ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGETARY COMMITTEE TAKES UP FINANCING OF UNITED NATIONS MISSIONS IN HAITI

Press Release
GA/AB/3286

ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGETARY COMMITTEE TAKES UP FINANCING OF UNITED NATIONS MISSIONS IN HAITI

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this morning to take up the financing of United Nations missions in Haiti.

It had before it reports of the Secretary-General and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) proposing budgets for the United Nations Support Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH), the United Nations Transition Mission in Haiti (UNTMIH), and the United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH).

The budget requirements for MIPONUH were first prepared with a view to its liquidation. However, in light of the Security Council's subsequent decision to extend MIPONUH's mandate until 30 November 1999, by resolution 1212 (1998), Secretary-General Kofi Annan revised the budget. The new estimate covers maintaining the Mission at a strength of 300 civilian police monitors, 74 international and 133 local staff, and 17 United Nations Volunteers until 30 November 1999. Then, over the next seven months, the Mission will be liquidated.

This morning, the ACABQ Chairman, C.S.M. Mselle, introduced that body's report on MIPONUH's budget for July 1998 through June 1999 (document A/53/846). He recommended that the General Assembly appropriate and assess some $12.3 million gross (about $11.6 million net), in addition to the $17.7 million gross (close to $17 million net) already appropriated and assessed under Assembly resolution 52/246.

Mr. Mselle commended the Secretary-General for the report's streamlined format, which responded to previous Advisory Committee recommendations on peacekeeping financing reports. Regarding MIPONUH, he recommended that contractors' functions be reviewed to see if they could be handled by Mission personnel. The ACABQ also suggested a review of travel between Headquarters and the Mission area, which it deemed excessive.

Fifth Committee - 2 - Press Release GA/AB/3286

49th Meeting (AM) 15 March 1999

The Secretary-General's earlier report on financing operations in Haiti, dated April 1998 (document A/52/869) put the budget for 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 at some $18.5 million gross (around $17.8 million net). After revising the estimates for MIPONUH in light of the Mission's extension, he submitted a second report in January 1999 (document A/53/789). In it, he proposed a new figure of close to $30 million gross ($28.6 million net), asking the Assembly to appropriate and assess about $12.3 million gross (some $11.6 million net), in addition to the $17.7 million previously appropriated.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 16 March, to consider its agenda item on improving the United Nations financial situation. The Under-Secretary-General for Management, Joseph Connor, will address the Committee.

* *** *