FIFTH COMMITTEE APPROVES TEXTS ON UNITED NATIONS MISSIONS IN SIERRA LEONE, UNT"T, SUPPORT ACCOUNT, RATE OF ASSESSMENT FOR KIRIBATI, NAURU AND TONGA

Press Release
GA/AB/3355

FIFTH COMMITTEE APPROVES TEXTS ON UNITED NATIONS MISSIONS IN SIERRA LEONE, UNTAET, SUPPORT ACCOUNT, RATE OF ASSESSMENT FOR KIRIBATI, NAURU AND TONGA

The United Nations Missions in Sierra Leone would have some $200 million for 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000, by the terms of a draft resolution approved by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this afternoon, when it met to take action on a number of issues including peacekeeping financing and the United Nations scale of assessments.

This amount would be for the maintenance of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) and for the establishment of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) -- the Mission established by the Security Council in October which will take over from UNOMSIL. The draft resolution was introduced by Park Hae-Yun (Republic of Korea) and approved without a vote.

The Committee also approved draft resolutions on the financing of the United Nations Transition Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), on the level of the peacekeeping support account, and on the rate of assessment for three new Member States -- Kiribati, Nauru and Tonga -- and the report of the Committee on Contributions.

Two draft decisions were also approved, recommending to the Assembly texts on an exemption from Charter Article 19 sanctions for Georgia, and on the continuation of consideration of the scale of assessments at the first resumed session of the fifty-fourth Assembly.

By the terms of the draft resolution on financing UNTAET, the Assembly would authorize the Secretary-General to enter into commitments not exceeding $200 million, pending consideration of a comprehensive report on that Mission, which it would ask the Secretary-General to submit as a matter of priority. This draft, approved without a vote, was introduced by Ahmed H. Darwish (Egypt).

An additional 67 temporary posts would be funded from the peacekeeping support account, by the terms of another draft, submitted to the Committee by Dulce Buergo Rodriguez (Cuba) and approved without a vote. Additional posts were requested because of the increase in peacekeeping and related activities (with the establishment of UNTAET, of UNAMSIL and of the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK) since the initial request for resources to provide backstopping for missions was made.

Fifth Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/AB/3355 49th Meeting (PM) 21 December 1999

Frank Smyth (Ireland) introduced two draft decisions and one draft resolution on the scale of assessments for apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations, and all three were approved without a vote. According to one draft decision, Georgia would be allowed to keep its vote in the General Assembly until June 2000, despite the level of its arrears.

A decision proposed by the Committee Chairman, Penny Wensley (Australia) on revised estimates for expenditure for special political missions, notably the Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East, was postponed following disagreement about the wording of the proposed draft.

The representatives of India, Israel and Syria also addressed the Committee.

Committee Work Programme

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this afternoon to take action on draft resolutions and decisions on the scale of assessments for the apportionment of United Nations expenditures, on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), and on the financing of the peacekeeping support account. It also planned to continue its consideration of revised budget estimates related to special political missions and of the programme budget implications of a draft resolution on the Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries.

The Committee had before it a draft resolution on aspects of the scale of assessment for the apportionment of United Nations expenses (document A/C.5/54/L.28). By the terms of the draft Section A, the Assembly would decide that the rates of assessment on new Member States Kiribati, Nauru and Tonga should be 0.001 per cent of the United Nations budget for 1999 and 2000. It would decide that for 1999 their assessment would be calculated at one-twelfth of the annual rate per calendar month. The Assembly would decide that their 1999 assessments would be accounted as miscellaneous income, that for 2000 they should be added to the scale, and that their advances should be added to the Working Capital Fund pending incorporation into a 100 per cent scale.

Section B of the draft would have the Assembly decide that the Committee on Contributions should not further consider the questions covered in paragraph 69,70,73 and 74 on its annual report [relating to ways to link peacekeeping reimbursement and financing to payment of assessed contributions], and ask it to further consider measures to encourage full, timely and unconditional payment of assessed contributions.

Under terms in Section C of the draft, the Assembly would urge all Member States to pay their dues in full, on time and without conditions. It would reaffirm its role, and the advisory role of the Committee on Contributions, in the provisions of Article 19 of the Charter. It would also urge Member States seeking exemptions from Article 19 sanctions to provide all necessary information to prove that failure to pay was due to conditions beyond its control, and decide that all requests for exemptions must be submitted to the Assembly President at least two weeks prior to the Committee on Contributions session.

By the terms of a draft decision on scale of assessments and Georgia (document A/C.5/54/L.29), the Assembly would decide that Georgia was permitted to vote in the United Nations until 30 June 2000 [and therefore exempt from the sanctions applying for overdue assessments under Charter Article 19) and decide also that, should Georgia require a further exemption beyond 30 June, it should submit its request to the Assembly President at least two weeks before the Committee on Contributions session.

By terms of another draft decision, also on scale of assessments (document A/C.5/54/L.30), the Assembly would decide to continue considering the scale as a priority at the first part of its resumed fifty-fourth session. It would also decide to approve, at that first part, a methodology to instruct the Committee on Contributions to recommend a scale for 2001-2003 to the fifty-fifth Assembly session.

Another draft, on the financing of UNAMSIL, was before the Committee (document A/C.5/54/L.33). By its terms, the Assembly would decide to appropriate some $200 million gross (about $197.77 million net) for the maintenance of UNOMSIL and the establishment of UNAMSIL for 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000, including the $52.97 million previously authorized by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). It would decide, as an ad hoc arrangement, to apportion some $161.67 million among Member States for 1 July 1999 to 21 April 2000, and to apportion some $38.33 million, at some $16.67 per month, from 21 April should the Missions mandate be extended.

It would decide to continue to use the special account set up for UNAMSIL, beginning 22 October 1999.

Noting the status of outstanding contributions, the Assembly would express appreciation for those Member States that had paid their assessment and urge others to make every effort to pay in full and on time. It would ask the Secretary- General to report on the experience of using resident auditors in peacekeeping missions to the Assembly. Noting that a mine clearance technical assistance mission will be undertaken, it would request that the necessary funding for this be made available.

The Assembly would endorse the view of the ACABQ, and decide to keep the financing of the Mission under review during its fifty-fourth session.

By the terms of a draft resolution on the support account for peacekeeping operations (document A/C.5/54/L.32), the Assembly would approve 67 additional support account-funded temporary posts for 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000, and authorize the Secretary-General to enter commitments up to some $3.50 million for additional staff costs. Noting the Secretary-General's report concerning the revised posts, it would endorse the observations and recommendations on it from the ACABQ. It would also ask the Secretary-General to fully implement paragraph 11 observations from the ACABQ report. [In its report, the ACABQ states it expects that full justification for the requirements of all support account posts will be provided in comprehensive annual proposals on the total requirements for all departments backstopping peacekeeping operations, due in spring 2000. It also asked for workload indicators, adding that, in this regard, a database should be established and maintained for each unit.]

By other terms, the Assembly would note that backstopping activities require ongoing reviews taking peacekeeping trends into account, and affirm the need for adequate funding of backstopping. It would reaffirm that all expenses including backstopping costs should be borne by Member States, and that the Secretary-General should ask for adequate funding to maintain the Department of Peacekeeping Operations' capacity.

The Committee also had a draft on the financing of the UNTAET before it (document A/C.5/54/L.34). By its terms, the Assembly would authorize the Secretary-General to enter into commitments not exceeding $200 million, including the $50 million previously authorized by the ACABQ. It would decide, as an ad hoc arrangement, to apportion that $200 million among Member States. It would also ask the Secretary-General to establish a special account for the Mission.

It would express concern about the financial situation regarding peacekeeping, in particular its effect on the reimbursement of troop-contributing countries, and urge all Member States to pay their assessed contributions to UNTAET in full and on time.

It would endorse the observations and recommendations in the ACABQ's report, and ask that all necessary action to ensure maximum efficiency and economy in the Mission's administration, and that local staff continue to be recruited against General Service posts to reduce costs.

It would ask the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the financing of UNTAET to the Assembly as a matter of priority, to enable it to take action at the first part of its resumed session, and decide to keep the financing of the Mission under review.

The Committee also had before it a statement submitted by the Secretary- General on the programme budget implications of a draft resolution on the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (document A/C.5/54/43).

The statement says that should the General Assembly adopt this resolution, additional provisions would be required over and above the resources included in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001, as follows: $616,400 under section 11A and $30,000 under section 26. These provisions would represent a charge against the contingency fund and as such would require a related additional appropriation.

The cost of the participation of two government representatives from each least developed country in the two preparatory committee meetings and the Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries itself would be met from extrabudgetary resources, according to the statement . These requirements are estimated at some $1.16 million for the meetings of the preparatory committee and $500,500 for the Conference. Should extrabudgetary resources be insufficient, the Secretary-General understands that he would be authorized to use the remainder of resources approved in Assembly resolution 53/3 for one-time funding of the expenses of experts attending meetings convened by the commissions of the Trade and Development Board.

Also before it was a related letter from the Chairman of the Committee on Conferences (document A/C.5/54/44) advising that, as the Secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is in Geneva, and the draft resolution on the least developed countries conference envisages two preparatory meetings in New York, an exemption to Assembly resolution 40/243 is required.

In related comments from the ACABQ (document A/54/675), that body notes that any additional costs resulting from a change of venue of the Conference from Geneva (where the Conference is to be held, under the established headquarters principle) to Brussels would be borne by the host country or, in this particular instance, the European Union.

Moreover, the holding of the meeting of the intergovernmental preparatory committee in New York would constitute an exception to section I, paragraph 4, of General Assembly resolution 40/243 of 18 December 1985, which stipulates that United Nations bodies shall plan to meet at their respective established headquarters, which in this case is Geneva.

The Secretary-General, in his statement, elaborates only one option for funding travel of representatives of Least Developed Countries to the UNCTAD Conference, the ACABQ advises, but that option may entail some difficulties, as the activities outlined in the draft are not covered in the Assembly mandate for the use of the funds mentioned. Under the circumstances, the General Assembly may wish to consider approving the use of savings from the programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999. Alternatively, the General Assembly may wish to make provision in the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001.

The ACABQ recommends that the Fifth Committee inform the General Assembly that, should it adopt the draft resolution, additional provisions would be required over and above the resources included in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001, as follows: $616,400 under section 11A and $30,000 under section 26. Under the procedures established by the General Assembly, these provisions would represent a charge against the contingency fund. Moreover, depending on the action the General Assembly may take regarding funding of travel for Least Developed Country representatives, there may be an additional charge against the contingency fund.

[For background on the scale of assessments, dealing with the Committee on Contributions see Press Release GA/AB/3314 of 18 October. On other aspects of the scale, notably for peacekeeping related to Kiribati, Nauru and Tonga see Press Release GA/AB/3351 of 10 December. For background on the financing of the support account, of UNAMSIL, and of UNTAET, see Press Release GA/AB/3353 of 15 December. For background on the revised estimates for peacekeeping operations and special missions, and on the programme budget implications of a draft resolution on the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries, see Press Release GA/AB/3354 of 17 December].

Action on Texts before Committee

The Committee first took up the draft resolution on financing the United Nations Missions in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL and UNAMSIL).

PARK HAE-YUN (Republic of Korea) introduced the text, which was then approved by the Committee without a vote.

The Committee then turned its attention to consideration of proposed revised estimates under section 3, Political affairs and section 5, Peacekeeping operations, and special missions related to the financing of the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Middle East.

The representative of Israel asked that a decision on this matter be deferred in order to allow for further consultations for about half an hour.

The Committee Chairman, PENNY WENSLEY (Australia), agreed to this.

The Committee then turned to its consideration of the scale of assessments for the apportionment of United Nations expenses.

The draft resolution on aspects of the scale of assessment -- covering the assessment on new Member States, the Committee on Contributions and aspects of applications for exemptions from Article 19 sanctions, was introduced by FRANK SMYTH (Ireland). He said that the full names of the new Member States were included in the draft resolution approved in informal consultations, although not in the published draft, and he suggested the full names be used in the draft resolution that was to be recommended to the Assembly.

Mr. SMYTH (Ireland) also introduced the draft decision on Georgia and the scale of assessments, and the draft decision to continue consideration of the scale of assessments at the first part of the resumed fifty-fourth General Assembly session.

The Committee then approved the draft resolution and the two draft decisions without a vote.

The representative of India, speaking in explanation of position, said he had accepted the draft on the assumption that the correct names of the Member States would be included in the draft to be presented to the Assembly.

The Committee then turned to consideration of the financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). The related draft resolution was introduced by AHMED H. DARWISH (Egypt).

The draft resolution was then approved without a vote.

The Committee then returned to consideration of the revised estimates for the Special Coordinator’s Office, deferred earlier in the meeting.

The CHAIRMAN, proposed a draft decision as follows:

“The General Assembly,

“Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General contained in document A/C.5/54/40 on the revised estimates under section 3, Political affairs, and section 5, Peacekeeping operations and the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions thereon (A/54/7/Add.11);

“Approves the charge of total requirements of $3,755,800 against the provision proposed for special political missions under section 3, Political affairs, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001 in accordance with General Assembly resolution 53/206 and concurs that the related provision for the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem (UNSCO), already included in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001, be transferred from section 5 (Peacekeeping operations) to section 3 (Political affairs).”

The representative of Israel said that some words had been added to this draft decision. He regretted that the Secretariat had changed references to the areas previously referred to as the “Occupied Territories”. The fifty-third General Assembly decision on this matter had requested only that the Secretary- General continue to use the term in question where appropriate. It was not appropriate to this case. There was therefore no requirement to shift from the term “Occupied Territories”; the change was a gratuitous political act on the part of the Secretariat. The status of those territories would only be decided in the context of a final settlement between the sides, he said, and all agreements between Israel and the Palestinians said that the final status of the two territories should not be prejudged. He asked that the decision be postponed pending further instructions from his capital.

The representative of Syria said he agreed with the phrasing of the draft decision as it had been read to the Committee, and he requested that the Committee adopt the draft as it was at the current meeting.

The CHAIRMAN said she believed it was not possible to act without agreement, and she would hold urgent consultations on the matter after the adjournment of the meeting.

The Committee the turned its attention to the draft resolution on the peacekeeping support account.

The draft resolution on the support account was submitted by Dulce Buergo Rodriguez (Cuba) who, the CHAIRMAN explained, was not able to be at the meeting to introduce it. The CHAIRMAN therefore introduced it to the Committee.

The Committee then approved that draft resolution without a vote.

The CHAIRMAN explained that consideration of the programme budget implications of a draft resolution on the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries would be deferred until consideration of the budget was completed.

* *** *