FIFTH COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ASSEMBLY PROVIDE $1.67 BILLION FOR UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
Press Release
GA/AB/3380
FIFTH COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ASSEMBLY PROVIDE $1.67 BILLION FOR UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
20000602Concluding Work for Resumed 54th Session, Committee Approves 27 Draft Resolutions and Eight Draft Decisions; UNIFIL Draft Put to Vote
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) approved 27 draft resolutions and eight draft decisions on Friday evening and Saturday morning, at the final meeting of the four-week second part of its resumed fifty-fourth session. In keeping with established practice, this second part focused on financing and administration of peacekeeping activities.
The Committee recommended the Assembly provide some $1.67 billion in resources for United Nations missions around the world, including those operating in Georgia, the Middle East, Cyprus, East Timor, Western Sahara, Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in successor States to the former Yugoslavia.
Texts were also approved on the level of resources available to fund support activities for peacekeeping at United Nations Headquarters, on audits of peacekeeping operations and other aspects of their administration, as well as on other matters like financing for the Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries. These draft decisions and resolutions will now be passed to the General Assembly for adoption.
All but one of the drafts - that on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) - were approved without a vote.
By the draft on financing UNIFIL, which was approved following a vote of 99 in favour to 2 against (Israel and the United States), with no abstentions, the Assembly would again call for Israel to pay some $1.28 million for damage resulting from an Israeli assault on the UNIFIL base at Qana in southern Lebanon on 18 April 1996.
In addition to approving a budget for UNIFIL for 2000-2001 of some $146.83 million, the draft resolution would credit Member States with their share of the some $8.33 million that remains unspent from the missions 1998-1999 budget.
By another draft, the Committee recommended that the Secretary-General be provided a maximum of some $292.1 million for the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) to cover expenses for 1 July to 31 December 2000.
Fifth Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/AB/3380 74th Meeting (PM) 2 June 2000
For the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), it recommended authority be given to spend some $141.32 million for year ending 30 June 2001.
Commitments not exceeding some $220 million will be available for financing the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) from 1 July to 31 December 2000, if the Assembly adopts the Fifth Committee's recommendation on that Mission.
For the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), some $504.4 million was recommended to cover 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, and an extra $65.79 million, on top of $200 million previously approved, would be available for the year ending 30 June 2000.
Drafts were introduced by the representatives of Zimbabwe, India, Iran, Côte d'Ivoire, Norway, Poland, Cuba, Egypt, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, Singapore, and by the Committee Chairman, Penny Wensley (Australia). Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda jointly submitted a draft resolution on pattern of conferences - which the Committee was unable to approve.
The meeting, which started at 3 p.m. Friday and ended early Saturday morning, is the Committee's last scheduled meeting for the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly.
2
Fifth Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/AB/3380 74th Meeting (PM) 2 June 2000
Committee Work Programme
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this afternoon to take up draft resolutions and decisions on all outstanding matters on the agenda for its second resumed session.
The Committee had before it a draft resolution on financing the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)(document A/C.5/54/L.69). By its terms, the Assembly would express deep concern that Israel had not complied with previous Assembly resolutions on UNIFILs financing and stress again that it should strictly abide by those resolutions.
The Assembly would repeat its request to the Secretary-General to take necessary measures to ensure full implementation of the relevant resolutions and again stress that Israel must pay some $1.28 million as a result of the incident at Qana on 18 April 1996. It would ask the Secretary-General to report on this matter to its fifty-fifth session.
The Assembly would also appropriate for UNIFIL some $146.83 million gross ($141.89 million net) for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001. It would decide that the unencumbered balance of some $8.33 million gross (about $8.08 million net) for 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 would be set off against Member States obligations.
The Committee had before it a draft resolution on the financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors on peacekeeping operations (document A/C.5/54/L.58). By its terms, the Assembly would accept the audited financial statements and the report of the Board of Auditors on United Nations peacekeeping operations, approve all recommendations and conclusions in the Board of Auditors report, and endorse the observations and recommendations in the related Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) report. It would also take note of the Secretary-General's report on implementation of Board of Auditors recommendations for the period ending 30 June 1999.
A draft decision under the Assembly's agenda item on the review of United Nations administrative and financial functioning on the reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (document A/C.5/54/L.90) would have the Assembly take note of Oversight Office reports on the follow-up review of the programme and administrative practices of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), the follow-up of the 1996 review of programme and administrative practices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and on the audit of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Field Operations in Rwanda.
Before the Committee was a draft resolution on gratis personnel provided by governments (document A/C.5/54/L.81). By the terms of this text, the Assembly would decide to continue its consideration of gratis personnel at the main part of its fifty-fifth session.
By the terms of a draft decision on the relationship between perennial activities in the programme budget and the use of contingency fund (document A/C.5/54/L.84), the Assembly would defer consideration of that matter until its fifty-fifth session. The Committee had before it a draft decision on additional expenditures (document A/C.5/54/L.76) by which the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to keep it informed on issues pertaining to inflation and currency fluctuation in his budget performance reports.
Also before the Committee was a draft resolution on the analysis of the organizational structure and the personnel and technical resources of Non- Governmental Organizations Section of the United Nations Secretariat (document A/C.5/54/L.86). By its terms, the Assembly would endorse the observations and recommendations contained in the report of the ACABQ on the Section.
The Committee had before it a draft resolution on the review of resource requirements for the high-level international intergovernmental event on financing for development and the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (document A/C.5/54/L.82). By its terms, the Assembly would decide that, as a precautionary measure should sufficient extrabudgetary resources not be immediately available for financing the first Least Developed Countries Conference preparatory committee, use would be made on a provisional basis of the Contingency Fund, on the understanding that the Fund would be replenished by extrabudgetary resources as soon as they were available.
By other terms, the Assembly would decide to revert to the issue of the financing of the preparatory committee and the Conference itself at its fifty-fifth session.
The Assembly would also decide that travel expenses and subsistence allowances of members of the bureau of the Preparatory Committee for the High-Level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development would be met through the transfer of the unspent balance in the Trust Fund for Participation of Least Developed Countries in Intergovernmental Meetings to the Trust Fund for the Preparatory Committee for the High-Level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development.
Also before the Committee was a draft resolution on the pattern of conferences (document A/C.5/54/L.83), which was submitted by Kenya, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. By its terms, the Assembly would decide to authorize the Committee on Conferences to hold its 2000 substantive session at the United Nations Office at Nairobi. It would also decide to pay the travel and subsistence costs for one representative of each Member State on the Committee from New York to Nairobi to attend the session.
The Committee also had before it a draft resolution on financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) (document A/C.5/54/L.80). By its terms, the Assembly would decide to appropriate some $36.97 million gross ($35.92 million net) for the Force for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.
It would also decide that the unspent balance of some $1.74 million gross ($1.6 million net) for 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 be set off against Member States obligations, and that it would, in its current session, credit back to Member States some $4.02 million of the surplus of about $8.02 million held in the Forces suspense account.
Also before the Committee was a draft resolution on financing the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM) and the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) (document A/C.5/54/L.59).
By its terms, the General Assembly would decide to appropriate some $7.61 million gross (about $7.22 million net) for the liquidation of MONUA for 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000, in addition to the some $7.44 million already appropriated. It would also decide to appropriate $143,500 gross ($130,500 net) for the liquidation of MONUA for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, but that no action shall at present be taken on apportionment of this amount.
It would take note of the unencumbered balance of $149,500 gross and of the additional requirements of $787,600 net for 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, and decides to defer action on this until its review of final performance information on UNAVEM and MONUA.
It would ask the Secretary-General to present a more detailed explanation of amounts for reimbursement of contingent-owned equipment, including of the impact of retroactive application of new procedures for payment for such equipment for these missions, to be provided no later than its resumed fifty-fifth session.
The Assembly would endorse the conclusions and recommendations contained in the ACABQ report and ask the Secretary-General to fully implement them. It would also take note of the Office of Internal Oversight Services report into the $6.9 million procurement of quartering area goods in UNAVEM.
Under a draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) (document A/C.5/54/L.88), the Assembly would decide to appropriate some $52.71 million gross ($50.29 million net) for the Mission for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001. This would be apportioned in the usual fashion, taking the voluntary contribution of Kuwait, of two thirds of the costs, into account. Also bearing in mind Kuwait's voluntary payment, the unencumbered balance for 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 would be set off against Member States' obligations.
The Committee also had before it a draft decision on the financing of UNIKOM (document A/C.5/54/L.94). By its terms, the Assembly would decide to revert to the question of the payment of mission subsistence allowance during the main part of its fifty-fifth session.
By the terms of a draft resolution on financing the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) (document A/C.5/54/L.60), the Assembly would decide to reduce the appropriation authorized for MINURSO for 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 from $60 million gross (about $55.92 million net) to some $46.03 million gross (about $43 million net).
It would also decide to appropriate to the Special Account for the Mission some $49.32 million gross ($45.08 million net) for the Mission's maintenance for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.
It would endorse conclusions and recommendations in the ACABQ report and ask the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation.
Also before the Committee was a draft decision on the losses of United Nations property in peacekeeping operations (document A/C.5/54/L.75). By its terms, the Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General's report on losses of United Nations property in peacekeeping missions from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 1997, including accountability procedures to defer losses of United Nations property in peacekeeping operations, and concur with the observations and recommendations of the ACABQ.
Also before the Committee was a draft resolution on financing the United Nations Protection Force, the United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia, the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force and the United Nations Peace Forces headquarters (document A/C.5/54/L.61). By its terms, the Assembly would decide to authorize the Secretary-General to retain some $1.19 million gross ($963,300 net) from the approximately $1.2 million gross ($1.07 million net) recommended by the ACABQ from the unencumbered balance of some $3.47 million gross ($4.09 million net) for 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, to complete the liquidation of the mission. It would also decide to authorize the Secretary-General to retain some $179.9 million from the balance of appropriations of about $304.18 million to meet the cost of outstanding government claims.
The Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to present a more detailed explanation of the amounts required to reimburse contingent-owned equipment and the impact of retroactive application of new contingent-owned equipment procedures in a final report on the combined forces, and to reconsider the question at its fifty- fifth session
It would decide to suspend for the immediate future the relevant provisions of the financial regulations in respect of the remaining surplus of some $124.2 million to allow for reimbursements to troop contributors and in the light of the combined forces' cash shortage, and ask the Secretary-General for an update on this within one year. It would endorse the conclusions and recommendations contained in the ACABQ report and ask the Secretary-General to fully implement them.
By the terms of another draft resolution, on the financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) (document A/C.5/54/L.62). the General Assembly would decide to appropriate for UNFICYP some $43.42 million gross ($41.40 million net) for the mission's maintenance for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.
It would apportion that amount after accounting for voluntary contributions of one third of the cost of UNFICYP by the Government of Cyprus and the annual pledge of $6.5 million from Greece.
The Assembly would endorse the ACABQ's conclusions and recommendations and ask the Secretary-General to fully implement them.
It would also decide that respective shares of the unencumbered balance for the missions for 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 of $374,000 gross ($421,700 net) would be set off against Member States obligations.
By the terms of a draft resolution before the Committee on financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) (document A/C.5/54/L.63), the Assembly would decide to apportion the additional $290,200 gross ($485,200 net) already appropriated by the Assembly for the period ending 30 June 1998. It would also decide to appropriate an additional some $1.08 million gross (1.07 million net) Mission's maintenance for the period ending 30 June 1999, inclusive of the additional money approved for that period by the ACABQ.
The Assembly would decide to provide a budget of some $30.05 million gross ($28.29 million net) for the Mission's maintenance for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, and to endorse the recent conclusions and recommendations of the ACABQ on the Mission and call for their implementation.
According to another draft before the Committee, on financing the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) (document A/C.5/54/L.64), the Assembly would decide that the unencumbered balance of some $3.64 million gross (about $3.21 million net) for 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 be set off against Member States' obligations.
The Assembly would also endorse the conclusions and recommendations on this matter by the ACABQ and ask the Secretary-General to implement them.
Before the Committee was a draft resolution on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (document A/C.5/54/L.85). By the terms of the text, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to report in the 2001 budget of the Tribunal on actions taken or to be taken to improve the functioning of the Tribunal, including the recommendations of the Expert Group. It would also request the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the results of the implementation of the recommendations of the Expert Group at its fifty-sixth session.
The Committee had before it a draft resolution on financing the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (document A/C.5/54/L.73). By its terms, the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to transmit the report of the Expert Group to the Security Council for its consideration, together with his comments on it. It would also ask him to report, in his next Tribunal budget, on actions taken or planned to improve the functioning of the Tribunal, including those recommendations of the Expert Group that remain under review to the extent that they can be implemented.
The Secretary-General would also be asked to submit a comprehensive report on the results of the implementation of the Expert Groups recommendations to the fifty-sixth Assembly session. It would also confirm its previously approved appropriation for the Rwanda Tribunal.
A draft resolution before the Committee on financing of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) (document A/C.5/54/L.65) would have the Assembly decide to appropriate $158.71 million gross ($149.37 million net) for UNMIBH for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.
It would also decide to set off the unencumbered balance of about $19.64 million gross (about $17.81 million net) for the period ending 30 June 1999 against Member States' obligations.
The Committee had before it 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.5/54/L.66). By the terms of the text, the Assembly would decide that the unspent balance of $601,200 gross ($541,500 net) for 30 June 1998 and $263,160 gross ($359,960 net) for the period ending 30 June 1999 be offset against Member States obligations.
Also before the Committee was a draft resolution on financing the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP)(document A/C.5/54/L.67). By its terms, the Assembly would authorize the Secretary-General to retain $904,000, from an unspent balance of some $1.16 million gross (about $1.10 million net) for 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, to cover costs of outstanding claims from a government for rotation of its troops during the previous period. The unspent balance of $257,700 gross ($200,300 net) to 30 June 1999 would offset against Member States obligations.
The Committee had before it a draft resolution on financing the United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MICIVIH)(document A/C.5/54/L.70). By its terms, the Assembly would decide to offset the unspent balance of about $3.71 million gross (some $3.44 million net) for the period ending 30 June 1999 against Member States obligations.
Also before the Committee was a draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) (document A/C.5/54/L.74). By its terms, the Assembly would decide to appropriate some $7.73 million gross ($7.5 million net) for the maintenance and liquidation of the Mission to 30 June 2000, in addition to some $33.5 million gross ($32.6 net) already appropriated.
By other terms, the Assembly would decide to appropriate the amount of $119,726 gross ($106,147 net) for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, for liquidation activities for the Mission.
The Committee also had before it a draft resolution on financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) and the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)(document A/C.5/54/L.68). By its terms, the Assembly would reduce the amount authorized for UNOMSIL for the period commencing 13 July 1998 from $22 million gross (some $21.28 million net) to about $16.17 million gross (about $15.71 million net), and would extend the period covered by that apportionment to 30 June 1999.
The Assembly would decide to appropriate some $65.79 million gross (about $66.61 million net) for UNAMSIL for 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000, in addition to $200 million gross (about $197.77 million net) already appropriated.
By other terms, the Assembly would appropriate some $504.4 million gross ($496.54 million net) for UNAMSIL for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001. It would also decide to offset some $3.28 million gross (about $3.31 million net) in unspent balance for 13 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 against Member States obligations.
Also before the Committee was a draft resolution on the reformed procedures for determining reimbursement to Member States for contingent-owned equipment (document A/C.5/54/L.92). By the terms of the text, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to collect data from Member States regarding the recommendation of the Phase V Working Group on the cost of painting and repainting major equipment. It would also decide to convene, for at least 10 working days, a post- Phase V Working Group in January/February 2001, to review rates for major equipment, self-sustainment, medical support services and to include the appropriate expertise to conduct the vaccination cost review as recommended by that Working Group.
The Committee had before it a draft resolution on financing the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy (document A/C.5/54/L.71). By its terms, the Assembly would welcome recent positive developments in the use of the Base, especially in logistical support for launching large new missions. It would reiterate the need to implement, as a priority, an effective inventory management standard, especially for peacekeeping operations with high inventory value.
The Assembly would approve cost estimates for the Base of some $9.32 million gross ($8.49 million net) for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001. It would apply the unspent balance for 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 of $451,800, the interest income of $114,000 and miscellaneous income of some $1.17 million (about $1.73 million in total) to the resources required for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.
It would also decide to prorate the balance of about $7.59 million gross (about $6.48 million net) among the active peacekeeping operation budgets to meet financing requirements of the Base for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, and authorize the Secretary-General to provide for a civilian establishment consisting of 10 Professional, 13 Field Service and 83 locally recruited staff.
Also before the Committee was a draft resolution on the support account for peacekeeping operations (document A/C.5/54/L.87). By the terms of the text, the Assembly would decide to maintain for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 the funding mechanism for the support account used in the current period, from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000. It would approve the support account post and non-post requirements in the amount of $50.69 million gross ($43.23 million net) for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001. The Assembly would also decide to apply the unspent balance of $2.17 million from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, inclusive of the $601,000 in miscellaneous and interest income, and to prorate the balance of $48.52 million gross ($41.05 million net) among the individual active peacekeeping operation budgets, to meet the resources required for the support account for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.
A draft decision on the relocation of South Africa to a group of Member States to which a greater discount on their peacekeeping assessments applies (those specified in paragraph 3 (c) of General Assembly resolution 43/232) was also before the Committee (document A/C.5/54/L.72). By its terms, the Assembly would decide to defer a decision on this issue to its fifty-fifth session.
The Committee had before it a draft resolution on financing the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) (document A/C.5/54/L.77). By its terms, the Secretary-General would be authorized to enter into commitments not exceeding $220 million gross ($207.4 million net) for the Missions operation for 1 July to 31 December 2000. Also before the Committee was a draft resolution on financing of the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) (document A/C.5/54/L.78). By its terms, the Assembly would authorize the Secretary-General to enter into commitments not exceeding $292.1 million gross ($283.69 million net) for the missions operation for 1 July to 31 December 2000.
The Committee had before it a draft resolution on financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) (document A/C.5/54/L.79). By the terms of the text, the Assembly would decide to reduce its commitment authority of $200 million gross ($199.76 million net) for MONUC for 6 August 1999 to 30 June 2000 to $58.7 million gross ($58.44 million net). The Assembly would decide to authorize the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for MONUC for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 not exceeding some $141.32 million gross ($140.82 million net).
Also before the Committee was a draft decision recommending deferral of action on listed issues and documents (document A/C.5/54/L.93). By its terms, the Assembly would decide to defer consideration to its fifty-fifth session on issues of management irregularities causing financial losses to the Organization, improving the working methods of the Fifth Committee, United Nations security coordination, information technologies, reports of the Office of the Internal Oversight Services, and measures taken to improve procurement activities in the field.
Action on Texts before Committee
The Committee first took up the draft resolution, introduced by LOVEMORE MAZEMO (Zimbabwe), on the reports of the Board of Auditors on peacekeeping missions.
The draft was approved without a vote.
It then turned to the draft resolution on the use of gratis personnel, introduced by RAMESH CHANDRA (India).
The draft was approved without a vote.
The Committee then turned its attention to the draft decision on the treatment, for budgetary purposes, of perennial activities, introduced by MORTEZA MIRMOHAMMAD (Iran).
The draft was approved without a vote.
The Committee then turned its attention to the draft decision on additional expenses, also introduced by Mr. MIRMOHAMMAD (Iran).
The draft was approved without a vote.
The Committee then took up the draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), introduced by MANLAN AHOUNOU (Côte dIvoire). He explained that the Arabic text of the draft did not contain all the paragraphs Member States had reached consensus on. The Committee Chairman, PENNY WENSLEY (Australia), said a correction would be issued.
The draft was approved without a vote.
Speaking in explanation of position, the representative of Syria thanked the Chairman, the coordinator of the informal consultations on this matter, and Member States. Ensuring good working conditions for local employees of the mission was important in ensuring UNDOFs success. As a result of the transfer of the mission headquarters out of Damascus, the local employees had a special status when compared to those of other missions. Conditions had become more difficult so it was fitting that a bonus be paid to them in the form of a hardship allowance. He asked the Secretariat to continue dialogue with the local employees.
The Committee then turned its attention to the draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM) and the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA), introduced by ANNE MERCHAND (Norway).
The draft was approved without a vote.
A draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was submitted by Nigeria on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries and China. The resolution had been previously introduced in the Committee on 26 May.
Speaking prior to the decision, the representative of the United States said that although the United States supported UNIFIL, the use of a funding resolution to pursue claims against a Member State was not correct. He requested a formal vote be taken on preambular paragraph 1 and operative paragraphs 2,3 and 14 of the draft. He would make formal comments on the matter when the General Assembly discussed the draft.
In explanation of position before the decision, the representative of Israel said that on 5 May 2000 Israel had decided to withdraw its troops from Lebanon. As a result of this decision, such a withdrawal had now taken place -- swiftly and with restraint, despite provocation. Israeli forces were now inside the Israeli border.
Israel had frequently asked that this withdrawal take place in the context of a peace agreement, he said. Because calls for such an agreement had been rejected, Israel had made a unilateral decision. Its actions were in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolution on the issue, which also called for international peace and security and the return of Lebanese government authority in the area.
He looked forward to the implementation of the remaining aspects of the resolution. Israel hoped that UNIFIL would have the ability, the resources and the support of Member States to rise to the responsibilities the Council had placed on it. It accepted that Lebanon would fulfil its responsibility to ensure peace and security within its borders. International law forbade the use of a States territory for terrorist activities.
Israel was forced to vote against this resolution because it faulted Israel unfairly and entirely for an incident caused by terrorists using civilians as human shields, he said. It was the only resolution that called for one party to pay for damage that resulted from a clash. He regretted that the resolution was tarnished by the inclusion of the three paragraphs.
Israel had recently increased its peacekeeping responsibilities, he noted, adding that his delegation must vote against this resolution because of the confrontational words inserted in it by the Government of Lebanon. Israel had recently appealed to the Government and the people of Lebanon for the pursuit of peace to help create a better future for children from both Lebanon and Israel.
The representative of Lebanon said that it was a crime against humanity to commit a mass killing of more than 100 civilians. It was even a worse crime when the killing was done by intentionally bombing civilians in a United Nations peacekeeping shelter. It was inhumane to find an excuse to justify such a horrible crime, especially when the criminal was an aggressor, acting in defiance of international law and 22-year-old Security Council resolutions that asked Israel to end its occupation of Lebanon.
The crime had not been an accident -- it had been intentionally committed by Israel, he said. Israeli officials had demonstrated that it was their foreign policy by the words of Foreign Minister David Levy and his outrageous threat, a child for a child. Was more proof needed than that? he wondered. He referred to a 25 May article in the Boston Globe which recalled Israels brutality in Lebanon through the eyes of an Israeli soldier. The soldier recalled his first raid of Lebanon and spoke of Israels atrocities.
He reminded the representative of Israel that the definition of terrorism by international law was when a person terrorized or threatened to terrorize civilian targets. When Israel bombed Lebanese civilians and its infrastructure, and United Nations peacekeeping shelters, was it not a clear-cut example of State terrorism? he asked. Israels withdrawal from Lebanon showed that calm could come to the region by Israels complete withdrawal and compliance with resolutions.
The representative of Syria said that Israel tried to forget that it represented State terrorism practised everyday. What had been called a withdrawal was still not complete. Many crimes had been committed both against civilians and also against UNIFIL. Israel had purposely bombed the headquarters of the Force in April 1996, and the General Assembly had condemned the attack at the time.
Israel was trying to hide its terrorist activities, he said. It must respect the resolutions of the Assembly and the Council. He asked the representative of Lebanon to distribute his statement to all the members of the Committee so that they could understand the terrorism carried out by Israel.
The representative of Libya said that those who spoke of international law should comply with it. There was a distinction between a peoples struggle to regain territory and natural resources exploited by others, and aggressors. It was ridiculous that Israels representative should talk about terrorism, while the State he represented was entirely based on terrorism. Qana was but one example of this. He said he had heard words about international law from those who did not hesitate to send rockets into a United Nations camp -- to assassinate people and commit mass killings of people who had sought sanctuary in a place they thought was secure and safe. It was a place that was supposed to have been protected by international law.
Those who preached on terrorism should call on their own authorities to put an end to political assassinations and killings they were perpetrating, he said. The Middle East had not witnessed terrorism before Israels establishment. What was happening now was a legitimate struggle against an invader. It also provided another example of double standards at the United Nations. Tribunals had been established to prosecute those guilty of war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. While the trials they carried out were appropriate and right, there was no tribunal to prosecute Israel for its war crimes in Lebanon, Palestine and other Arab countries. He hoped that those that gave protection to Israel would allow Israel to be treated like all other States. He also hoped that the United Nations would develop a conscience that would work to unravel the hideous record of Israel in the field of human rights.
The Committee decided to retain the paragraphs in question by a vote of 59 in favour to 2 against (United States and Israel), with 40 abstentions.
The representative of the United States then said he was unable to support the draft resolution, and called for a recorded vote on the draft resolution itself.
The draft resolution was then approved by a vote of 99 in favour to 2 against (United States and Israel), with no abstentions.
Speaking in explanation of position after the vote, the representative of Nigeria, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, expressed concern that once again the Assembly had been obliged to adopt provisions similar to those adopted for the past three years on the financing of UNIFIL. He called on the Secretariat to implement all provisions of the draft resolution.
The representative of Australia, speaking also on behalf of Canada and New Zealand, said he was pleased that the continued financing of the mission had been approved, but concerned that consensus had again not proven possible. He was concerned that political elements -- in the paragraphs that were voted on -- were included in a financing resolution. They were inappropriate, and he had, therefore, abstained in the vote on them.
He noted that as of 30 April 2000, only 18 Member States had paid their assessed contributions to UNIFIL in full, and he urged all Member States to do so without delay.
The representative of Japan said that, having joined in the approval of the draft resolution as a whole, Japan had decided to vote favourably from the view point of its responsibility as a Member State to ensure the functioning of United Nations peacekeeping operations, including UNIFIL. Japan deeply regretted that it had not been approved by consensus, thereby forcing the Committee to vote. The representative of Lebanon said that the approval of the text on UNIFIL with the amendment asking Israel to pay for its crime of aggression was a matter of honour that decorated the chest of every Committee member and was a symbolic token of respect for the Lebanese civilians who had lost their lives. The Committee had demonstrated once again that financial collective responsibility went hand in hand with the responsibility for human lives and the sanctity of peacekeeping operations.
He congratulated the Committee on the draft resolution and hoped that it would be a lesson for any aggressor. The text represented a token of respect for a great job done by the peacekeeping troops for putting their lives on the line. The UNIFIL was another success story. Peacekeeping and national resistance had proven two fundamental prerequisites for liberation. Lebanon had full confidence in the Secretary-General to ensure that the contents of the text would be implemented.
The representative Portugal, speaking on behalf of the European Union, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta, Turkey, and Liechtenstein, said, in explanation of vote, that the Union recalled its position regarding the financial aspects of the United Nations costs related to the Qana incident. The costs resulting from the incident were of a specific kind, and an appeal to have the costs financed through voluntary contributions would have been welcome. Furthermore, the costs should have been kept in the budget, and the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations should continue to be a collective responsibility.
He said that the Union had abstained from the vote on preambular paragraph 1 and operative paragraphs 2, 3 and 14 of the draft resolution, because it considered the text as drafted inappropriate in the context of a draft resolution dealing with the financing of UNIFIL. The broader political aspects of the events, including the incident at Qana, had been debated in the Assembly in April 1996, resulting in resolution 50/22C. The Union had made its position on the broader political aspects clear at that time.
The Committee then turned its attention to the draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM), and the draft decision on the payment of mission subsistence allowance at that Mission, introduced by the Fifth Committees Rapporteur, JAN PIOTR JAREMCZUK (Poland). Mr. Jaremczuk explained that, as no consensus could be reached on the mission subsistence payment matter, a decision to defer its consideration was proposed.
Speaking in explanation of position before the decision, the representative of Kuwait said he had been unable to get answers to some of his questions on the mission subsistence payment, particularly from the Secretariat, due to lack of available time. In a spirit of cooperation, Kuwait had decided to support the draft decision. He would be following this matter closely, as a matter of principle, and would continue to seek answers to all questions he had raised.
Both texts were then approved without a vote.
The Committee then turned its attention to the draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), introduced by DULCE BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba). She explained that, as a result of a recent Security Council decision to extend the mandate of the Mission, the wording of the draft would have to be orally amended to reflect the new mandate.
Speaking in explanation of position before the decision, the representative of Mexico said that the representative of Cubas statement raised some questions regarding the Councils recent adoption of a resolution extending the mandate. He was concerned that the Councils text suggested the United Nations traditional position on Western Sahara was changing. The Council vote had not been unanimous, with one vote recorded against it and two abstentions. In addition, for the first time, the Council vote had given rise to eight explanations of vote.
This itself was a concern, he said, but the resolution itself also raised doubts. It asked the parties to seek an arrangement that would lead to a lasting solution to the Western Sahara problem. He believed that the Assembly and the Council were committed to holding a referendum in Western Sahara that would allow the people of Western Sahara to decide their own fate. This was what the Fifth Committee had supported for 10 years. Over that time, it had authorized the expenditure of some $374 million to carry out that referendum.
He wanted to know why the Council was no longer insisting on a referendum -- after Member States had paid for work on this referendum for 10 years, he said. In the title of the Committees agenda item was the phrase financing a referendum. He asked what other paths for resolving the question the Council was calling for. Was it still committed to holding a referendum, and, if not, what was it committed to and how much it would costs. He also wished to know what would happen to all the money spent on the referendum until now. Mexico wished to be informed whether the decision now proposed was for the financing of a referendum - to which Member States were committed - or something else.
The representative of the United States said he would be happy to respond to the questions at a later time.
The representative of Morocco said the Fifth Committee was a purely technical committee that approved the financing of decisions taken by other bodies. He did not think the Committee was competent to discuss self-determination or the decisions of the Security Council. He asked that the Committee refrain from moving away from its mandate, and focus on financial implications, rather than substantive matters.
The representative of Algeria said that his delegation shared the concerns expressed by the representative of Mexico and felt that Member States had a legitimate right to be concerned about the use of financial resources and contributions for peacekeeping operations, in general, and for MINURSO, in particular. There were political aspects that were the responsibility of the Council, but there were also financial matters to be discussed. The concerns expressed by Mexico were entirely legitimate.
The Chairman said that orally amending operative paragraph 13 to extend the Missions mandate did not call into question the substance of the draft resolution. In the case of the preambular paragraph, it was a fact that the latest resolution by which the Council extended the mandate of the Mission was resolution 1301 (2000). While she fully respected the concerns raised by the representative of Mexico, she hoped that Mexico would not object to approval of the resolution.
The representative of Mexico said that he had raised concerns because it did not know the reasons that had led to the Council to adopt the resolution. It was undeniable that the Council had extended MINURSOs mandate until 31 July 2000. Mexico did not object to that, especially since the draft resolution was titled financing for the referendum in Western Sahara. That meant that the Fifth Committee was still committed to the holding of a referendum. He was concerned, however, that the Council, for the first time after 10 years, was talking about other solutions. That was his concern. Someday the Committee would be told how much those other possibilities would cost. The resolution indicated by its title that it was concerned with the financing for the referendum. Mexico would not have a problem voting in favour of it.
The representative of Morroco said that the Council resolution contained terms that had been used before. It was the same mandate as in 1997. As everyone knew, throughout the process, there had been major differences between those called upon to take part in the referendum. Everybody knew that Morocco had always kept the Council informed. The mandate of the Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy had not changed. Regarding other approaches, in 1992 former Secretary-General Boutrous-Boutrous Ghali had discussed certain approaches, but no one had mentioned abandoning the referendum. He hoped that his clarifications had dispelled the fears expressed by Mexico. As soon as the resolution was adopted, everyone would have to comply with it, including the Fifth Committee.
The draft resolution was then approved as orally amended without a vote.
The representative of Uganda then took the floor on an organizational matter. He said that the Committee had already approved a number of draft resolutions. As a matter of principle, he was uncomfortable with the practice of approving resolutions without all the figures filled in. The text on the support account, for example, would need to be completed. He called for the suspension of the meeting to complete unfinished work.
The representative of Nigeria supported the statement made by Uganda.
The Chairman said it was her intention to continue a formal meeting until 6 p.m. and then to meet again after a half-hour break.
The representative of Syria said that there were a number of important items to be completed and he thanked the Chairman for her clarification.
The representative of Uganda said that his concern was twofold. On the one hand, it was difficult for small delegations to stay up late. On the other hand, he did not approve of approving texts with missing figures.
The meeting was then suspended.
When the meeting resumed, the Committee turned its attention to the draft decision on losses of United Nations property in peacekeeping operations submitted on behalf of the Chairman, Penny Wensley (Australia). The text was approved without a vote.
It then turned its attention to the draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO), the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) and the United Nations Peace Forces headquarters, which was introduced by AHMED H. DARWISH (Egypt).
The draft was then approved without a vote
The Committee then turned to the draft resolution on financing the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), introduced by Mr. JAREMCZUK (Poland). That text was approved without a vote.
The Committee then turned its attention to the draft resolution on financing the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), also introduced by Mr. JAREMCZUK (Poland) and also approved without a vote.
The draft resolution on the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) was then introduced by Mr. JAREMCZUK (Poland). The draft was approved without a vote.
The Committee then turned to a draft resolution on the former Yugoslavia International Criminal Tribunal, introduced by AIZAZ CHAUDHRY (Pakistan). The draft was approved without a vote.
Next up was the draft resolution on the Rwanda International Criminal Tribunal, also introduced by Mr. Chaudhry. The draft was approved without a vote.
The Committee then turned to the draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH), introduced by Mr. Chaudhry. The draft was approved without a vote.
The draft resolution on the financing of the Civilian Police Support Group was then introduced by Mr. Chaudhry. The text was approved without a vote.
The Committee then turned to the draft resolution on the financing of UNPREDEP, which was also introduced by Mr. Chaudhry. The draft was approved without a vote.
The Committee then its attention to a draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MICIVIH). The text was introduced by Mr. AHOUNOU (Côte dIvoire) and subsequently approved without a vote.
It next turned to a draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA), which was introduced by Mr. CHAUDHRY (Pakistan). The draft was then approved without a vote.
The Committee next turned to the draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL), introduced by HAE-YUN PARK (Republic of Korea). The draft was approved without a vote. It next turned to the draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, which was introduced by MICHIEL CROM (Netherlands) and approved without a vote.
It next turned to a draft resolution on the support account for financing Headquarters peacekeeping support activities, which was introduced by Mr. Crom.
Speaking prior to the decision, the representative of Syria explained that there was a translation error in the Arabic version of the text, and some editorial problems in the printed version of the text.
The representative of Cuba said that the Spanish version of the draft also required an amendment. She repeated Cubas concern that the new concept - of a rapid deployment headquarters unit for peacekeeping missions - had not been presented to the Fifth Committee following proper procedures and legislative scrutiny. That was a reason that consensus had been delayed on the matter. She underscored the Committees decision that the proposal must be sent to the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations for its examination.
She said Member States had also taken note of information provided on the work being undertaken by the occupants of two posts previously established to work on the originally proposed rapid deployable mission headquarters. As a result of that information, she had not insisted on the abolition of those two posts. Given that her concerns were understood, Cuba would join the consensus.
The draft was approved without a vote.
The Director of the Peacekeeping Financing Division, Bok Yeo, then offered guidance to the Committee on the amounts to be apportioned in respect of each peacekeeping mission, including the prorata share of the support account and the expenses of the United Nations Logistics Base, and the Committee then decided to take note of the information provided by Mr. Yeo in document A/C.5/54/63, on the understanding that a corrigendum would be issued to correct an error Mr. Yeo drew attention to page 3 of the document.
Next, it turned its attention to the draft decision on the relocation of South Africa to group (c) status, submitted by the Committees Chairman. That draft was approved without a vote.
The draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) was then introduced by Mr. DARWISH (Egypt). The draft was approved without a vote.
The Committee then turned to a draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration (UNTAET), which was also introduced by Mr. Darwish, and also approved without a vote.
Next up was a draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), introduced by Mr. MIRMOHAMMAD (Iran).
The representative of Portugal, speaking on behalf of the European Union before action, said the Union had joined the consensus because of the urgency of the task at hand. The Union had expressed reservation, however, regarding paragraphs in the resolution that were not reflected in any other resolutions of that nature.
The draft was then approved without a vote.
The Committee then took up the draft resolution on resources for the Non- Governmental Organizations Section of the United Nations Secretariat, which was introduced by Ms. BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba). The draft was approved without a vote.
It next turned to the draft resolution on the financing of the high-level intergovernmental event on financing for development and the Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries, which was introduced by KWOK FOOK SENG (Singapore). He drew attention to a small error in the printed version of the draft, which was then approved without a vote.
The representative of Cuba, speaking in explanation of position, said she was not fully satisfied that the Committee had not been in a position to provide resources for all the planned meetings, and that financing for the second preparatory committee and the meeting on the Least Developed Countries was still pending. She expressed concern that frames of reference mandated by the Assembly continued to be dependent on voluntary contributions. The Assembly must consider this, which was affecting the quality of such terms of reference.
The representative of Japan said he believed the relevant Assembly resolution should be respected, and asked the members of the Committee concerned to continue attempts to find the necessary resources.
The Committee then turned its attention to the problem of funding for the Millennium Summit.
Jean-Pierre Halbwachs, United Nations Controller, said that the assumptions on which the requirements had been established had been further reviewed, and a number of them had been revised after further clarification. The Economic and Social Council Chamber would not be reconfigured as originally planned. Also, it would not be necessary to set up a tent to accommodate media as initially planned -- space could be found by delaying the relocation of archives.
In terms of public information activities, particularly television and photo coverage, he said voluntary contributions would be available for that purpose. On the basis of revised assumptions, the additional requirements for the Millennium Summit should not exceed $1 million, as opposed to $1.4 million originally stated. One element remained to be decided, and that was whether there would be coverage for the interactive round table. Without covering the round table, the expense would amount to some $850,000.
The Committee then took note of the information provided by the Controller.
The Committee then turned to a draft resolution on the reimbursement of contingent-owned equipment, introduced by Ms. BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba). The draft was approved without a vote.
An oral draft decision was then proposed by Ms. Buergo Rodriguez on the issue of reimbursement of troop-contributing countries. She said that, given limited time and other difficulties, she proposed that the Assembly decide to defer consideration of the matter until the beginning of the fifty-fifth Assembly session.
The representative of India then asked for clarification. His understanding was that the matter would be discussed in time for a decision to be taken before the post-Phase V Working Group, which was to commence early next year.
Ms. BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) then explained that this was the reason for proposing a deferral until early in the fifty-fifth session.
The representative of the Republic of Korea then said that his understanding from the informal consultations was that the matter would be deferred until the early first part of the fifty-fifth Assembly session.
This oral draft decision was then approved without a vote.
The Committee then turned its attention to a draft decision proposed by Ms. WENSLEY (Australia), Committee Chairman, by which consideration of certain documents and issues would be deferred to the fifty-fifth Assembly session. This draft decision was then approved without a vote.
The Committee then turned its attention to a request from the Committee on Contributions that it receive exemptions from previous resolutions to allow it to receive support for holding a substantive session at the United Nations conference centre in Nairobi. The coordinator of informal consultations on the matter, Ms. BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba), advised that no agreement on a draft resolution had been reached in informal consultations. A draft resolution had recently been submitted by Kenya, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, she said.
The representative of Uganda, speaking also on behalf of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania, then introduced the draft resolution. He was prepared to negotiate on the draft, or take it to a vote, he said. However, given the lateness of submission, he proposed that it be submitted directly to the General Assembly plenary for consideration, and that, if such a course required the preparation of a statement of programme budget implications, the procedures for this be instigated.
The United Nations Controller, Mr. Halbwachs then explained that the draft proposed that the United Nations pay for one representative of each Member State to travel to the Committee. On the assumption that the United Nations actually paid for a representative of each State that was a member of the Committee on Contributions, there would be programme budget implications -- requirements of up to $152,000 maximum would be needed.
The Chairman then asked if the Committee would be ready to agree that the matter be taken up directly in the plenary. The representative of Canada asked what that would entail.
Mr. Halbwachs said that if the plenary were to take up the draft resolution, it would have to have the financial implications from the Fifth Committee. It would not be able to act without some recommendation.
The representative of the United States asked, given that it had a programme budget implication, if he was correct in thinking that it would require a review by the ACABQ.
Mr. Halbwachs said that, according to procedure, the ACABQ would have to look at the issue and advise the Committee.
The Chairman said the question concerned a decision by the Committee to defer consideration of the text to the General Assembly plenary, at which point the programme budget implication and advice from the ACABQ would be provided. Did she understand Ugandas proposal correctly? she asked.
The representative of Portugal said that, should a programme budget implication and a note from the ACABQ be forthcoming, would it be necessary for the Committee to have informals and formals on the issue?
Mr. Halbwachs said that rule 153 of the General Assembly rules of procedure provided the guideline to be followed. The plenary would need to have a report from the Fifth Committee stating what the implications would be.
The Chairman said that it was not possible for it to be considered directly in the plenary. The Fifth Committee would need to consider the draft resolution, but would not be able to do that until it had a programme budget implication and advice from the ACABQ. In that case, she saw no option but to propose that the Committee decide to postpone consideration to a later date.
The delegate of Syria said that his delegation had hoped that the Committee would be in a position to approve a draft resolution. The date of the June conference should be taken into consideration. He added that he had expected comments from the Secretariat regarding the pattern of conferences, but understood that the late hour prevented the Secretariat from providing answers to its questions.
The Chairman then asked if the Committee was prepared to defer a decision on the draft to a later date, and the Committee so decided.
The representative of Morocco said he had previously expressed his reservations on the advertised required qualifications for candidates to be eligible to sit a competitive examination for the Arabic Language Coordinators post. He had subsequently been advised that a change would be made to the circular calling for a working knowledge of English or French, and that the deadline for applications would be extended. In view of the revision, he withdrew his reservation on the matter.
The Chairman then thanked the Fifth Committee Bureau and the coordinators of the informal consultations on the various matter before the Committee. The Fifth
Committee had lived up to its unique reputation. She regretted that it had not completed its work. Twenty matters had to be rolled over, but, of those, the deferral of 14 had been decided at an organizational meeting, and only four had been deferred after substantive work.
She also regretted that the wish of a number of Member States for an in-depth discussion of peacekeeping financing had not proven possible, and that the Committee had not had the chance to make progress on its discussion of its working methods. However, some 42 items had been concluded during the session. The Committee was hardworking and eventually got things done, even if by 1:40 a.m on Saturday morning. She also thanked the Secretariat.
The representative of Portugal, speaking on behalf of the Western European and Others Group of Member States, thanked the Chairman and others who had worked with and in the Committee.
The representative of Syria said he was prepared to provide the Secretariat with corrections to the Arabic text on the support account. However, in future, he would like the 24-hour rule to be strictly observed regarding the provision of documents. He thanked the Chairman for her work.
The representative of Nigeria, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, thanked all involved in the Committees work.
* *** *