ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES MEMBER STATES TO OBSERVE OLYMPIC TRUCE DURING NAGANO WINTER GAMES, FROM 7 TO 22 FEBRUARY

4 February 1998

Press Release
GA/9392

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES MEMBER STATES TO OBSERVE OLYMPIC TRUCE DURING NAGANO WINTER GAMES, FROM 7 TO 22 FEBRUARY

19980204 Also Approves Budget Committee Recommendation To Increase Salary And Retirement Allowance of Secretary-General and UNDP Administrator

The General Assembly this morning approved an increase of the salary and retirement allowance of the Secretary-General, as well as in the salary and pensionable remuneration of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It also took note of a statement by its President urging States to observe the Olympic Truce during the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, to be held in Nagano, Japan, from 7 to 22 February.

Acting without a vote, the Assembly increased the Secretary-General's total net remuneration from $214,383 to $218,244, effective 1 January. His retirement allowance was set at 50 per cent of net remuneration (net base salary plus post adjustment) or $109,122, also effective 1 January. The total net salary of the UNDP Administrator was increased from $172,879 to 175,991, and his pensionable remuneration was increased from $208,537 to $212,291, effective 1 January.

In taking that action, the Assembly was concurring with the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (document A/52/7/Add.8), as approved by its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) (document A/52/744/Add.1).

With respect to the Olympic Truce, Assembly President Hennadiy Udovenko (Ukraine) read out an appeal stating that on 25 November 1997 the Assembly had adopted resolution 52/21, urging Member States to observe the Olympic Truce during the forthcoming Winter Games. The Olympic Truce dated back to an ancient Greek tradition called ekecheiria, in keeping with which all hostilities would cease during the Games.

The Olympic Truce had become an expression of mankind's desire to build a world based on the rules of competition, peace, humanity and reconciliation, Mr. Udovenko said. He appealed to all States to demonstrate their commitment to the spirit of fraternity and understanding among peoples by observing the Truce and called on States currently engaged in armed struggle, for whatever reasons, to suspend hostilities.

General Assembly Plenary - 2 - Press Release GA/9392 80th Meeting (AM) 4 February 1998

Also this morning, the Assembly President drew attention to a letter from the Secretary-General stating that 39 Member States were currently in arrears in the payment of their financial contributions to the United Nations. Under Article 19 of the Charter, "A Member of the United Nations which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Organization shall have no vote in the General Assembly if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due from it for the preceding two full years."

The Assembly will meet again at a date to be announced in the Journal.

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