SECRETARY-GENERAL PROPOSES $826 MILLION FOR 13 PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS FOR ONE-YEAR PERIOD BEGINNING 1 JULY
Press Release
GA/AB/3227
SECRETARY-GENERAL PROPOSES $826 MILLION FOR 13 PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS FOR ONE-YEAR PERIOD BEGINNING 1 JULY
19980518 Background ReleaseThe Secretary-General proposes $826 million to fund 13 peacekeeping operations currently in force for the period of 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999. The requests for these operations, which are funded outside the Organization's regular budget, are contained in reports to be considered today by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) as it continues its second resumed fifty-second session.
By comparison, for the 12-month period of 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, the Secretary-General estimates that resources for peacekeeping operations amounted to some $958 million. In the 1994-1995 biennium, $5.79 billion was spent on 17 active missions.
Also to be considered are the Secretary-General's proposals for liquidating missions, clearing past debts and crediting remaining balances for prior periods to Member States. In all, more than 60 reports are to be considered today.
Of the proposed total amount for funding active operations, some $39.4 million would go towards the support account for peacekeeping operations. Another $7.1 million would be directed towards maintaining the United Nations Logistics Base in Brindisi, Italy. Financing for the support account and the Logistics Base are prorated among the various peacekeeping operations. The total excludes the possible budgetary requirements for Sierra Leone for the 12-month period beginning 1 July 1998, and for additional resources for the United Nations Peace Forces, pending the preparation of the mission's final report.
The reports to be taken up by the Committee are summarized below. Reports having to do with United Nations operations in Haiti and the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) will be taken up at a later date. In addition to the financing -- and liquidation costs -- of individual operations, the Committee will be considering administrative and budgetary aspects of peacekeeping operations. In that context, it will take up matters related to the United Nations Logistics Base in Brindisi, Italy; death and disability benefits; and overall consolidated estimates of budgetary requirements for peacekeeping operations.
ACABQ Report on Financing of Peacekeeping Operations
The Committee had before it a report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) on the administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations (A/52/860). The report provides an overview of the Advisory Committee's conclusions after its consideration of a variety of aspects of the financing of peacekeeping operations. The Advisory Committee's findings on individual operations are issued in separate reports, or as addenda to the present report.
The report states that the Advisory Committee has considered the financial performance reports and proposed budgets of the various peacekeeping missions in accordance with a 12-month budget period and annual financial cycle from 1 July to 30 June, as approved by the Assembly in its resolution 49/233. The Advisory Committee is concerned, however, that the objective of this new cycle is in danger of being compromised -- during its winter/spring session, reports were frequently submitted to the Committee only days before scheduled hearings and were in the form of advance drafts in English only. During its 1998 winter session, the Advisory Committee also experienced a calendar of activities with many items other than peacekeeping reports, which diminished the time available to the Committee for it to conduct in-depth analysis of peacekeeping operations.
On the formulation of financial performance reports and budget proposals, the report states that a cumbersome and laborious process is being followed to prepare the performance reports, with information on budget implementation going back and forth between Headquarters and the field for checking and rechecking before accounts are finally closed and preparation of performance reports starts. The result is often delays in the compilation of data for the preparation of performance reports with late issuance of a number of reports and frequent non-availability of the most up-to-date financial data in addition to the reports.
There is also a high incidence of error due to the complexity of the accounting required by the current budget performance preparation process, the report states. The Advisory Committee considers the performance reports to be too focused on a statistical compilation of accounting information which, seen out of context, can sometimes be incomplete or misleading.
On military and civilian personnel costs, the report states that personnel costs account for a major portion of peacekeeping operation budgets, and as such have a significant impact on budget implementation and formulation. The report notes in this regard, among other things, a number of points with regard to emplacement and rotation of military contingents and observers and the increasing use of civilian police.
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The report states that, by its resolution A/50/322, the Assembly approved new arrangements for contingent-owned equipment effective July 1996, which allow troop-contributing countries to select options known as wet or dry lease. A wet lease refers to a contingent-owned reimbursement system where troop-contributing countries provide and assume responsibility for maintaining and supporting deployed major items of equipment, together with minor equipment. Those countries are entitled to reimbursement for providing this support. Dry lease refers to a contingent-owned equipment-reimbursement system where the troop-contributing countries provide equipment to a peacekeeping mission and the United Nations assumes responsibility for maintaining the equipment. In this case, such countries are reimbursed for the non-availability of its military resources for its national interests.
The Advisory Committee believes that the United Nations capacity to implement the new arrangements for contingent-owned equipment is inadequate. In the case of the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) and the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) -- two missions in which the new arrangements have been introduced -- there was no evidence that savings were realized either for the troop-contributing countries or the United Nations. In the case of the two missions, it appears that the wet lease arrangements were applied to troops already in theatre, that is retroactively. Since some of the wet lease arrangements were contracted out by the missions, the Committee points out that it is probable that the United Nations paid twice for at least some of the items covered under the arrangements.
The report further states that the efficiency of the procurement process is still of great concern to the Advisory Committee. It notes numerous procurement delays because of administrative reasons which are not explained in the reports. On the question of inventory, the Committee is of the view that inventory management and control remains weak. Regarding disposal of assets, it is noted that peacekeeping operations continue to have serious management weaknesses in disposing of non-expendable property.
Regarding the question of voluntary contributions, the Advisory Committee reiterates its call for more transparency, consistent with the principle of full budgeting, the report states. It intends to follow up on improvements in this area when it examines further reports of the Secretary- General on peacekeeping operations.
Regarding third-party claims and arbitration costs, the Advisory Committee expresses concern at the increasing frequency of the submission of large claims, the report states. It notes that, in some cases, the amounts of claims made against the United Nations have been scaled down, and settlements are lower than the original claims.
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Peacekeeping Forces in Middle East
The Secretary-General's financial performance report of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) (document A/52/771) asks the General Assembly to appropriate and assess an additional amount of $138,200 gross ($191,600 net) for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. Almost $32.3 million gross (some $31.3 million net) had been provided for that period, while expenditures had come to about $32.4 million gross $31.5 million net). The additional requirements were mainly due to the Force's prorated share of the cost of maintaining the United Nations Logistics Base in Brindisi, Italy, and to the recording of expenditures pertaining to the prior financial period ending 30 June 1996. Owing to a change in the peacekeeping budget cycle, expenditures for the period ending 30 June 1996 were recorded in the UNDOF accounts for the period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997.
In a report on financing the Force from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 (documents A/52/771/Add.1 and Corr.1), the Secretary-General asks the General Assembly to appropriate some $33.6 million gross ($32.8 million net), to be assessed at a monthly rate of $2.8 million gross ($2.7 million net), subject to the extension of the Force by the Security Council. Further, he asks that the Assembly credit Member States a surplus balance of $2.7 million for the earlier period from 1 December 1994 to 30 November 1995.
An addendum provides information on the estimated cost to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) of direct support provided to UNDOF (document A/52/771/Add.2). For the 1996-1997 biennium, the cost was $8.2 million; for 1998-1999, the cost was estimated at $9.1 million.
In its related report (document A/52/860/Add.5), the ACABQ says there is no need to authorize an additional appropriation of $138,200 gross as requested for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. This conclusion is largely due to the Organization's experience with savings on unliquidated obligations.
Regarding the proposed budget for 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, the Advisory Committee agrees that the Assembly should appropriate and assess the $33.6 million gross (just under $32.8 million net), subject to the Council's extension of the Force.
The Force was established by Security Council resolution 350 (1974) of 31 May 1974 to supervise the ceasefire and the agreement on disengagement between Israeli and Syrian forces for an initial period of six months. Since then, its mandate has been extended through various resolutions, most recently 1139 (1997), which extended it through 31 May 1998.
In his financial performance report of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) (document A/52/804) for the period from 1 July 1996 to
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30 June 1997, the Secretary-General asks the General Assembly to appropriate and assess an additional amount of $382,244 gross ($199,244 net) for the period, in addition to the $125.7 million gross ($122.7 million net) already provided. The additional requirement is largely attributable to the upward revision in local staff salaries by 61.8 per cent as of 1 March 1997 (the result of a comprehensive salary survey in Lebanon); UNIFIL's share in the costs of the Brindisi Base; and the recording of certain expenditures pertaining to the prior financial period.
In his report on the financing of UNIFIL from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 (document A/52/806), the Secretary-General asks the Assembly to appropriate some $136.7 million gross ($132.7 million net) for the 12 months, subject to the Security Council's extension of the mandate of the Force. The amount would be assessed at a monthly rate of about $11.4 million gross ($11.1 million net). The proposed budget, which would maintain 4,513 troops and 528 civilian staff, reflects an 11.9 per cent increase from the previous period. The increase comes mainly from replacing vehicles and equipment; increasing local staff salaries; and creating 52 posts. Three international posts would be for integrated support services, air operations, and a political affairs officer, while the remaining 49 local posts would be for translators, interpreters, technical and communications assistants, maintenance workers, cooks and language teachers.
The estimated cost to UNTSO for support provided to UNIFIL (document A/52/806/Add.1) had amounted to $5 million for 1996-1997, and $5.6 million for 1998-1999.
In its report (document A/52/860/Add.6), the ACABQ recommends against authorizing the additional $382,244 gross ($199,244 net) for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, because explanations regarding administrative delays were not satisfactory. Among its findings, the ACABQ is concerned that the survey methodology is leading to inflated salaries in some locations. It requests the Secretariat to review the application of the methodology and procedures used.
Regarding the proposed budget for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, the Advisory Committee recommends an appropriation of some $135.8 million gross ($132 million net), subject to mandate extension, rather than the $136.7 million gross ($132.7 million net) requested by the Secretary- General, the report says. This is because the ACABQ recommends that 38 of the 49 additional local posts being requested for the Force should continue as short-term contract personnel, which would result in a reduction of $887,600 in the proposed appropriation. Only those posts providing core support functions (11 posts) should be established as regular local posts.
Established under Council resolution 425 (1978), UNIFIL was mandated to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and assist the
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Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority there. On 30 January 1998, the Council extended the Force's mandate for six months until 31 July, by its resolution 1151 (1998).
Missions in Angola
The Secretary-General's financial performance report of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III) for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 (documents A/52/385 and Add.1/Corr.1) states that, against an appropriation of some $308.1 million gross ($302 million net), actual expenditures recorded amounted to about $302.3 million gross ($297.8 million net).
The report states that there is a need to record an additional obligation of some $2.2 million under standard troop-cost reimbursement and clothing and equipment allowance for the period. This would result in a net unencumbered balance of about $3.6 million gross ($2 million net). That balance was the result of lower requirements under military and civilian personnel costs, infrastructure repairs, supplies and services. It was partially offset by additional requirements for elements, including transport, equipment, public information and mine-clearing programmes.
The actions to be taken by the General Assembly include an authorization for the Secretary-General to utilize the amount of some $2.2 million to meet incurred expenses for the 12-month period that were not recorded, and a decision to credit Member States the unencumbered balance of $3.6 million gross ($2 million net).
A report on financing the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) (document A/52/799/Add.1) contains the proposed budget for the maintenance of MONUA for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, which amounts to $140.8 million gross ($136.4 million net). Resources approved for the 12 months ending 30 June 1998 amounted to $155 million gross ($150.4 million net).
The proposed budget consists of non-recurrent costs of about $1.2 million and recurrent costs of some $139.6 million gross ($135.2 million net). It provides for the deployment of 90 military observers, 955 contingent personnel and 345 civilian police observers, supported by a civilian establishment of 281 international and 225 local staff and 71 United Nations Volunteers.
The Secretary-General asks the General Assembly to appropriate and assess some $140.8 million gross ($136.4 million net) for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 and assessment at a monthly rate of $11.7 million gross ($11.4 million net). Both those requests would be subject to the extension of MONUA's mandate beyond 30 April.
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The total resources made available to the operations in Angola, consisting of UNAVEM from its inception on 3 January 1989 to 30 June 1997 and MONUA from its inception on 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, amount to $1.08 billion gross ($1.06 billion net). Of that amount, credits returned to Member States amounted to about $44.4 million gross ($44 million net), of which $1.4 million represented interest and miscellaneous income. Actual and pro forma expenditures for the same period amount to some $1.036 billion gross (almost $1.015 billion net).
In its report (document A/52/860/Add.8), the Advisory Committee was informed that no information is currently available as to when the next report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council will be submitted and whether that report will also contain proposals that could change the mandate and operational requirements of the Mission.
Pending submission of that report, the Committee recommends that the Assembly appropriate and assess a total of $43.6 million gross for the maintenance of MONUA during the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999. This recommendation, the report states, is without prejudice to such position as the Committee may take on requirements for the 12-month period after receipt of the Secretary-General's report.
The United Nations United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM) was established in 1989, and followed by subsequent operations (UNAVEM II and UNAVEM III). Established in 1997, MONUA assumed responsibility for all components and remaining assets of UNAVEM III.
A note by the Secretary-General transmits a report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (document A/52/881) on the procurement process at the United Nations Angola Verification Mission. The Secretary-General takes note of the report's findings, concurs with its recommendations, and says that measures have been taken or initiated to correct the issues addressed in the review. The results of Oversight Office audits of the Mission during 1996 and 1997, focusing particularly on the procurement process, were communicated to the Mission and to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and followed up.
The audits disclosed serious management deficiencies and apparent breaches of financial regulations and rules, as well as improprieties and irregularities in the procurement process, which, in some cases, resulted in significant losses to the Organization. Weaknesses in the management and control of procurement operations created a climate that may have fostered fraud and financial abuse.
The Oversight Office's recommendations included that: individual accountability for irregularities and losses be determined for appropriate action; the Mission's Procurement Section be revamped, replacing officials of doubtful integrity; and internal controls be strengthened. In response,
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several boards of inquiry had been established by the Mission to review the circumstances of the procurement irregularities. A new Chief Procurement Officer had been assigned and other staff replaced. Measures were introduced to strengthen internal controls. The re-registration of vendors had been initiated to ensure that suppliers of doubtful quality were not utilized. Greater transparency had been introduced into the procurement process to ensure that purchases were properly authorized and justified.
UNIKOM
The Secretary-General's report concerning the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) is submitted pursuant to a 1996 request of the Assembly for immediate action to recover the overpayment of mission subsistence allowance and on compensatory time-off (document A/51/658/Add.3). Mission subsistence allowance is a daily fixed allowance representing the Organization's contributions towards living expenses incurred by staff members in a mission area.
The report states that a new policy of granting occasional recuperation breaks was instituted and replaces all previous regime of supplementary leave to internationally recruited staff in special missions, such as compensatory time-off. The revised policy was communicated to all peacekeeping operations and special missions in January 1997. The general conditions of the policy are provided in an annex to the report. A staff member would be eligible for a recuperation break every three calendar months, provided he or she has worked a total of 10 working days over and above the office's required number of working days during the preceding three-month period.
The report also presents operational guidelines for mission subsistence allowance. While the final guidelines are subject to staff-management consultations, it says, the principal features are given in an annex to the report. Mission subsistence allowance is payable to all international civilian staff, civilian police and military observers assigned to a special mission. The Chief Administrative Officer under the responsibility of the Headquarters department or office in charge of that mission administers the allowance. Generally, the allowance is supplemented by 10 per cent for staff members at the levels of Principal Officer (D-1) and Director, (D-2), and by 25 per cent for staff at the Assistant Secretary-General and Under-Secretary- General levels.
In a related report (document A/52/790), submitted pursuant to a 1997 Assembly request, the Secretary-General states that, of the total overpayment of $6.3 million, an amount of $751,275 had been recovered as of 31 December 1997. The balance of about $5.6 million remained outstanding.
Total overpayment occurred as follows: $624,191 to 137 staff at Headquarters; $148,154 to 34 staff at offices away from Headquarters; $78,747
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to 21 staff who have been separated from the Organization; and $5.5 million to 1,426 military observers.
The report states that a formal inquiry is under way in order to establish the circumstances of the overpayment of mission subsistence allowance. The measures to be taken will be based on the conclusions of the inquiry. In addition, actions had been taken to recover the overpaid amounts, including letters to the military observers concerned, through respective permanent missions in New York. Further, a new administrative instruction on mission subsistence allowance had come into force in November 1997.
An addendum (documents A/52/790/Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1) to the Secretary-General's report contains that Mission's financial performance report for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. The total resources provided for the period amounted to $52.1 million gross ($50 million net), while the related expenditures amounted to about $48 million gross ($46.3 million net). This resulted in an unencumbered balance of around $4.1 million gross ($3.8 million net). The Assembly is, therefore, asked to credit Member States their respective share in that unencumbered balance.
The balance is due largely from lower than anticipated requirements under mission subsistence allowance for military observers, lower costs for emplacement, rotation and repatriation of troops through charter arrangements, higher than projected civilian staff vacancy rates, cancellation of some projects and reduced requirements for transport operations and supplies, as a result of economy measures implemented by the Mission.
In his report (document A/52/824) on the proposed budget of UNIKOM for the 12-month period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, the Secretary-General recommends some $50.6 million gross ($48.5 million net). This reflects an overall increase of 2 per cent in gross terms compared with the resources approved for the preceding 12-month period, from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, of $49.5 million gross ($47.6 million net), excluding just under $2 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations.
The report states that the budget provides for maintaining the observation Mission, consisting of 195 military observers and 908 troops (775 infantry and 133 support personnel), supported by a civilian establishment of 238 (72 international and 166 local staff). The action to be taken by the General Assembly includes the appropriation of $50.6 million gross ($48.5 million net). Two thirds of that amount, about $32.4 million, is to be funded through voluntary contributions from the Government of Kuwait. The balance of $18.3 million gross ($16.2 million net) is to be assessed on Member States subject to the renewal of the mandate by the Security Council.
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The report of the Advisory Committee (documents A/52/860/Add.7 and Add.7/Corr.1) requests that a separate report be submitted to the Assembly at its fifty-third session on developments related to the issue of overpayment of mission subsistence and compensatory time-off. The Advisory Committee states that it will, at that time, revert to the matter. In connection with the financing of the Mission for the period of 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, the Advisory Committee recommends that the unencumbered balance of some $4.1 million gross (about $3.8 million net) be credited to Member States, it being understood that two thirds of the amount would first be refunded to the Government of Kuwait.
For several reasons -- including the belief that the Mission will enjoy savings under air operations -- the Committee is of the opinion that the budget for UNIKOM for the period 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 should be maintained at its present level -- some $49.5 million gross (about $47.6 million net).
The UNIKOM was established in 1991 to follow the withdrawal of Iraq's forces from the territory of Kuwait. In 1993, the Council decided expanded its strength and terms of reference to include the capacity to take physical action to prevent violations of the demilitarized zone and of the newly demarcated boundary between Iraq and Kuwait.
MINURSO
Also before the Committee was the Secretary-General's report on the financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) (document A/52/730/Add.1), containing MINURSO's financial performance report for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. In it, the Secretary-General asks the Assembly to credit Member States an unencumbered balance of some $2.6 million gross ($2.2 million net). Some $31.9 million gross ($30.1 million net) had been provided for the Mission during that period, while recorded expenditure had totalled about $29.3 million gross ($28 million net). The unencumbered balance is due to several factors, including decreased military personnel, more civilian staff on appointments of limited duration and lower actual requirements for premises/accommodation, air operations, equipment, supplies and freight.
In an addendum to his report (document A/52/730/Add.2), the Secretary- General asks the Assembly to appropriate an additional amount of almost $17.2 million gross (some $16 million net) for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. The amount would be inclusive of $9.3 million gross ($8.5 million net) already authorized by the ACABQ for the resumption of identification activities. He asks the Assembly to assess some $11.1 million gross ($10.3 million net) for the period ending 20 April 1998 and -- should the Council extend MINURSO's mandate beyond 20 April 1998 -- $6.1 million gross ($5.7 million net) for the period from 21 April to 30 June.
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The additional requirements pertain to demining activities and additional administrative staff required to support the deployment of military personnel, which were approved by the Council through its resolution 1148 (1998), the report explains. Additional requirements for demining activities total $4.1 million ($4 million net). The addition also reflects the revised additional requirements of $13.1 million gross ($12 million net) for the identification process.
In another addendum (document A/52/730/Add.3), the Secretary-General asks the Assembly to appropriate and assess some $65.1 million gross ($61 million net) for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, subject to the Council's extension of the Mission beyond 20 April 1998. The proposed budget provides for the maintenance of the Mission at the authorized strength of 203 military observers, 186 contingent personnel, seven force orderly personnel and 81 civilian police observers, supported by a civilian establishment of 285 international staff, 105 locally recruited personnel and 10 observers from the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
The budget estimate is roughly $17.7 million gross ($16.6 million net) more than the revised budget for the period ending 30 June 1998, the report states. That increase is attributable to the strengthening of the Mission pursuant to Council resolutions 1133 (1997) and 1148 (1998), by which it approved the resumption and completion of identification and the deployment of the engineering unit required for demining activities.
The Advisory Committee's report on MINURSO's financing (documents A/52/816 and Corr.1) recommends that the Assembly appropriate the proposed additional amount of $17.2 million gross, including the $9.3 million gross already authorized, for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. It also recommends approval of the proposed assessment of $11.1 million through 20 April 1998, as well as that if $6.1 million for the period 21 April to 30 June, should the Mission's mandate be extended beyond 20 April.
Regarding the unencumbered balance of $2.6 million from 1996-1997, the ACABQ says it will submit its comments to the Assembly in a consolidated report on the financial performance of peacekeeping operations and the cost estimates for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999.
Another ACABQ report (document A/52/860/Add.8) says that body was informed that no information was currently available as to what proposals may be contained in the next report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council. Pending submission of that report, the Advisory Committee recommends that the Assembly appropriate and assess some $21.6 million gross for the maintenance of MINURSO during the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999. This recommendation, the report states, is without prejudice to any position the Committee may take on requirements for the same period after receipt of the Secretary-General's report.
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The MINURSO was established in 1991 to assist in implementing the 1988 peace plan proposed by the United Nations and the OAU, which included the holding of a referendum by which the people of Western Sahara would choose between independence and integration with Morocco.
UNTAC
The report of the Secretary-General on financing and liquidation of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) (document A/52/819) provides updated information on the status of its special account and on additional requirements of some $17.7 million gross ($21.2 million net), which, for the most part, are due to outstanding claims from governments for goods supplied and services rendered to UNTAC. The Secretary-General asks the Assembly to appropriate and assess the above amount. He also asks it to decide on the treatment of a balance of cumulative miscellaneous income of $8.7 million, and to decide on the treatment of any surplus arising from the eventual liquidation of the remaining obligations in the special account of UNTAC.
Also before the Committee was a report of the ACABQ (document A/52/865) relating to the Secretary-General's evaluation on all aspects of the administration and management of UNTAC (document A/51/777), and his latest report on its financing and liquidation (document A/52/819). The Advisory Committee recommends that the Assembly take note of the Secretary-General's evaluation report. He should be encouraged to continue the evaluation exercise for other peacekeeping operations. It states that such evaluations should include an analysis not only of problems encountered and measures undertaken to correct those shortcomings, but also of those problems which are still unsolved, and should contain proposals for solutions.
On financing and liquidation of UNTAC, the Advisory Committee recommends the appropriation and assessment of an additional $17.7 million gross ($21.2 million net). It recommends that the $8.7 million cumulative miscellaneous income should be credited back to Member States.
Established in 1992, UNTAC's mandate ended in September 1993 with the promulgation of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the formation of the new Government.
At the forty-ninth session of the General Assembly, the Committee decided to defer consideration of the Secretary-General's report on financing UNTAC (documents A/49/714 and Corrs.1 and 2 and Add.1) and a related report of the ACABQ (document A/49/867), pending the submission by the Secretary-General of a comprehensive report on UNTAC.
The Secretary-General recommends the appropriation and assessment of $16.7 million gross ($19.2 million net) for additional UNTAC requirements
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for the period 1 November 1991 to 31 December 1995. The addendum provides information on the final disposition of UNTAC assets originally worth $232 million. It consists of $154.2 million of assets transferred to other United Nations missions and offices, $58 million for those donated to Cambodia's Government, $8 million for others sold to such parties as the Cambodia Mine Action Centre, $8.1 million for theft and $3.6 million for those written off.
The ACABQ states that appropriating $16.7 million gross (19.2 million net) for additional UNTAC requirements for 1 November 1991 to 31 December 1995 would not be needed. The amount sought should be based on actual claims from troop-contributing States and not projections.
Also before the Committee is a note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Board of Auditors on the liquidation audit of UNTAC (document A/49/943).
UNPF
A report of the Secretary-General (document A/52/792) provides details on the final disposition of the assets of the United Nations Peace Forces in the former Yugoslavia (UNPF). The inventory value of the assets of the combined forces as at 10 January 1996 amounted to some $345.2 million, 40 per cent of which has been transferred to the current peacekeeping operations in the former Yugoslavia. The action to be taken by the Assembly is to take note of the present report.
The disposal of UNPF assets has been guided by the principles endorsed by the Assembly in section VII of its resolution 49/233 A of 23 December 1994, the report states. By those principles, equipment in good condition that conforms to established standardization or is considered compatible with existing equipment will be redeployed to other United Nations operations or will be placed in reserve to form the start-up kits used by future missions. Equipment not required by other missions, but which may be useful for operations of other United Nations agencies, international organizations or non-governmental organizations and which is not feasible to be kept in reserve, will be sold. Any equipment or property not required or which is not feasible to be disposed of in the above manner or which is in poor condition will be subject to commercial disposal in the area of operations, following standard United Nations regulations and procedures.
Also before the Committee was a financial performance report (document A/52/815) of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO), UNPREDEP, and the UNPF headquarters for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. The report also provides information on the liquidation tasks not completed as at 30 June 1997.
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The report states that a total amount of some $50.2 million gross ($47 million net), inclusive of some $1.2 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations, was appropriated by the General Assembly for the liquidation of UNPROFOR and UNCRO, as well as for the provision of central support by the UNPF to UNTAES, the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) and UNPREDEP. The performance report reflects expenditures of just under $46.8 million gross ($42.9 million net), resulting in an unencumbered balance of about $3.5 million gross ($4.1 million net). Of this, the report states that an amount of almost $1.2 million gross ($1.1 million net) has been concurred by the ACABQ for completion of the liquidation tasks.
The report recommends that the Secretary-General be authorized to utilize the amount of almost $1.2 million gross ($1.1 million net) for the resources provided for the period ending 30 June 1997 to meet the cost of completing the liquidation of the mission, as already concurred by the ACABQ. It is also recommended that the Assembly decide on the treatment of the remaining unencumbered balance of about $2.3 million gross ($3 million net) for the period ending 30 June 1997.
In its related report, the Advisory Committee considers the financial performance report for those missions for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 and the report on the final disposition of UNPF assets (document A/52/868). The Advisory Committee states that, pending the submission of a final performance report by the Secretary-General later this year or early in 1999, it is of the opinion that no action need be taken now by the General Assembly in that regard. Regarding the final disposition of UNPF assets, the Committee recommends that the Assembly take note of the Secretary-General's report.
ONUMOZ
The Committee had before it a report on financing the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) (document A/49/649/Add.3), in which the Secretary-General asks the Assembly to credit Member States with the account's unencumbered balance of $17.9 million gross ($16.8 million net) from the period 1 May to 15 November 1994. The balance had accrued mostly from savings from military ($3.1 million) and civilian ($11.8 million) personnel costs due to cuts in military observers, postponement of the planned repatriation of military contingents and fewer international civilian staff and civilian police in the mission area.
Another report on financing ONUMOZ (document A/51/807) contains financial performance information on the mission, from its inception to liquidation. A total of about $561.1 million gross ($552.5 million net) was made available to ONUMOZ from October 1992 to 31 March 1995. Its account has an unencumbered balance of about $19.1 million gross ($18.2 million net),
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interest income of some $4.6 million and miscellaneous income of about $2.2 million. But about $39.1 million in dues was owed by Member States.
The Secretary-General asks the Assembly to credit Member States with the unencumbered balances totalling $19.1 million gross ($18.2 million net) and to determine what to do with the $6.8 million interest and miscellaneous income.
Another related report (document A/52/680) asks the Assembly to take note of the disposition of the Operation's assets. The value of the Operation's assets comes to an estimated $38.5 million. Vehicles comprise 48 per cent of those assets; the rest comes from communications equipment, general stores and other equipment, electronic data-processing equipment, air support equipment, and generators.
The report states that 83 per cent of all assets, with an inventory value of $32.0 million, had been transferred to various United Nations peacekeeping operations and offices, Headquarters and the Brindisi Base. Another $0.9 million worth of assets had been transferred to United Nations system bodies. Assets valued at $0.5 million were sold to commercial entities in Mozambique and to the Resistência Nacional Moçambicana (RENAMO). Other assets were donated to the Government of Mozambique, the demining programme and the World Health Organization (WHO). Some $1.8 million of assets were written off.
In the financial performance report for ONUMOZ since its inception (document A/52/680/Add.1), the Secretary-General asks the General Assembly to credit Member States with a cumulative unencumbered balance of $42.6 million gross ($41.3 million net) -- as at 30 June 1997 -- including the previously reported amount of $19.1 million gross ($18.2 million net) pertaining to the period from 1 May 1994 to 31 March 1995. Also, he asks the Assembly to decide on the treatment of the cumulative interest (close to $5 million) and miscellaneous income ($10.3 million). The Assembly should further decide on the treatment of any surplus arising from the eventual liquidation of remaining obligations in the special account of ONUMOZ.
The ACABQ report (document A/52/853) recalls that, since its inception in October 1992, ONUMOZ had been provided with resources amounting to $561.1 gross ($553.5 million net). Its total expenditures came to about $492.6 million gross ($486.7 million net), including unliquidated obligations of some $18.4 million. About $26 million has been credited to Member States. The Operation's resources, less operating costs and after the application of credits to Member States, resulted in a cumulative unencumbered balance of almost $42.6 million gross ($41.3 million net) as at 30 June 1997, while interest and miscellaneous income credited to ONUMOZ's special account amounted to close to $5 million and some $10.3 million, respectively. The ACABQ recommends that the Assembly credit Member States with the cumulative unencumbered balance, and that the interest and any surplus from the eventual
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liquidation of the remaining obligations be credited to the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund.
The ONUMOZ was established by the Security Council in 1992. Its mandate was completed with the appointment on 16 December 1994 of the new Government of Mozambique. A limited number of civilian personnel remained in the country until 31 March 1995 to complete the residual administrative tasks associated with the closure of the Operation.
UNFICYP
In his financial performance report on the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for the period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 (document A/52/775), the Secretary-General asks the General Assembly to appropriate an additional amount of $602,900 gross ($647,400 net) for the period. One third of that amount -- $215,800 net -- is to be met through voluntary contributions from the Government of Cyprus. He asks the Assembly to assess on Member States the remaining amount of $387,100 gross ($431,600 net).
Just under $45.1 million gross ($43 million net) had been approved for the Force for the period, including the portion to be met through voluntary contributions from the Governments of Cyprus and Greece, the report states. Recorded expenditures amounted to a little under $45 million gross ($43 million net), resulting in unutilized resources of $121,800 gross ($77,300 net). However, that balance was offset by obligations of $724,700 relating to a prior claim from the Government of the United Kingdom for logistic support it had provided, which then resulted in the additional requirements.
An addendum to the report (document A/52/775/Add.1) contains the proposed budget for the Force for the 12-month period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, amounting to just over $43 million gross (some $41.3 million net). That estimate reflects a decrease of 10.4 per cent in gross terms compared to the preceding 12-month period, $48 million gross ($45.9 million net). It provides for maintaining the Force of 1,230 contingent personnel and 35 civilian police monitors supported by 265 (44 international and 221 local) civilian staff.
The Secretary-General asks the General Assembly to approve the proposed budget, which includes $20.3 million net to be provided by the Government of Cyprus ($13.8 million) and by the Government of Greece ($6.5 million). He recommends the appropriation of the remaining two thirds of the cost -- $22.8 million gross ($21 million net), to be assessed at a monthly rate of $1.9 million gross ($1.8 million net), subject to the extension of the Force by the Security Council.
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In its related report (document A/52/860/Add.4), the Advisory Committee recommends accepting the Secretary-General's proposals.
A note by the Secretary-General transmits the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services' investigation of the termination benefits paid to locally employed civilians in UNFICYP (document A/52/886). The Secretary- General takes note of the report's findings and concurs with its recommendations. By resolution 51/235, the General Assembly requested the Oversight Office to report to it the events that led to the United Nations responsibility for termination pay to locally employed civilians in UNFICYP, including all aspects of United Nations staff accountability. The Assembly was referring to an amount of almost $5.3 million, which had been included in the proposed budget for UNFICYP from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, representing the United Nations share of a one-time cost of termination benefits for 304 locally employed civilians in Cyprus. The report explains that in November 1994 the United Kingdom had notified the United Nations that it had decided, effective the end of Jun 1995, to cease providing the contractual services for local support staff which had been agreed to as part of a 1979 memorandum of understanding between the United Nations and the United Kingdom. The UNFICYP administration was then under pressure to find a way to maintain day-to-day operations. It finally decided to convert locally employed civilians to the status of locally recruited United Nations General Service staff by instructing the United Kingdom to terminate all contracts for locally employed civilians with the United Kingdom Civilian Establishment and Pay Office. The UNFICYP subsequently relieved them based on proven performance levels established through a custom-designed classification process.
Following the United Nations decision to terminate such staff, differences arose between the Organization and the United Kingdom regarding who should be responsible to pay termination benefits. The United Nations believed the expense should be based on the original cost-sharing formula. The United Kingdom took the position that the United Nations was responsible, since it had decided to rehire the staff under new United Nations contracts. Negotiations lasted from the fall of 1995 until March 1997, when a settlement was reached. Both parties agreed to pay termination benefits based on the cost-sharing formula previously used for paying the employees's salaries.
The Oversight Office had not found any wrongdoing on the part of United Nations officials. However, based on lessons learned, the Oversight Office recommended to the Department of Management and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations that programme managers consult the Office of Legal Affairs and the Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts at initial stages, to assess potential risks. Further, it recommended that when the United Nations entered into memorandums of understanding, such texts should provide details of the agreement between both parties, or additional written agreements should be prepared within the framework of the terms provided by those memorandums.
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The UNFICYP was established by the Security Council in 1964, and its mandate had been extended by subsequent Council resolutions. On 23 December 1997, Council resolution 1146 (1997) extended UNFICYP until 30 June. Its mandate is to try to prevent a recurrence of fighting and contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and a return to normal conditions, through, inter alia, maintaining the military status quo and undertaking humanitarian and economic activities.
UNOMIG
The report on financing the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) (document A/52/770) contains the Mission's financial performance report for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, for which the Assembly had appropriated $17.1 million gross ($16 million net). Expenditures had totalled $15.9 million gross ($15.1 million net), resulting in an unencumbered balance of almost $1.2 million gross ($882,000 net). The balance resulted from military and civilian vacancies, as well as voluntary in-kind contributions by the Government of Switzerland.
The Secretary-General asks the General Assembly to set off against the unencumbered balance the cost of additional expenditures from the period from 13 January to 30 June 1996 amounting to $334,300 gross ($265,300 net). He further asks that it decide on the treatment of the unencumbered balance of $818,300 gross ($616,700 net).
In another report on the financing of UNOMIG (document A/52/787), the Secretary-General asks the General Assembly to appropriate $18.4 million gross ($17.5 million net) to maintain the Mission for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999. He asks that the amount be assessed at it a monthly rate of $1.5 million gross (just under $1.5 million net), subject to extension of the mandate of the Mission by the Security Council beyond 31 July 1998.
On a full-cost basis, the budget estimate -- which provides for a strength of 135 military observers and 157 civilian staff -- amounts to some $20.7 million gross ($19.8 million net), including in-kind voluntary contributions totalling about $2.3 million, the report states. This represents a 4 per cent increase over resources provided for the prior 12-month period, due mainly to increased requirements for civilian personnel, transportation and communications and other equipment.
In its related report on UNOMIG (document A/52/860/Add.2), the Advisory Committee concurs with the Secretary-General in setting off the additional expenditures of $334,300 gross ($265,300 net) against the unencumbered balance of $1.2 million for the period from 1 July 1996 through 30 June 1997. It also recommends that the resulting adjusted unencumbered balance of $818,300 gross ($616,700 net) be credited to Member States.
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Regarding the proposed budget for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, the Advisory Committee recommends approving the Secretary-General's request for appropriating some $18.4 million gross (about $17.5 million net) and assessing the amount at a monthly rate of $1.5 million gross (just under $1.5 million net), subject to UNOMIG's extension beyond 31 July 1998.
The UNOMIG was established by Security Council resolution 858 (1993) for an initial period of six months. Its mandate has been extended and revised by the Council in subsequent resolutions, the latest of which, resolution 1150 (1998), extended the Mission until 31 July 1998.
UNMOT
In the Secretary-General's financial performance report on the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) (document A/52/772), covering the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, he asks the General Assembly to credit Member States their respective shares of a balance of some $1.5 million gross ($1.3 million net) unencumbered from resources amounting to almost $7.5 million gross (almost $7 million net) provided for that period. The balance is largely due to vacancy rates for military observers and international civilian staff and the limited use of helicopter services. Those elements were reduced owing to two incidents in which military and civilian personnel were taken hostage. In response, UNMOT had delayed replacing military observers scheduled for deployment, and relocated much of its personnel to Uzbekistan from February through May 1997, resulting in reduced travel costs and allowances.
In his report on the revised 1997-1998 budget for UNMOT (document A/52/772/Add.1), the Secretary-General says his revised budget estimate for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 is almost $19.9 million gross (about $19 million net). His original estimate was about $8 million gross ($7.4 million net). The increase relates to the Council's decision -- through its resolution 1138 of 14 November 1997 -- to expand the Mission's mandate and extend it until 15 May.
The Secretary-General asks the General Assembly to appropriate and assess on Member States an additional $11.9 million gross ($11.5 million net) for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. That amount includes almost $9.5 million gross ($9.2 million net) authorized by the ACABQ for the period from 16 November 1997 to 31 March 1998.
In another report on UNMOT (document A/52/772/Add.2), the Secretary- General asks the Assembly to appropriate and assess some $22.3 million gross (close to $21 million net) for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, subject to the Council's extension of the Mission's mandate. The proposed budget provides for the maintenance of UNMOT, based on the expansion of its mandate, which accounts for an increase of 34 per cent in gross terms -- about
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$5.7 million -- over the revised budget for the previous year. The budget provides for a total of 120 military observers, two civilian police, 68 international staff and 143 locally recruited staff.
In its report (document A/52/817), the ACABQ states that there was room for reducing the 1997-1998 estimates further. For example, estimates regarding deployment of military observers could be lower because missions rarely implement the deployment schedule planned. Also, in view of delays in procurement of goods and services budgeted for the period ending on 30 June 1998, the ACABQ questions whether all the resources requested will be required during the remaining months of the financial period.
The cost of maintaining UNMOT for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 should not exceed $15 million gross, the report states. Taking into account the almost $8.3 million gross ($7.7 million net) already appropriated by the General Assembly, the ACABQ recommends the appropriation and assessment of some $6.7 million gross for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998.
Regarding the unencumbered balance of $1.5 million gross (1.3 million net) for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, the ACABQ says it will submit its comments and observations in the financial performance report on peacekeeping operations and cost estimates for the period from 1 July 1998 to 31 June 1999.
Another ACABQ report on UNMOT (document A/52/860/Add.8) recalls that the Secretary-General had recommended to the Council that UNMOT's mandate be extended for six months, until 15 November 1998. Should the Mission be extended beyond 15 May 1998, he adds, the cost of its maintenance would be limited to the original estimates of $22.3 million (gross) for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999. The Council had not taken a decision on the Mission's mandate by the time of the Advisory Committee's consideration.
The ACABQ points out that the report of the Secretary-General shows that there are still a number of unresolved issues that can affect the development of the Mission and on its resource requirements, including the security situation. It requests that the Secretary-General clarify those issues in his revised budget estimates for UNMOT.
Pending that, the ACABQ recommends that the Assembly appropriate and assess a total of $7.6 million (gross) for the maintenance of the Mission during the 12-month period, the report states. That figure is equivalent to $1.9 million (gross) per month for the period from 1 July to 31 October 1998. The recommendation is without prejudice to such position as the Committee may take on the Mission's requirements after receipt of the Secretary-General's report.
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The UNMOT was established in December 1994 to assist the Government of Tajikistan and the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) in the process of national reconciliation and the promotion of democracy by providing good offices and monitoring the ceasefire agreement. Its mandate and size was expanded by Council resolution 1138 (1997), to assist in the implementation of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan, signed on 27 June 1997.
UNMIBH
The Secretary-General's report on financing the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) (documents A/52/708 and Corr.1), includes the financial performance report of UNMIBH and the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP) for the period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. He asks the General Assembly to decide on the treatment of an unencumbered balance from that period of some $33 million gross ($30.7 million net). While about $151.3 million gross ($144.5 million net) had been appropriated, related expenditures had come to only $118.2 million gross ($113.7 million net).
The report explains that the primary reason for the balance was the delayed deployment of civilian staff, and the continued availability of supplies from the UNPF headquarters for maintaining the premises, providing parts for vehicles and other miscellaneous supplies, fewer operational vehicles than estimated and reduced utilization of satellite and commercial communications.
In another report (document A/52/786), the Secretary-General asks the Assembly to appropriate almost $190.9 million gross (about $181 million net) for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999. That amount would be assessed at a monthly rate of about $15.9 million gross ($15.1 million net), subject to the Council's extension of the Mission beyond 21 June 1998. The $191 million is to cover the maintenance of UNMIBH, including UNMOP, central support services to the operations in the former Yugoslavia, and the United Nations liaison offices at Belgrade and Zagreb.
The budget estimate represents an increase of about $1.8 million in gross terms compared to the previous budget, the report says. The increase pertains mainly to the inclusion of United Nations liaison offices at Belgrade and Zagreb and replacement of some transport, communications and electronic data-processing equipment. The increase was partially offset by a reconfiguration of UNMIBH's air support and reductions in premises/ accommodation, communications, spare parts and miscellaneous supplies costs.
In its related report on the financing of UNMIBH (document A/52/860/Add.3), the Advisory Committee believes that the unencumbered balance of some $33 million gross (about $30.7 million net) from allocations for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 should be credited to Member States.
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Regarding cost estimates for the Mission for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, the Advisory Committee recommends that the requirements should not exceed $180 million gross, $10.9 million less than the amount recommended by the Secretary-General. Part of that determination is due to the high vacancy rates which tend to affect the financial implications of which (in other budget areas, such as transport) are not reflected accurately in budget projections.
The UNMIBH was established in 1995 to assist in providing a safe environment for all persons, in part by maintaining civilian law enforcement agencies in accordance with international standards. By resolution 1144 (1997), the Council extended UNMIBH's mandate until 21 June. By resolution 1147 (1998), the Council authorized UNMOP -- consisting of military observers in the Prevlaka peninsula -- to continue monitoring the peninsula's demilitarization until 15 July 1998. Although an independent mission, for administrative and budgetary purposes, UNMOP is treated as part of UNMIBH, as are the liaison offices. The provision of central support services to peacekeeping missions in the former Yugoslavia was transferred from the former UNPF headquarters to UNMIBH as at 1 July 1997.
UNTAES
In his report on financing the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) (document A/52/722), the Secretary-General asks the General Assembly to decide on the treatment of an unencumbered balance of $15.9 million gross ($13.2 million net) for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. While almost $281 million gross (some $272.2 million net) had been appropriated for that period, expenditures only came to about $265.1 million gross ($259 million net). The difference resulted largely from delayed deployment of military and civilian personnel, availability of rent-free accommodation, supplies provided by UNPF headquarters and the operation of fewer vehicles than estimated.
The Security Council terminated the mandate of UNTAES on 15 January 1998 and established the Civilian Police Support Group with a mandate limited to a single nine-month period, from 16 January to 15 October 1998.
Another report on UNTAES (document A/52/801) contains the revised budget for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. The revised budget -- some $139.2 million gross (about $133.3 million net) -- includes voluntary contributions in kind amounting to $297,500, consists of about $112.1 million gross (about $107.9 million net) for the maintenance of UNTAES, about $17.4 million gross (about $16.4 million net) for its liquidation and almost $9.7 million gross (about $9.1 million net) for the maintenance of the Civilian Police Support Group.
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Also, the report contains the budget for maintaining the Support Group from 1 July to 15 October 1998 and its liquidation thereafter. The budget comes to $7.1 million gross (just over $6.6 million net) consisting of about $5.6 million gross (just under $5.2 million net) for its maintenance and about $1.5 million gross (approximately $1.4 million net) for its liquidation.
According to the report, the action to be taken by the General Assembly includes the following: reducing the original appropriation and the amount assessed for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 to some $138.9 million gross (just over $133 million net); appropriating and assessing some $7.1 million gross (about $6.6 million net) for the maintenance and liquidation of the Support Group for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999; and deciding to use the special account established for UNTAES for the Support Group.
In its related report (document A/52/859), the ACABQ recommends that the unencumbered balance of $15.9 million gross for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 be credited to Member States.
The ACABQ recommends that the estimate of $138.9 million gross be reduced by $4.1 million to $134.8 million as follows: resources for liquidating UNTAES from 16 January to 30 June 1998 should be reduced from $17.4 million gross to $15 million gross; and requirements for the Support Group for the same period should be reduced from $9.7 million gross to $8 million gross. In addition, the ACABQ recommends that the Assembly appropriate $7.1 million gross for the maintenance and liquidation of the Support Group from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999.
UNPREDEP
A report of the Secretary-General on the financial performance of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) (document A/52/768) for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 states that an amount of some $51.7 million gross (about $50.2 million net) was appropriated by the General Assembly for the maintenance of the mission for the period. Related expenditures amount to about $50.4 million gross (around $49.6 million net), resulting in an unencumbered balance of some $1.3 million gross ($560,300 net). The unencumbered balance, the report states, resulted primarily from lower deployment of civilian staff, availability of supplies from the UNPF headquarters and greater reliance on the United Nations-owned communications network.
Another report of the Secretary-General contains the budget for the maintenance of UNPREDEP for the period from period from 1 July to 31 August 1998 (document A/52/805), which amounts some $15.7 million gross (about $15.5 million net) and for its liquidation thereafter in the amount of some $6.6 million gross (about $6.3 million net). The action to be taken by the General
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Assembly includes the appropriation and assessment of the amount of about $22.3 million gross ($21.8 million net) for the maintenance and liquidation of the Force for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999.
In its related report on UNPREDEP (document A/52/860/Add.1), the Advisory Committee recommends that the unencumbered balance of $1.3 million gross be credited to Member States in a manner to be determined by the General Assembly. In part because it considers the civilian structure of the mission during the period from October to December 1998 to be too heavy, the Advisory Committee recommends that the Assembly appropriate an amount of $20 million gross for the maintenance and subsequent liquidation of the Force for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999.
By its resolution 795 (1992) of 11 December 1992, the Security Council authorized the deployment of a United Nations presence in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. By its resolution 983 (1995) of 31 March 1995, the Security Council decided that the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) should be known as UNPREDEP. In its resolution 1142 (1997) of 4 December 1997, the Council decided to extend the mandate of UNPREDEP for a final period terminating on 31 August 1998, with the withdrawal of the military component immediately thereafter.
Administrative and Budgetary Aspects of Peacekeeping Operations
The Brindisi Logistics Base is strategically central to United Nations peacekeeping operations missions, with the majority of current field missions being located within 5,000 kilometres of it. Furthermore, the location offers spacious warehouses, direct access to an airfield capable of handling the largest transport aircraft, proximity to a deep seaport and immediate access to technical services that may be needed to logistics operations. The Base has been operating since late 1994 under a rent-free arrangement with the Italian Government. The Secretary-General's report on the management of peacekeeping assets (document A/51/957) describes the field assets control system in detail and introduces his plan to develop a comprehensive field mission logistics system, which will provide specific records and controls for expendable and non-expendable property. The latter are those that are worth $1,500 or more at the time of purchase and with a serviceable life of five years. The assets control system will use the Organization's communications, data storage and transmission facilities to track assets' conditions and manage spare parts.
Included in the report is the Secretary-General's request for the Assembly to endorse the implementation of the system and approve four posts (one P-4, two P-3 and one General Service) to be paid for from the support account for peacekeeping operations. Annexed to the report are charts showing how the system's components would be linked through the United Nations telecommunication facilities.
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In its report (document A/52/407), the ACABQ says that the Secretary- General had not submitted an adequate cost-benefit analysis on the Base in his earlier report (document A/51/905). The ACABQ, therefore, reiterates its original request for such an analysis, which had been endorsed by the General Assembly.
The Advisory Committee states that it has no objection to the funding policy proposed by the Secretary-General. Resources required would specifically maintain core capability allowing the Base to fulfil essential functions, handling rapid surges of activity through the provision of temporary additional resources drawn from the budgets of the closing or new missions involved. For start-up kit matériel, the budget of the new mission would be charged the full cost of replacing the matériel issued as new procurement. For non-start-up kit matériel, a mission's liquidation budget would be charged the cost of refurbishment and preservation. The General Assembly is requested to approve the inclusion of a provision for the cost of repair, refurbishment and preservation equal to 30 per cent of the total depreciated value of the equipment to be transferred to the Base.
The Secretary-General's proposal to establish 44 posts -- 23 international civilian staff and 21 local staff, increasing by 11 the number for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 -- should be reviewed in future in the light of the volume of operations at the Base, the report states.
The General Assembly should approve the budget of $14.5 million gross ($14 million net) for the Base for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 and to prorate the amount among active peacekeeping operation budgets, taking into account ACABQ comments on achieving economies, according to the text. The Secretary-General should consider and propose different sources of financing, and look into other self-financing mechanisms besides those already proposed for start-up kits and refurbishment. Also, he should explore the possibility of expanding use of the Base by other agencies and programmes, and include that information in his next report.
In the section of the report on the management of peacekeeping assets, the ACABQ says it does not object to the Secretary-General's request for four support account posts (one P-4, two P-3 and 1 General Service) so long as they are met from redeployment. It concurs with the actions the Secretary-General has asked of the Assembly, such as the endorsement of the proposals for developing and implementing the field mission logistics system. A field assets control system was to be finalized and deployed by 31 December 1998, according to that report, after which the balance of the logistics system would be developed and deployed through 1999.
The ACABQ recommends that the Secretary-General be requested to indicate, in the context of his next submission on the support account, the impact of
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the development of the system on the efficiency and productivity of the various peacekeeping missions.
The Committee also had before it the financial performance report of the Logistic Base, for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 (document A/52/810).
In its resolution 52/1 of 15 October 1997, the General Assembly had taken note of the budget proposed for that period, amounting to almost $7.9 million gross (some $7.4 million net), the report states. Resources amounting to almost $7.4 million had been provided on an ad hoc basis from appropriations for current peacekeeping operations for the same period.
Expenditures for the Base had totalled some $5.4 million, resulting in an unencumbered balance of $2 million, the report says. That balance had been related to premises, transport operations, and miscellaneous supplies and services, and was partially offset by additional requirements for other equipment. The Secretary-General says the Assembly should decide to apply the unencumbered balance of just over $2 million to the resources required for the Base for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999.
The report of the ACABQ (document A/52/897) contains recommendations on the financial performance report for the Base for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. In that regard, the Advisory Committee recommends acceptance of the Secretary-General's proposal to apply the unencumbered balance of some $2 million to the resources required for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999.
The Advisory Committee also recommends approval of the cost estimates proposed by the Secretary-General amounting to some $7.1 million for the period 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, including the amount of $829,900 to complete the start-up kits. The Committee also recommends that after applying the unencumbered balance of some $2 million, the resulting balance of $5.1 million be prorated among individual active peacekeeping budgets.
Also before the Committee was a note of the Secretary-General on development of the field assets control system and the field mission logistics system (document A/C.5/52/49). The note states that although the Assembly endorsed the development and deployment of the field assets control system, it did not take any action on the related request for the four support account- funded posts at Headquarters for this purpose. Since the Field Administration and Logistics Division has not had the capability to support further implementation and maintenance, it has not been possible to install the system as originally envisaged. If the additional posts are approved and staff recruited, it is anticipated that the system can be installed in the remaining field missions within a period of 12 months.
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It is also anticipated that the remaining modules of the field mission logistics system could be developed and deployed by the end of 1999, based on the assumption that additional support account-funded staffing resources are authorized.
A note by the Secretary-General on death and disability benefits (document A/C.5/52/37) states that the information contained in its annex is submitted pursuant to Assembly resolution 51/239 A of 17 June 1997, in which the Assembly noted that as at 19 May 1997 a backlog of 564 death and disability claims awaited processing, and requested the Secretary-General to submit to the Assembly quarterly written reports on the progress made in clearing the backlog. The present text constitutes the second such quarterly report.
The annex attached to the note indicates the total number of claims received from troop-contributing countries as at 31 December 1997, identifying the number of claims received since 19 May 1997 -- 121 -- by country and by peacekeeping operation. It also presents a comparison of the total number of incidents of death and disability reported by peacekeeping operations -- 4,602 -- and the related number of claims submitted to the Secretariat -- 1,068.
The annex to the third quarterly report of the Secretary- General (document A/C.5/52/50) indicates the total number of claims received from troop-contributing countries as at 31 March 1998, identifying the number of claims received since 19 May 1997 -- 423. While the total number of incidents of death and disability reported by peacekeeping operations -- 4,602 -- remains unchanged, the related number of claims submitted to the Secretariat now stands at 1,370.
Budgetary
The Secretary-General's report on proposed requirements of each peacekeeping operation for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 (document A/C.5/52/44) states that the budgetary requirements for United Nations peacekeeping operations come to about $958 million for that period. The amount includes prorated provisions for the support account for peacekeeping operations, as well as provisions for the Brindisi Base. The figure takes into account reductions resulting from reduced requirements for UNTAES, offset by additional requirements for UNMOT, MINURSO, United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH), UNIFIL, UNOMIG and UNMIBH. The estimated figure was originally put at some $875.6 million, then later increased to about $1 billion to factor in the unanticipated needs of MONUA.
A note by the Secretary-General contains, in an annex, the proposed budgetary requirements of all current peacekeeping operation for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 (document A/C.5/52/52). The annex includes prorated provision for the support account for peacekeeping operations for the
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period, as well as estimated requirements for the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi.
The total amount, almost $826 million, excludes possible budgetary requirements for Sierra Leone for the period, should the Council decide to authorize its establishment as a full-fledged mission in the near future. The total amount indicated also excludes provision for additional requirements for the UNPF. The budgetary information is submitted twice yearly pursuant to section I, paragraph 8, of Assembly resolution 29/233 A of 23 December 1994.
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