, it was also a humanitarian issue. Israel must be asked to meet the costs of its aggression.
Acting without a vote, the Assembly then adopted the draft resolutions on the financing of UNIKOM, MINURSO, UNPF, UNFICYP, UNOMIG, UNMIH, UNOMIL, UNAMIR, UNMOT, UNMIBH, UNTAES, UNPREDEP and UNSMIH, as well as on the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.
(annexes follow)
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General Assembly Plenary Press Release GA/9253 101st Meeting (AM) 13 June 1997
ANNEX I
Vote on Operative Paragraph 8 of UNIFIL
The vote on operative paragraph 8 of the draft resolution on the financing of UNIFIL (document A/51/725/Add.1) was adopted by a recorded vote of 66 in favour to 2 against, with 59 abstentions:
In favour: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Quatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Thailand, Tunisa, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Against: Israel, United States.
Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Solvenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Absent: Aghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Gabon, Guinea, Iceland, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Palau, Paraguay, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Zambia.
(END OF ANNEX I)
General Assembly Plenary - 17 - Press Release GA/9253 101st Meeting (AM) 13 June 1997
General Assembly Plenary Press Release GA/9253 101st Meeting (AM) 13 June 1997
ANNEX II
Vote on Financing of UNIFIL
The draft resolution in the report of the Committee on the financing of UNIFIL (document A/51/725/Add.1) was adopted by a recorded vote of 127 in favour to 2 against with 1 abstention as follows:
In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Israel, United States.
Abstaining: Russian Federation.
Absent: Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Gabon, Guinea, Iceland, Iran, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Palau, Paraguay, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.
General Assembly Plenary - 18 - Press Release GA/9253 101st Meeting (AM) 13 June 1997
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