FIFTH COMMITTEE CONCLUDES DISCUSSING MANAGEMENT OF PEACEKEEPING ASSETS AND LOGISTICS BASE IN BRINDISI, ITALY
Press Release
GA/AB/3164
FIFTH COMMITTEE CONCLUDES DISCUSSING MANAGEMENT OF PEACEKEEPING ASSETS AND LOGISTICS BASE IN BRINDISI, ITALY
19971001 Secretary-General Kofi Annan should consider establishing logistics bases in neutral countries close to a concentration of peacekeeping operations, the representative of Pakistan told the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) as it concluded discussing the management of peacekeeping assets and the United Nations Logistics Base in Brindisi, Italy.He also expressed concern about the control of inventory and the inspection and technical evaluation practices at the Base. Equipment should be shipped to the Base only after they had been inspected to avoid sending worthless or damaged goods there. He also expressed concern as to whether the concept of start-up kits was feasible.
However, the United States representative, reiterating his country's position, said the Brindisi facility should remain as the only United Nations logistics base, in light of the current downsizing of peacekeeping operations. The concept of a logistics base was necessary, and the facility should store and restore equipment for peacekeeping operations.
The representative of Belgium -- speaking for the European Union and Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia -- said debates on the Brindisi Base and the management of peacekeeping assets should have been held after all required documents had been placed before the Committee. The current financial arrangement for the Base could be maintained and the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) approved.
On other matters, the Deputy Director of the Facilities Management Division, Office of Central Support Services, Richard Nasereddin, responded to questions raised at the Committee's 8 September meeting, on the authority of the Organization to levy parking fines. While there was no specific document granting such an authority, he said, there had been a consensus between the United Nations administration and Member States to ensure order and safety in the garage. An example was General Assembly resolution 39/236 which authorized the suspension of the parking privileges of any delegate whose parking fees were in arrears by more than three months.
It had been the practice of the garage administration not to issue fines to delegations until after two reminders had been placed on a concerned
Fifth Committee - 2 - Press Release GA/AB/3164 4th Meeting (PM) 1 October 1997
vehicle, he continued. When issued to delegations, fines were primarily for vehicles in the "No Parking" areas which blocked critical access and exit points. They should not be seen as a punishment, but as a means to ensure traffic safety and organized parking in the United Nations garage.
The representatives of Mexico and Indonesia suggested that the matter should be discussed further when Costa Rica's representative was present since the question of parking fines had been raised by her.
The Fifth Committee is scheduled to meet again at 10 a.m. on Friday, 3 October, to hear a statement on United Nations finances from the Under- Secretary-General for Management, Joseph E. Connor. It is then expected to discuss human resources management, particularly the Organization's recruitment process.
* *** *