COST OF FINANCING 12 ACTIVE PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS FOR 1999-2000 WOULD COME TO SOME $623.6 MILLION GROSS, BY FIFTH COMMITTEE TEXTS
Press Release
GA/AB/3299
COST OF FINANCING 12 ACTIVE PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS FOR 1999-2000 WOULD COME TO SOME $623.6 MILLION GROSS, BY FIFTH COMMITTEE TEXTS
19990527 Committee Votes Twice on Text Related to UNIFILThe cost of financing 12 active peacekeeping missions for 1999-2000 would come to some $623.6 million gross, according to drafts approved by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this morning. That amount would include $31 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations and $6.1 million for the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy.
Two votes were held this morning on a draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). First, the Committee decided to include the first preambular paragraph and operative paragraphs 2, 3, 10 and 11, by a vote of 84 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 46 abstentions. [For details of the vote, see Annex I.]
[Those paragraphs mention Assembly resolutions 51/233 of 13 June 1997, and 52/237 of 26 June 1998, in which the Assembly decided that Israel should pay the costs resulting from the 1996 incident at UNIFIL headquarters in Qana, Lebanon.]
The Committee then approved the text as a whole by a vote of 132 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 2 abstentions (Iran and Uzbekistan). [See Annex II.]
The representatives of the United States, Germany (for the European Union and associated States), Guyana (for the "Group of 77" developing countries and China), Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Australia (for Canada and New Zealand), Israel, Japan and Uzbekistan spoke.
In other action, the Committee took note of a document by the Secretary- General containing the amounts to be appropriated in respect of each peacekeeping mission, including the prorated share of the support account and the Brindisi Base. The Director of the Peacekeeping Financing Division, Department of Management, made a technical correction.
Fifth Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
For the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000, the Assembly would appropriate the following amounts, in estimated gross terms:
-- United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP): $45.6 million;
-- United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF): $35.4 million;
-- United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL): $148.9 million;
-- United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA): $7.4 million;
-- United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM): $54 million;
-- United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA): $33.4 million;
-- United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO): $52.1 million;
-- United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH): $18.6 million;
-- United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG): $31 million;
-- United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT): $18.7 million;
-- United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH): $178.2 million; and
-- United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP): $183,730.
The representatives of Syria and Iran spoke on the draft on UNDOF; the representative of Cyprus spoke on the draft on UNFICYP.
The Committee also approved a draft on the support account for peacekeeping operations, which covers the cost of "backstopping" activities at Headquarters that assist in the planning, implementation and liquidation of peacekeeping operations in the field. For the upcoming 12-month period, the Assembly would approve 400 support account-funded temporary posts and an amount of $34.9 million for post and non-post requirements. Also, it would endorse the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) that six additional posts for the rapidly deployable mission headquarters be accommodated through redeployment.
The representatives of Germany (for the European Union) and Cuba spoke. The representatives of Canada (also for Australia and New Zealand) and the United States reserved their right to speak in the plenary.
Fifth Committee - 1b - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
By a draft on financing the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, the Assembly would approve cost estimates for the Base amounting to $7.5 million for 1999-2000 and authorize the Secretary-General to provide for a civilian establishment consisting of 10 Professional, 10 Field Service and 83 locally recruited staff.
In other action, the Committee decided to recommend that the Assembly appoint Marsha Echlos (United States) as member of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal for a term to end on 31 December 2001. Also, it recommended that Jose Ramon Sanchis Munoz (Argentina) be appointed to the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) until December 2002.
After two rounds of balloting to fill a vacant post of Vice-Chairman for the International Civil Service Commission, the Committee recommended the appointment of Eugeniusz Wyzner (Poland).
Also this morning, the Committee considered management irregularities causing financial losses to the Organization, with the Assistant Secretary- General for Human Resources Management, Rafiah Salim, answering questions posed at earlier meetings.
Drafts were introduced this morning by the Committee's Chairman and three Vice-Chairmen, (respectively from Armenia, Australia, Bahamas and Cote d'Ivoire), and by the representatives of the Republic of Korea, Canada, Japan, Poland and Cyprus.
The Committee will meet at 3 p.m. tomorrow, 28 May, to take action on the remaining items on its agenda.
Fifth Committee Work Programme
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this morning to take action on drafts on the financing and/or liquidation of specific peacekeeping operations, and to act on appointments to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other vacancies. Also, it was to consider reports on management irregularities causing financial losses to the Organization.
(For reports on management irregularities, see Press Release GA/AB/3288 of 19 March.)
Financing Peacekeeping Operations
For the most part, at the time of the meeting, the draft resolutions before the Committee did not contain amounts to be appropriated. However, those amounts were contained in an annex to a note by the Secretary-General on administrative and budgetary aspects of financing peacekeeping operations (document A/C.5/53/62), made available at the meeting.
The annex shows the amounts to be apportioned in respect of each peacekeeping mission, including the prorated share of the support account and of the Logistics Base at Brindisi. Total appropriations for 12 missions for 1999-2000, including prorated shares of $31 million for the support account and almost $6.1 million for the Base, would come to some $623.6 million gross (about $596.2 million net).
The rounded-off amounts per mission are as follows:
UNFICYP: Gross total (net total): $45.6 million ($43.9 million) Support Account: $2.3 million Brindisi Base: $445,268
UNDOF: Gross total (net total): $35.4 million ($34.6 million) Support Account: $1.8 million Brindisi Base: $344,900
UNIFIL: Gross total (net total): $148.9 million ($144.9 million) Support Account: $7.4 million Brindisi Base: $1.5 million
MONUA: Gross total (net total): $7.4 million ($7.1 million) Support Account: $369,153 Brindisi Base: $73,387
Fifth Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
UNIKOM: Gross total (net total): $54 million ($52 million) Support Account: $2.7 million Brindisi Base: $526,779
MINURCA: Gross total (net total): $33.4 million ($32.6 million) Support Account: $1.7 million Brindisi Base: $325,435
MINURSO: Gross total (net total): $52.1 million ($48.2 million) Support Account: $2.6 million Brindisi Base: $508,530
MIPONUH: Gross total (net total): $18.6 million ($17.6 million) Support Account: $927,537 Brindisi Base: $181,879
UNOMIG: Gross total (net total): $31 million ($29.5 million) Support Account: $1.5 million Brindisi Base: $302,320
UNMOT: Gross total (net total): $18.7 million ($17.5 million) Support Account: $930,639 Brindisi Base: $182,487
UNMIBH: Gross total (net total): $178.2 million ($168.2 million) Support Account: $8.9 million Brindisi Base: $1.7 million
UNPREDEP: Gross total (net total): $183,730 ($166,330) Support Account: $9,305 Brindisi Base: $1,825
TOTAL Gross (Net): $623.6 million ($596.2 million) Support Account: $31 million Brindisi Base: $6.1 million
Fifth Committee - 4 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Subsidiary Organs and Other Appointments
In his note on the appointment of members of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal (document A/53/105/Add.1), the Secretary-General states that in connection with the resignation of Deborah Taylor Ashford (United States), the General Assembly would be required to appoint, at its current session, a person to serve as a member of the Tribunal for the remainder of the term of office which expires on 31 December 2001.
A note by the Secretary-General on appointment of a member of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) (document A/53/106.Add.1) states that in connection with the death of Carlos S. Vegega (Argentina), the General Assembly would be required to appoint, at its current session, a person to serve as a member of the Commission for the remainder of the term of office which expires on 31 December 2002. The Assembly would also be required to appoint a person to serve as Vice-Chairman of the Commission for that same period.
In another note on the ICSC appointment (document A/C.5/53/10/Add.2), the Secretary-General states that the Government of Argentina has nominated Jose Ramon Sanchis Munoz to fill the vacancy. The candidate's curriculum vitae is contained in the annex to the document.
In the third note on the appointment of members of the ICSC and designation of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Commission (document A/C.5/53/10/Add.3), the Secretary-General states that the Governments of Argentina, Germany and Poland have put forth the candidatures of Jose Sanchis Munoz, Wolfgang Stockl and Eugeniusz Wyzner, respectively, for the position of Vice-Chairman of the International Civil Service Commission. The annex to the document provides curricula vitae of the candidates.
Action on Appointments
United Nations Administrative Tribunal
The Committee decided, by acclamation, to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of Marsha Echlos as a member of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal, beginning on the date of the appointment by the General Assembly until 31 December 2001.
International Civil Service Commission
The Committee decided, by acclamation, to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of José Ramon Sanchis Muñoz, as a member of the ICSC, beginning on the date of the appointment by the General Assembly until 31 December 2002.
Fifth Committee - 5 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
Election of Vice-Chairmen of ICSC
MOVSES ABELIAN (Armenia), the Chairman of the Committee, informed the delegates that the election to fill a vacant post of Vice-Chairman for the ICSC was being held in accordance with article 2 of the Statute and Rules of Procedure of the Commission. The three candidates for the position were José Ramon Sanchis Muñoz of Argentina, Wolfgang Stockl of Germany and Eugeniusz Wyzner of Poland.
The results of the voting were as follows:
Number of ballots cast 153 Invalid ballots 0 Valid ballots 153 Abstentions 1 Number of delegations voting 152 Required majority 77
José Ramon Sanchis Muñoz (Argentina) 45 Wolfgang Stockl (Germany) 44 Eugeniusz Wyzner (Poland) 63
Since none of the candidates had obtained the required majority, a second round of balloting was held.
The results of the second round were as follows:
Number of ballots cast 149 Invalid ballots 1 Valid ballots 148 Abstentions 2 Number of delegations voting 146 Required majority 74
José Ramon Sanchis Muñoz (Argentina) 54 Eugeniusz Wyzner (Poland) 92
The Committee recommended to the General Assembly to appoint Mr. Wyzner.
Action on Draft Texts
The Committee first took up a draft resolution on the Support Account for Peacekeeping Operations (document A/C.5/53/L.67). By that text, the General Assembly would approve 400 support account-funded temporary posts for the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000. It would also endorse the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) that the six additional posts for the rapidly deployable
Fifth Committee - 6 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
mission headquarters should be accommodated through redeployment within the existing support account established throughout the Secretariat and approve the support account post and non-post requirements for the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000 in the amount of $34.9 million.
Expressing regret that a comprehensive review of a rapidly deployable mission headquarters as requested in its resolution 53/12 has not been carried out, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to make the comprehensive review available before the report on the support account for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 is submitted.
The Assembly would further decide to apply the unencumbered balance of $3.9 million for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 to the resources required for the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000 and to appropriate the balance of just over $31 million to be prorated among the individual active peacekeeping operation budgets, to meet the financing requirements of the support account for the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000.
SHARON BRENNEN-HAYLOCK (Bahamas), Vice-Chairman of the Committee, introduced the draft and read out changes to it.
The Committee then approved the draft without a vote, as orally amended.
The representative of Germany spoke on the text for the European Union. The resolution was of great importance; it had immediate impact on peacekeepers in the field. It provided sufficient resources to the Secretary- General to support backstopping activities in support of missions in the field. Through the text, the rapidly deployable mission headquarters could now be fully established, and he welcomed that this was to be done without reducing military and civilian police components within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. To allow the resolution to be adopted, a provision was included to request the Secretary-General to revise his report on the support account budget [in the orally amended operative paragraph 27]. As a matter of principle, the Assembly ought not to redraft any report submitted to it.
Cuba's representative said it set a bad precedent, regarding the Committee's dynamics and desired pace, that some delegations had challenged the Committee's mandate to amend documents and reports of the Secretary- General, in particular those referring to budgets. Her delegation had devoted due attention to the wording of operative paragraph 23 of the draft, and was eagerly awaiting the results of the Secretary-General's consideration of the functions to be performed by the rapidly deployable mission headquarters.
Canada's representative, speaking also for Australia and New Zealand, reserved the right to speak in the Assembly.
Fifth Committee - 7 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
The representative of the United States did the same.
The Committee then took up a draft resolution on financing the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy (document A/C.5/53/L.63). By the text, the Assembly would approve the cost estimates for the Base amounting to some $7.5 million for the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000. It would apply the unencumbered balance of some $1.4 million, remaining from the 1997- 1998 period to that amount, and prorate the balance of some $6.1 million among the individual active peacekeeping operations budgets.
Also, the Assembly would authorize the Secretary-General to provide for a civilian establishment consisting of 10 Professional, 10 Field Service and 83 locally recruited staff. It would urge the ICSC to finalize its review of the rate of post adjustment for the Base and report before the end of the Assembly's fifty-fourth regular session.
Mr. ABELIAN, Committee Chairman, drew attention to the draft, which the Committee approved without a vote
The CHAIRMAN said that in view of the adoption of the draft resolutions on the support account and on the Logistics Base at Brindisi, he would draw the Committee's attention to the note by the Secretary-General (document A/C.5/53/62), which contained the amounts to be apportioned in respect of each peacekeeping mission, including the prorated share of the support account and of the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi. He proposed that the Committee take note of the amounts as set out in the table annexed to the Secretary-General's note.
YEO BOK CHENG, Director of Peacekeeping Financing Division, orally revised the text.
The Committee took note of the document.
The CHAIRMAN asked the Secretariat to add the appropriate amounts to the related draft texts.
The Committee then took up a resolution on administrative and budgetary aspects of financing United Nations peacekeeping operations (document A/C.5/53/L.62). That text would have the Assembly endorse the observations and recommendations of the ACABQ in its report A/53/895.
It would request the Secretary-General to conduct the review recommended in paragraph 41 of that report, in consultation with Member States and through established mechanisms. [That review would be of the obligation of missions to return contingent-owned equipment to troop-contributing counties, even if the equipment is obsolete.] By other terms, the Assembly would request that in his next report on the support account, the Secretary-General include
Fifth Committee - 8 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
information on the implications of the implementation of the review recommended in paragraph 48 of the report of the ACABQ [which states that in view of the new procedures for the settlement of claims relating to contingent-owned equipment and death and disability, the Secretariat should review the need to continue the suspension of regulations 4.3 and 4.4 of the Financial Regulations and report to the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session].
MILES ARMITAGE, Vice-Chairman of the Committee (Australia) introduced the draft resolution.
The Committee approved the text without a vote.
The Committee next took up a draft resolution on financing the United Nations Disengagement Force (document A/C.5/53/L.56). By that text the Assembly would appropriate some $35.4 million gross (about $34.6 million net) for maintaining the Force for the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000, inclusive of $1.8 million for the support account and $344,900 for the Brindisi Base.
MANLAN AHOUNOU, Vice-Chairman of the Committee (Cote d'Ivoire) introduced the draft.
The Committee approved the draft without a vote.
Syria's representative said his delegation had strong reservations on the draft text. International law committed the aggressor country to bear the costs of the results of its aggression, so Israel had to bear those costs, since its aggression was the reason behind the establishment of the Force. Israel was refusing to withdraw from the territory as mandated by the Security Council and in contradiction with the principles of gaining land by force. Thirty-two years had elapsed since the Israeli aggression, it was still occupying Arab territories, challenging the decisions of the Assembly and the Council, not recognizing the rights of the owners and defying the will of the international community.
Paragraph 7 of the draft referred to the staff working conditions, he said. The Secretariat should take into account the difficult living and working conditions suffered by local staff since the Force had moved in 1994 from Damascus to Camp Faouar. He was confident the Secretary-General would improve those working conditions. The continued success of the Force required good working conditions for all staff members to perform their duties. His delegation would be following the matter. He then made a correction to the Arabic text in paragraph 7.
Fifth Committee - 9 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
The representative of Iran agreed that expenses arising from the Force should be fully borne by the aggressor, Israel, which had created the situation. That was his delegation's position in principle.
The Committee then turned to a draft resolution on financing the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) (document A/C.5/53/L.58). That text would have the Assembly appropriate some $148.9 million gross (about $144.9 million net) for maintaining the Force from 1 July 1999 through 30 June 2000, including $7.4 million for the support account and $1.5 million for the Brindisi Base.
Also, it would revise the amount of the commitment authority granted in its resolution 51/233 in connection with the costs resulting from the incident at Qana on 18 April 1996 and, correspondingly, the amount to be borne by Israel -- as decided in paragraph 8 of that resolution -- from almost $1.8 million to some $1.3 million. Also, it would reiterate its request to the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure the full implementation of paragraph 8.
The representative of the United States said the use of a resolution on funding to pursue claims from a Member State was not correct. He would speak in the Assembly. He asked for a single, general recorded vote on preambular paragraph 1 -- which referred to General Assembly resolutions that had not been adopted by consensus -- and on operative paragraphs 2, 3, 10 and 11.
The Committee voted to retain those paragraphs by a vote of 84 in favour, to two against (Israel, United States), with 46 abstentions. (See Annex I.)
The United States representative said his delegation could not support the draft and asked for a recorded vote on the text as a whole.
The Committee voted to approve the draft by a vote of 132 in favour to two against (Israel, United States), with two abstentions (Iran, Uzbekistan). (See Annex II.)
Germany's representative, on behalf of the European Union, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Iceland, recalled that the position of the Union on the financial aspects of the United Nations costs related to the Qana incident of 18 April 1996 was based on the following elements: the costs resulting from the incident were of a special kind; an appeal to have the costs financed through voluntary contributions would be welcome; the costs should be kept in the budget; and the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations should continue to be a collective responsibility.
Fifth Committee - 10 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
The European Union had abstained on preambular paragraph 1 and operative paragraphs 2, 3, 10 and 11 of the draft because it considered the text inappropriate in the context of the resolution dealing with the financing of UNIFIL. The broader political aspects of the events, including the incident at Qana, had been debated in the General Assembly in 1996, resulting in resolution 50/22C. The Union had made its position on the broader political aspects clear in its plenary statement at the time and in its voting on that resolution. As in past years, the Union would have wished that consultations in the Fifth Committee could have been confined to the budgetary aspects.
The representative of Guyana, for the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, supported UNIFIL's mandate and thanked delegations that had supported the draft just approved, which had been submitted by the Group of 77 and China for the third year. It was a matter of concern that the Assembly had once again had to adopt provisions similar to the past two years on the financing of UNIFIL. The Secretary-General and the relevant parties should implement the provisions of the draft just approved.
Lebanon's representative said the resolution on the financing of UNIFIL confirmed that it was for the occupying State -- Israel -- to fulfil its obligations and responsibilities under international law. Lebanon's position was based on the need for the aggressor State to assume full responsibility for its acts of aggression, particulary since that aggression was deliberate and directed against the United Nations. One hundred and six civilians had been killed at Qana.
Lebanon believed in the principle of collective responsibility and was firmly committed to that principle, he said. However, it did not wish to create a precedent, where a State could carry out aggression against an active duty station of the United Nations, kill civilians seeking refuge there and then have Member States assume the costs of the damage. Lebanon believed that the fact that Israeli occupation was being pursued in part of its southern territory and that Israel was not implementing the relevant resolution was the cause of the violence in the south, and the reason that the international force and civilians continued to experience problems from the daily acts of aggression by Israel. Israel must be subject to international law and implement Security Council resolution 425 (1968) and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly.
The representative of Iran said that the resolution contained some good elements. The territorial integrity of States should be respected. However, it had been violated in the case of Lebanon by Israel, and that violation required the United Nations presence there. His delegation believed that all costs in connection with the Mission should be fully borne by the aggressor.
The representative of Syria said that his delegation supported the statements by Lebanon and Guyana on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. By
Fifth Committee - 11 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
adopting the draft, the Fifth Committee had reaffirmed the responsibility of Israel to assume the costs of its systematic terrorist attack on the United Nations headquarters at Qana in April of 1996, which had been condemned by the United Nations, and resolutions had been adopted on the incident. The attack had added to the record of Israel, which was replete with crime.
He said that the fact that Israel was ignoring General Assembly resolutions 51/233 and 52/237, which had determined its responsibility, should not pass with impunity. The very credibility of the United Nations required that it ensured the implementation of the resolutions. His delegation had full confidence in the Secretary-General to ensure that the contents of the resolutions were implemented and would monitor the development of the situation. He hoped that the next performance report on UNIFIL would reflect the implementation of the resolutions.
The terrorist attack against the UNIFIL headquarters had been accompanied by bloodshed and destruction, he continued, and today innocent Lebanese lives were still being endangered. Israel was using the logic of force, and Syria was convinced that the approval of today's draft was a triumph of the logic of peace.
The representative of Australia, speaking also on behalf of Canada and New Zealand, said that he approved the continuation of financing of UNIFIL and regretted that consensus had not been possible. His delegation had abstained in the vote on the paragraphs of the draft, and he regretted that the voted paragraphs had undermined the principle of collective responsibility. He also urged all the countries to pay their assessed contributions to UNIFIL without delay.
The representative of Israel said that his delegation would make a statement on the draft in the plenary. However, the political accusations made by Lebanon, Syria and Iran at today's meeting were not encouraging.
The representative of Japan said that his delegation had voted in favour of the draft as a whole to ensure the continuation of financing of peacekeeping operations, including UNIFIL. He regretted that a consensus had not been reached and that a vote had been necessary.
The Committee then turned to a draft on financing the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III) and the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) (document A/C.5/53/L.64). It would have the Assembly appropriate some $7.4 million gross (about $7.1 million net) for liquidating the Observer Mission from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000. That amount would include $369,153 for the support account and $73,387 for the Brindisi Base.
Fifth Committee - 12 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
The Assembly would also express concern that the Secretary-General had not reported before the second part of the resumed fifty-third session on the status of implementation of measures taken or initiated to address the issues, observations and recommendations contained in the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, and request the Secretary-General to submit that report no later than 30 June 1999.
In connection with the draft, which had been submitted by him following informal consultations on the item, the CHAIRMAN said he wanted to convey the understanding reached during informal consultations that it was the desire of the Committee to consider the report called for in operative paragraph 7 during the main part of the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly.
The Committee approved the draft without a vote.
The Committee then turned its attention to a draft on financing the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) (document A/C.5/53/L.60). That text would have the Assembly appropriate $54 million gross (some $52 million net) for maintaining the Mission during the 1999-2000 period, inclusive of $2.7 million for the support account and $526,779 for the Brindisi Base. A two-thirds share of that amount would be funded through voluntary contributions from the Government of Kuwait, subject to the Security Council's decision on whether to continue the Mission.
PARK HAE-YUN (Republic of Korea), introducing the draft, which had been submitted on behalf of the Chairman, said the text had been adopted by consensus during the informal consultations and he proposed it be adopted without a vote in the Committee.
The Committee approved the draft without a vote.
The Committee then took up a draft resolution on financing the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) (document A/C.5/53/L.61). That text puts the amount to be appropriated by the Assembly for the 1999-2000 period at roughly $52.1 million gross (some $48.2 million net), inclusive of $2.6 million for the support account and $508,530 for the Brindisi Base.
Introducing the text, which had been submitted on behalf of the Chairman, GABRIELLE DUSHNER (Canada) said that consensus on the text had been achieved in the informal consultations.
The draft was approved without a vote.
The Committee next took up a draft resolution on financing and liquidating the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (document A/C.5/53/L.52). By that text, the Assembly would request the Secretary- General to provide an updated report for the period from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 1997 on losses of United Nations property in peacekeeping operations, and to ensure the safety of United Nations assets and the need to have accountability procedures in place to deter and penalize those responsible for losses of United Nations property and to report thereon to the Assembly's fifty-fourth session.
Fifth Committee - 13 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
MILES ARRMITAGE, Vice-Chairman of the Committee, drew attention to the draft, which the Committee then approved without a vote.
Through the terms of the next draft, on financing the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) (document A/C.5/53/L.59), the Assembly would decide to appropriate some $45.6 million gross (about $43.9 million net) for maintaining the Force from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000, inclusive of $2.3 million for the support account and $445,268 for the Brindisi Base.
Introducing the draft, which had been submitted on behalf of the Chairman, JUICHI TAKAHARA (Japan) said that consensus on the text had been reached during informal consultations. He recommended that the Committee approve it without a vote.
The representative of Cyprus said that his delegation wanted to express appreciation to the delegation of Japan which had coordinated the consultations on the matter. Cyprus was pleased that a consensus had been reached and was especially indebted to the troop-contributing countries and the peacekeepers themselves. He also wanted to note that his Government shared the burden of financing the Mission.
The Committee approved the draft without a vote.
Returning to the draft on UNIFIL, the representative of Uzbekistan said he wanted to clarify that his delegation had abstained in the vote on the first preambular paragraph and operative paragraphs 2, 3, 10 and 11 of the draft, and that it had voted in favour on the entire resolution. He wanted that information to be recorded.
JAN JAREMCZUK (Poland) then introduced a draft on Financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) (document A/C.5/53/L.54), which the Committee approved without a vote.
By the terms of that text, the Assembly would appropriate an additional $290,200 gross ($485,200 net) for maintaining the mission from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, in addition to the almost $18.6 million gross already appropriated. For the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000, the Assembly would appropriate some $31 million gross (about $29.5 million net), including $1.5 million for the Support Account and $302,320 for the Brindisi Base.
Fifth Committee - 14 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
The CHAIRMAN then drew the Committee's attention to a text on Financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) (document A/C.5/53/L.53). By its terms, the Assembly would decide, as an ad hoc arrangement, to apportion an additional $3.8 million gross (some $3.7 million net) for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. It would note the Secretary-General's report on the final disposition of the Mission's assets; reiterate that all such reports should contain detailed information on and justification of written-off and lost items; and ask the Board of Auditors to conduct an audit of the final disposition of assets of the Observer Mission, in particular of sold and written-off assets, and to include its recommendations in its report for July 1998 to June 1999.
The Committee approved the text without a vote.
The Committee next took up a draft resolution on Financing of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) (document A/C.5/53/L.55). By its terms, the Assembly would appropriate $18.7 million gross (some $17.5 million net) for maintaining the Mission from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000, including $930,639 for the support account and $182,487 for the Brindisi Base.
The CHAIRMAN drew attention to operative paragraph 9 of the text. The amount of $1,370,000 estimated for the estimated staff assessment income should read $1,233,000, he said.
The Committee approved the draft without a vote.
The Committee then took up a draft resolution on Financing the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) (document A/C.5/53/L.48). By that text, the Assembly would appropriate $178.2 million gross ($168.2 million net) for maintaining the Mission from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000, inclusive of $8.9 million for the Support Account and $1.7 million for the Brindisi Base.
Mr. JAREMCZUK (Poland) introduced the draft. Despite negative outside opinion about the Fifth Committee's work, he said, informal consultations had demonstrated that delegates were able to work swiftly and productively.
The Committee approved the draft without a vote.
The Committee then took up a draft resolution on Financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) and the Civilian Police Support Group (document A/C.5/53/L.49).
The draft would have the Assembly authorize the Secretary-General to utilize $601,200 gross ($541,500 net) from the resources provided for the period ending 30 June 1998 to meet the cost of completing the mission's
Fifth Committee - 15 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
liquidation and the final audit. Member States that had fulfilled their financial obligations would be credited their respective share in the unencumbered balance of some $14.7 million gross (roughly $13.9 million net) for that period.
Mr. JAREMCZUK (Poland) introduced the draft, which the Committee approved without a vote.
The Committee then turned to a draft resolution on Financing the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) (document A/C.5/53/L.65). The draft would have the Assembly appropriate some $183,730 gross ($166,330 net) for liquidating the Force from 1 July 1999 to 15 October 1999, including $9,305 for the Support Account and $1,825 for the Brindisi Base.
For the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, the Assembly would reduce its appropriation to $43.1 million gross ($42 million net) from the amount it had already approved -- $50.1 million gross ($48.8 million net).
The Committee approved the draft without a vote.
Mr. AHOUNOU (Cote d'Ivoire), Committee Vice-Chairman, then introduced a draft on Financing United Nations Missions in Haiti (document A/C.5/53/L.50). That text would have the Assembly appropriate $18.6 million ($17.6 million net) for maintaining and liquidating the Civilian Police Mission from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000. That amount would include some $927,537 for the Support Account and about $181,879 for the Brindisi Base.
The Committee approved the text without a vote.
Mr. THEOPHYLACTOU (Cyprus) introduced a text on Financing the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA) (document A/C.5/53/L.51), which the Committee approved without a vote.
That text would have the Assembly ask the Board of Auditors to audit the final disposition of assets of the Observer Group, in particular that of sold and written-off assets, and include its recommendations in the audit report for July 1998 to June 1999. Shares of an unencumbered $184,200 gross ($140,500 net) would be credited to States without remaining financial obligations to the Mission and offset against owed amounts for those who owed funds.
The Committee then took up a draft resolution on Financing the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) (document A/C.5/53/L.66). By the draft, the Assembly would appropriate a bit over $34.3 million gross ($33.9 million net) for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, in addition to the amounts already appropriated. For operation and liquidation during the 1999-2000 period, it would appropriate $33.4
Fifth Committee - 16 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
million gross ($32.6 million net), including $1.7 million for the Support Account and $325,435 for the Brindisi Base.
The CHAIRMAN drew the Committee's attention to the draft, which was then approved without a vote.
The CHAIRMAN then drew attention to a draft decision on Financing the United Nations Protection Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNPROFOR), United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO), United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) and United Nations Peace Headquarters; United Nations Mission in Haiti; and United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) (document A/C.5/53/L.57).
Among its provisions, the Secretary-General would be requested to take all necessary action to address the outstanding issues in connection with the preparation of the related final performance information.
The Committee approved the draft without a vote.
Consideration of Review of Efficiency and Human Resources Management
RAFIAH SALIM, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management, responded to questions asked previously in formal and informal meetings regarding management irregularities. To questions on implementation of recommendations contained in the expert group report (document A/49/418), she said a number of initiatives in procurement, finances and human resources had been taken by the Secretary-General since that report. Many had now been adopted and institutionalized.
Regarding accountability, she said that the new performance appraisal system was underlying the change to a new performance-based culture. One of the primary recommendations of the expert group was with respect to training managers and especially administrators participating in peacekeeping missions. Over the past two years, specialized training programmes had been conducted by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Office of Human Resources Management, among other initiatives.
To questions on disciplinary measures imposed on staff, she said she had a breakdown of the final disciplinary decisions taken since 1994 by type of penalty, which interested delegations could see. Since 1994, there had been 48 summary dismissals, some for fraud, others for assault and other inappropriate behaviour. There had been 20 dismissals, six demotions, eight reprimands and five loss of step increments. Cases were ongoing.
Regarding the fraudulent activities investigated by the Office of Internal Oversight Offices, and the supervisor of the perpetrator of the fraud, she said the investigation had not represented a comprehensive review
Fifth Committee - 17 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
of the manager's overall supervisory performance. Due process must be considered. Management had taken action to strengthen internal controls and ensure that such activities were not repeated.
Along with herself, the Department of Management and the Office of the Deputy Secretary-General acknowledged the concerns underlying the questions, she said. The Organization had means to identify and prosecute fraudulent activities but it lacked clear procedures for handling certain cases, in which it had a "hit or miss" record of action. The matter was now being considered at the highest level, and proposals were being developed which would eventually be reported to the Assembly, particularly as some recommendations might require changes to existing rules. The administration was committed to ensuring that effective mechanisms were developed and put in place.
Other Matters
TAMMAM SULAIMAN (Syria) said that he was extremely dissatisfied because the Secretariat had ignored his request last week in connection with the parking regulations. He hoped to receive an answer on the matter in informals tomorrow.
(annexes follow)
Fifth Committee - 18 - Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
ANNEX I
Vote on Preambular and Operative Paragraphs of UNIFIL Text
The first preambular paragraph and operative paragraphs 2, 3, 10 and 11 of the draft text on the financing of UNIFIL (document A/C.5/53/L.58) were approved by a recorded vote of 84 in favour to two against, with 46 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Against: Israel, United States.
Abstain: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay.
Absent: Albania, Bahamas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Central African Republic, Comoros, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Niger, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Spain, Swaziland, Togo, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia, Zambia.
(END OF ANNEX I)
Fifth Committee 19 Press Release GA/AB/3299 62nd Meeting (AM) 27 May 1999
ANNEX II
Vote on UNIFIL Text
The draft resolution on the financing of UNIFIL as a whole (document A/C.5/53/L.58) was approved by a recorded vote of 132 in favour to two against, with two abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Against: Israel, United States.
Abstain: Iran, Uzbekistan.
Absent: Bahamas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Niger, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Spain, Swaziland, Togo, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia, Zambia.
* *** *