FIFTH COMMITTEE APPROVES BUDGETS FOR EAST TIMOR AND KOSOVO MISSIONS

Press Release
GA/AB/3415

FIFTH COMMITTEE APPROVES BUDGETS FOR EAST TIMOR AND KOSOVO MISSIONS

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this morning recommended a budget of some $563 million gross (some $546.05 million net) be provided for the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and of some $450 million gross ($422.05 million net) for the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK), for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.

The Committee took that action by adopting, without a vote, two draft resolutions on the financing of those missions. The amounts to be appropriated are inclusive of some $292.07 million gross and of $220 million gross, already authorized by the Assembly for UNTAET and UNMIK, respectively.

The text on UNTAET was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee, Hae-Yun Park of the Republic of Korea, and the draft on UNMIK was presented by the Rapporteur of the Committee, Eduardo Ramos of Portugal. The representative of Cuba spoke in explanation of position on the draft resolution concerning UNTAET.

As the Committee continued its consideration of the financial implications of the report of the panel on United Nations Peace Operations (the Brahimi report), several speakers expressed appreciation for the efforts made by the panel to improve United Nations peacekeeping.

The representative of Egypt said that strengthening the management of peacekeeping operations at Headquarters would not correct all shortcomings, however. Reform of the United Nations performance in peacekeeping operations should be comprehensive, balanced and equitable, and the Security Council must have clear mandates for peacekeeping operations.

The representative of India said he was puzzled by the claim that, unless the Department of Peacekeeping Operations was given more staff immediately, peacekeeping and peacekeeping forces would suffer. The report on the review of that Department, due early next year, should provide the basis for decisions on its structure and size.

“Where is the emergency”, he asked, “when the real problem in peacekeeping is the frequent failure of political will in the Security Council, and the reluctance of the developed countries to send their forces into peacekeeping operations?” That was not new and the Brahimi panel would not cure it.

As the Committee began its general discussion on several matters concerning the programme budget for the current biennium, the representative of the United States said that, while he supported the important work of the United Nations

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Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), subsidies to that body should not be given on a permanent basis. He also inquired how much of the money requested by the International Court of Justice was the result of antiquated management techniques.

The representative of Norway put on record her country’s firm support to UNIDIR, calling on the Committee to approve the request for a subvention from that body.

Questions were raised by the representatives of Cuba and Syria regarding the oral introduction of reports from the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). The representative of France also spoke on this issue, as well as the Committee’s Chairman Gert Rosenthal (Guatemala) and its Secretary, Joseph Acakpo-Satchivi.

Also this morning, the Committee recommended that the General Assembly take note of the chapters of the report of the Economic and Social Council that were allocated to the Fifth Committee for consideration.

Relevant reports of the ACABQ were introduced by the Chairman of that body, Conrad S.M. Mselle, who also responded to questions raised in the discussion.

The representatives of Nigeria (on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China), Ethiopia, Pakistan, Colombia (on behalf of the Rio Group) and Nepal also spoke.

The Committee will continue its work at a date to be announced.

Fifth Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/AB/3415 33rd Meeting (AM) 29 November 2000

Committee Work Programme

This morning, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) was expected to take up several matters pertaining to the programme budget for 2000-2001 and consider relevant chapters of the report of the Economic and Social Council.

Programme Budget for 2000-2001

The Committee had before it a request from the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) (document A/C.5/55/15) for a subvention in the amount of $213,000 from the regular United Nations budget for the year 2001. The request is being formally submitted for approval by the General Assembly, although a related provision has already been appropriated under section 4, Disarmament, of the programme budget of the United Nations for 2000-2001 in the amount of $426,000. Thus, should the Assembly decide to approve the recommendation of the Board of Trustees of UNIDIR, no additional provision would be required in the programme budget for this biennium.

In its report, the Board of Trustees of UNIDIR notes with regret that for several years the subvention from the United Nations has not been adjusted for inflation. Regarding the financial situation of the Institute, the report states that funds available at the beginning of 2000 amounted to $840,800, including the $134,500 required as an operating cash reserve for 2000. Total income for 2000 is estimated at some $1.36 million from voluntary contributions and public donations, interest income, and the subvention from the United Nations regular budget. Total revised estimated expenditure is about $1.15 million, including a provision of $44,800 for programme support costs. Requirements for the year 2001 are estimated at some $1.25 million, inclusive of $43,300 for programme support costs and $130,000 for operating cash reserves. Available funds at the end of 2000 are estimated at some $1.05 million, including the operating cash reserve of $134,500.

On the administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) for the year 2000, the Committee had before it a statement submitted by the Secretary-General (document A/55/629). According to this document, recommendations of the Commission giving rise to requirements under the regular budget will be taken into consideration when computing the first performance report for the current biennium. The impact of these recommendations, calculated on the basis of actual dates of implementation, would result in increased requirements in the amount of some $5.74 million.

The recommendations of the ICSC with financial implications for the current biennium involve conditions of service of staff, the base/floor salary scale and staff assessment scale, dependency allowances and the level of education grant. In particular, the Commission recommended to the General Assembly an upward adjustment of 5.1 per cent for the common system scale, which should be implemented as of 1 March 2001. The increase of 5.1 per cent in the base/floor scale for 2001 would be implemented through the standard method of consolidating (reducing) post adjustment multiplier points on a no-loss/no-gain basis to offset the increase in the base salary scale.

The Commission also recommends an increase in the level of dependency allowances by 11.89 per cent as a result of an increase in payments owing to tax abatements and social legislation payments between January 1998 and January 2000. Application of this percentage to the existing children’s allowance would result in increases in the annual amounts to $1,936 for the children’s allowance and to $3,872 for the disabled children’s allowance. Application of the same percentage increase to the secondary dependants’ allowance would result in an annual payment of $693 for duty stations in the United States and in countries where dependency allowances were fixed in United States dollars. Other recommendations involve the reduction of dependency allowance by the amount of any direct payments received by staff from governments in respect of dependants.

The total impact of the ICSC recommendations is broken down as follows:

Remuneration of staff in the Professional and higher categories

For duty stations that would fall below the level of the new base/floor (10 months, 1 March to 31 December 2001) 138,789

Mobility/hardship scheme (10 months, 1 March to 31 December 2001) 784,302

Separation payments (10 months, 1 March to 31 December 2001) 181,195

Dependency allowances (12 months, 1 January to 31 December 2001) 756,000

Survey of best prevailing conditions of employment for the General Service, Security Service and Public Information Assistant categories

New York (12 months, 1 January to 31 December 2001) 3,500,000

Conditions of service applicable to all categories of staff

Education grant:

4 months, 1 September to 31 December 2000 94,140

12 months, 1 January to 31 December 2001 282,420

Total 5,736,846

Also before the Committee is a report of the Secretary-General regarding revised estimates for the International Court of Justice (document A/C.5/55/21), which contains a request for an additional appropriation of $606,100 under section 7, International Court of Justice, of the programme budget for the biennium 2000- 2001. An additional appropriation of $131,200 would also be required under section 32, Staff assessment, offset by the same amount under income section 1, Income from staff assessment.

According to the report, appropriations of over $20.86 million have been approved under section 7, International Court of Justice, of the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001. Subsequently, however, new cases were filed with the Court, increasing its docket to 24 contentious cases. The Court revised its agenda to include 13 additional cases. As a result, additional resources are needed for hearings, preparation of judges' notes, deliberations of the Court and elaboration of judges' opinions. The Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) has recommended that the resource implications of such an increase in workload be reviewed in order to ensure the ability of the Court to discharge its mandate.

The increased workload has the greatest impact on the Conference and Language Services of the Registry, the report states. The work of the Conference and Language Services is carried out by six staff members (one P-5, four P-4, one P-3), as well as by freelance translators and interpreters. Translation of less sensitive materials, such as annexes to pleadings, is usually done by external translators. In 2000-2001, the Court will need to translate a total of about 11,967,000 words, while the capacity of the Conference and Language Services is estimated at 2,970,000 words for the biennium. If the practice of hiring freelance translators were to be continued, supplementary requirements of $772,100 ($418,800 for the payment of fees, $287,400 for daily subsistence allowance, and $65,900 for travel) would be needed.

The Secretary-General further recommends approval of 12 temporary translators' posts (three P-4, nine P-3), the cost of which for 2001 is estimated at $440,100. This would represent savings of $394,400 against the alternative of hiring freelance and external translators. Additional requirements of $24,300 would also be necessary for the establishment of one temporary G-4 post at the Conference and Language Services. Additional typists and a proof-reader are needed for the Stenographic and Typing Services, particularly during hearings. Therefore, supplementary requirements of $117,400 would be necessary under temporary assistance to meetings. An additional amount of $24,300 would be required for the establishment of one temporary post, at the G-4 level, to provide administrative support in the Press and Information Services.

According to a related report of the ACABQ (document A/55/7/Add.2), the Advisory Committee recommends that the General Assembly approve an additional appropriation of $606,100 under section 7, International Court of Justice, of the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001 and an additional appropriation of $131,200 under section 37, Staff assessment, offset by the same amount under income section 1, Income from staff assessment.

Financing Peacekeeping Missions

By the terms of the draft resolution on the financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) (document A/C.5/55/L.9), the General Assembly would take note of the status of contributions to that mission as at 31 October 2000, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of $149 million, representing some 28 per cent of the total assessed from the inception of UNTAET. The Assembly would note that some 21 per cent of the Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full and urge all concerned to ensure the payment.

Among other terms of the text, the Assembly would endorse the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the ACABQ and decide to retain the post of the Chief of Staff to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General at the level of Assistant Secretary-General. In future budget proposals, the Secretary-General would be requested to consider using United Nations Volunteers for the 14 posts mentioned in the report, pending further guidance from the ACABQ. He would also be asked to continue efforts to recruit local staff and to take all necessary action to ensure that the mission is administered with maximum efficiency and economy.

The General Assembly would decide to appropriate to the Special Account for UNTAET the amount of $563 million gross (some $546.05 million net) for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, inclusive of the amount of about $292.07 million gross ($283.69 million net) already authorized in resolution 54/246 C. As an ad hoc arrangement and taking into account the amount of $200 million gross (some $194.26 million net) already apportioned for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2000, it would also decide to apportion the additional amount of some $128.42 million gross ($124.27 million net) for the period from 1 July 2000 to 31 January 2001 among Member States. The scale of assessments for the year 2000 would be applied against a portion of $81.5 million gross for the period ending 31 December 2000, and the scale of assessments for the next year would be applied against the balance.

The Committee also had before it a draft resolution submitted by the Rapporteur on the financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)(document A/C.5/L.10), by the terms of which the Assembly would take note of the status of contributions to the Mission as of 31 October 2000, including outstanding contributions of some $125 million, representing 20 per cent of the total assessed contributions from the Mission’s inception to the period ending 31 December 2000. The Assembly would also note that some 19 per cent of Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full and urge all other Member States to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions.

According to the draft, the Assembly would note the increase in the number of high-level posts and request the Secretary-General to review the matter and to report thereon in his next budget presentation. In future budget submissions, the Secretary-General would also be requested to provide information on the level of interaction between the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the Mission.

Also by the terms of the draft, the Assembly would decide to appropriate $450 million gross ($422.05 million net) for the maintenance of the Mission for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, inclusive of the amount of $220 million gross ($207.41 million net) already authorized by the Assembly in its resolution 54/245 B. The Assembly would decide, as an ad hoc arrangement, and taking into account the $220 million already apportioned, to apportion the additional amount of $230 million gross ($214.65 million net) for 1 January to 30 June 2001 among Member States.

Economic and Social Council Report

The Fifth Committee was also expected to consider chapters I, VII (sections B and C) and IX of the report of the Economic and Social Council (document A/55/3).

Chapter I deals with matters calling for action by the General Assembly or brought to its attention. Among this year's resolutions and decisions by the Council, which require action by the General Assembly during its fifty-fifth session, are the texts on enlarging the membership of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 57 to 58 States; revitalization of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women; the follow-up to the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders; Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice; international legal instrument against corruption; the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination; strengthening the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and the right to development.

By other texts, the Assembly would endorse the resolutions proclaiming the Decade of Greater Mekong Subregion Development Cooperation; extending the mandates of the Special Rapporteurs on human rights in several countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Iraq and Myanmar; and addressing the human rights situation in several other States. Other issues requiring action by the Assembly include the implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief; torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; internally displaced persons; and the rights of the child.

Section B of Chapter VII concerns coordination, programme and other questions. The report states that the discussion of these matters by the Council in July 2000 culminated with the adoption of several resolutions and decisions on long-term programme of support for Haiti; tobacco or health; international cooperation in the field of informatics and information and communications technologies task force.

The Section on the implementation of several Assembly resolutions (Section C) states that, at its substantive session, the Economic and Social Council discussed implementation of resolutions 50/227 and 52/18 B concerning cooperation between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions. Further consideration of the matter was deferred until the resumed session of 2000.

Chapter IX is devoted to organizational matters, listing this year's proceedings of the Economic and Social Council, its agenda and programme of work and action taken by the Council. It also describes consideration of the issues related to the participation of intergovernmental organizations in the work of the Council; working arrangements for the substantive and resumed sessions; and the reports of the meetings of the regional commissions on the theme of the high-level segment of the Council. The report says that a special high-level meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions was held on 18 April, and the substantive session took place from 5 to 28 July.

Introduction of Reports

CONRAD S.M. MSELLE, Chairman of the ACABQ, introduced that body’s report on the Secretary-General’s request for a subvention in the amount of $213,000 from the regular United Nations budget for the year 2001 for UNIDIR. The ACABQ recommended that the Fifth Committee approve that request.

Mr. Mselle then introduced the ACABQ’s report on administrative and financial implications contained in the report of the ICSC. The Advisory Committee noted that the increase of 5.1 per cent in the base/floor scale for 2001 would be implemented through the standard method of consolidating post adjustment multiplier points to offset the increase in the base salary scale. Incorporating post adjustment index points into the base salary was a no gain/no loss measure at the point that the consolidation is done. However, the Committee noted that, at the time of the next increase in post adjustment at any duty station throughout the world, the value of the post adjustment index point would be increased since that index point was based on a percentage of the salary scale. The ACABQ had no objection to the estimates of related requirements under the regular budget resulting from the recommendations and decisions of the ICSC.

He also introduced the Advisory Committee’s report on the revised estimates under section 7, International Court of Justice; section 32, Staff Assessment; and income section 1, income from staff assessment.

Statements

THOMAS A. REPASCH (United States) said that while he supported the important work of UNIDIR, on numerous occasions the Secretary-General had expressed the view that subsidies should not be given on a permanent basis. Had the ACABQ received a plan from UNIDIR for becoming a self-sustaining institute? The United States could accept the ACABQ’s recommendation to approve the subvention on the condition that the Institute provided such a plan.

Regarding the revised estimates under section 7, International Court of Justice, he said that, last year during budget negotiations, the Secretariat had remarked that the International Court was “behind the times” in implementing modern management techniques. He wanted to know how much of the money being requested was the result of antiquated management techniques. He also recalled that the Joint Inspection Unit had been working on a study of its management. He expected that the report would have been issued by now, and asked what the status of that report was. He requested a summary of that report before taking action on the issue.

LOIPA SANCHEZ LORENZO (Cuba) said that she had been unable to find the ACABQ’s reports on the ICSC and UNIDIR. She had only been able to locate the report of the ACABQ on the International Court of Justice. Where could the ACABQ’s reports be found on the other two bodies? If they had not been issued, she asked that consideration of those issues be deferred until the reports were available.

Responding to questions from the floor, Mr. MSELLE then said that the Advisory Committee did not have any information regarding plans by UNIDIR to become self-sufficient and dispense with subventions from the United Nations regular budget. It would not be unreasonable to request the Institute to indicate if it would be able to function without subsidies from the United Nations.

Regarding the International Court of Justice, he said that the request for temporary posts was supposed to finance translation services, which could not be substituted by using automation. The question of using modern technology had been raised by the ACABQ, and the Court had taken some measures towards that end.

Responding to other questions, he said that he did not know when the report on the administration of the Court would be available. The ACABQ had issued its report on the International Court of Justice, and two other reports had been submitted orally. The texts had been made available to the Committee. They would be issued during the current session.

Ms. SANCHEZ LORENZO (Cuba) thanked Mr. Mselle for the oral introduction of the reports. However, the Committee had to respect its procedures. Consideration of the items introduced today could not be undertaken until the reports were issued.

KJERSTI RODSMOEN (Norway) wanted to put on record her country’s firm support for UNIDIR. Norway was one of the main contributors to the Institute and was concerned about its financial situation. The Committee should approve the request for a subvention for that body, which was for a relatively small amount.

GERT ROSENTHAL (Guatemala), Chairman of the Committee, asked the Secretary to clear the procedural point raised by Cuba.

JOSEPH ACAKPO-SATCHIVI, Secretary of the Committee, said that today’s procedure was not new. The Committee customarily discussed small reports, such as the ones presented orally by the Chairman of the ACABQ today, which were later distributed in all languages. In this case, the Advisory Committee had not had time to present the reports to be translated, for it had a very heavy workload.

GUILLAUME GAUBERT (France) supported the statement by the Secretary of the Committee. The procedure followed at today’s meeting was not violating the rules, and it was not likely to hold up the work of the Committee. The European Union felt that the Committee could proceed on the points raised.

Ms. SANCHEZ LORENZO (Cuba) said that she appreciated the explanations provided. She was not opposed to the substance of the requests before the Committee, but she was concerned about the presentation of necessary information. The reports of the ACABQ should be presented ahead of time so they could be properly considered.

ABDOU AL-MOULA NAKKARI (Syria) said that he had no comments on the substance of the matter. As for the procedure, his delegation wanted to stress that relevant documents must be translated into the six official languages. From time to time, reports of the ACABQ were presented without being translated, and he understood that the Advisory Committee had a very heavy workload. It also often did not receive information on time. In the future, general discussion should be deferred by perhaps a day to allow delegates to study the reports. The Bureau should examine the problem and defer the general discussion, so that translation could be provided.

Mr. ROSENTHAL (Guatemala), Chairman of the Committee, said that to be practical and proceed with the work, the Committee should follow its practice, in exceptional cases, of accepting oral presentation of the reports, for some cases required flexibility. No decision would be taken until the matter had been discussed in informal consultations. The Committee was not violating any rule in making progress with more flexibility. He took note of the concerns expressed by the representatives of Cuba and Syria. Informal consultations would take place in due course.

The Committee then turned to the financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).

HAE-YUN PARK (Republic of Korea), Vice-Chairman of the Committee, introduced the draft before the Committee. The text had been approved by consensus during informal consultations, he said, and he proposed that the Committee should approve it without a vote.

The Committee then approved draft resolution A/C.5/55/L.9 without a vote.

Speaking in explanation of position, Ms. SANCHEZ LORENZO (Cuba) said that she had joined the consensus on the text, by the terms of which $563 million would be provided to UNTAET for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001. However, she regretted that in the process of consideration, sufficient time had not been provided to consider points made by particular Member States and questions raised by the ACABQ, including those concerning introduction of proposals which would make the mission more expensive; duplication of functions between the personnel of the Office of the office of Human Rights Affairs and judicial personnel; and the use of a budgetary document to introduce mandate functions regarding the creation of the National Commission on Verification and Reconciliation without an expressed mandate from the relevant legislative organs.

A large part of the information requested had been provided to the Committee only at the time of the approval of the draft, she said. Taking into account the political commitment of her country to peacekeeping, including the payment, on time, of its dues for this mission, she agreed with the draft and hoped that in the future sufficient time would be provided for consideration of similar texts.

Turning to the financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the Committee’s Rapporteur, EDUARDO RAMOS (Portugal), introduced draft resolution A/C.5/55/L.10. The Committee had arrived at the draft resolution during informal consultations by consensus.

The Committee then adopted draft resolution A/C.5/55/L.10 without a vote.

It then turned its attention to the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations.

SUNDAY G. SAMPSON (Nigeria), speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, said that the Group had not made a statement on Monday, 27 November, since the Committee’s programme of work had only indicated that the Secretary-General would address the Committee. Mention had not been made of the fact that he would introduce the report or that there would be a general discussion on the item. Indeed, the Group attached great importance to the provision of adequate resources to all peacekeeping activities. The recommendations of the Brahimi Report were currently being considered by the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations. The Fifth Committee could only start consideration of the Brahimi Report when the recommendations of the ACABQ and the Special Committee were available. He reserved the right to return to the issue once all recommendations were available.

AHMED H. DARWISH (Egypt) said that peacekeeping operations were one of the Organization’s most effective ways to maintain international peace and security. He reiterated Egypt’s interest in all questions relating to peacekeeping. Egypt appreciated the invaluable efforts made by the Brahimi panel to present specific proposals to improve the participation of the United Nations in peace operations. Strengthening the management of peacekeeping operations at Headquarters would not correct all shortcomings. Reform of the United Nations performance in peacekeeping operations should be comprehensive, balanced and equitable. The Security Council must provide clear mandates for peacekeeping operations. It was also important to strengthen the Secretariat’s performance in their management.

He welcomed many of the Secretary-General’s recommendations, particularly with regard to the administration of peacekeeping operations, he said. However, there were a number of conditions which must not be overlooked, including the institutionalization of the way in which the Security Council consulted troop- contributing countries. It was also important to end the current budget deficit. Unfortunately, the deficit obliged the Organization to reduce the size of contingents sent to carry out important tasks. Necessary resources to ensure the success of peacekeeping operations must also be provided. While he welcomed voluntary contributions of Member States in the field of development, the level of those resources was falling. Moreover, the resources needed to strengthen peacekeeping operations would be detracted from development activities. The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations was currently undertaking a study on the report. It was the competent authority. He hoped that the Fifth Committee would defer consideration of the resource requirements arising from the Brahimi Report until the Special Committee had submitted its assessment.

SATYABRATA PAL (India) supported the position of the Group of 77 and China, and the opinions expressed by the representative of Egypt regarding the procedural question. While listening to previous statements, he had heard that if the request for emergency resources was turned down or cut back, peacekeeping operations would suffer. Some had argued that those who would not accept the Secretary-General’s request wholesale had no interest in peacekeeping, particularly in Africa.

Having participated in every single peacekeeping operation in Africa, India had earned the right to speak frankly about the real needs of peacekeeping, to ask if what was being proposed addressed them, and to make suggestions, he continued. In all peacekeeping operations in which India had taken part, crises had occurred. There was nothing the Secretariat could have done either to have prevented, or to have resolved, many of them. That was why he was puzzled by the claim that, unless the Department of Peacekeeping Operations was given more staff immediately, peacekeeping and peacekeeping forces would suffer. A sense of proportion should be retained in that matter.

He agreed that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations could be strengthened, “but where is the emergency”, he asked, “when the real problem in peacekeeping is the frequent failure of political will in the Security Council, and the reluctance of the developed countries to send their forces into peacekeeping operations?” That was not a sudden emergency. It had been with the United Nations for the last decade or more, and the Brahimi panel would not cure it.

In the early 1990s, when the present Secretary-General was the Under- Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, his Department had managed much larger bodies of troops on the ground with roughly the same strength it presently had, he continued. It did not claim then that there was an emergency in staffing. The figures showed that over the last eight years of zero nominal growth in which the Secretariat had shed posts, the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and of Political Affairs had not been affected. The Department of Political Affairs had more staff at the professional level than India had in the Ministry of External Affairs. Compared to 1992, the Secretariat had 27 per cent fewer posts, most of which had been pruned from the economic and social sectors, though there was at least as much of an emergency there as there was in peacekeeping.

Enormous emphasis had been placed on strengthening the United Nations capacity to gather and analyse information for peacekeeping, he continued, and an Executive Committee on Peace and Security Information and Strategic Analysis Secretariat had been proposed as the solution. He wanted to know why the General Assembly had not been told that the previous reform measures in that respect had not been up to the mark. It was odd that the Brahimi panel should stumble upon an urgent need which the Secretariat had not felt over the last three-and-a-half years. But more to the point, what would this body do, he asked. The expensive new secretariat would not make an iota of difference to a peacekeeping operation, or to the peacekeepers involved.

His country recognized that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, like most other departments, could do with some strengthening, he continued, but it was necessary to wait for the review of the functioning of that Department to allow a reasoned assessment. Having failed to respond urgently when requested to provide information to the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, the Secretariat was now claiming an emergency where none existed. The report that the new Under-Secretary-General had undertaken to submit early next year should provide the basis for decisions on the structure and the size of that Department.

If some stop-gap arrangements were needed, he was prepared to consider them, once the Special Committee and the ACABQ had completed their work. By definition, however, the extra resources now given would be the barest minimum; otherwise the Departmental review would be pointless. The Secretariat would also have to explain just why there was an emergency need: a supplementary request for 249 posts, which comprised almost 60 per cent of that Department’s authorized strength, could hardly be described as an emergency need. He found the “sudden alarms and excursions” extraordinary, for the matter had been under consideration by several United Nations bodies this year, and the current biennial budget had been passed late last year. The Support Account had been considered early this year, and the Special Committee was actually in session when the Brahimi panel was set up.

ABDULMEJID HUSSEIN (Ethiopia) said that the report’s introduction by the Secretary-General underscored the importance of the issue under consideration. He associated himself with the position of the Group of 77 and China. United Nations peacekeeping should be strengthened to ensure its success in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and reconstruction. The Brahimi report was a concrete and practical study aimed to improve the effectiveness of the United Nations peacekeeping operations, and the Secretary-General’s proposals provided the necessary means to implement those recommendations.

One key question that needed to be addressed was whether the United Nations had the required institutional framework and the adequate resources to accomplish its heavy task, he said. That was particularly relevant today, in light of the rapid increase of the number and size of peacekeeping activities in the last two years alone, as well as their complexity. The specific recommendations of the Brahimi report on such aspects as institutional strengthening and the provision of adequate resources were timely, and the request of the Secretary-General for the implementation of those recommendations should be positively considered.

However, he would be remiss if he did not mention a genuine concern about the need for equally adequate attention to be paid to the provision of resources for development, he continued. The Secretary-General had also assured Member States that he fully shared that concern. It was understandable that some found it ironic to observe the haste in approach for this particular issue, having witnessed how agonizingly difficult it was to make the case for even a small increase of an insignificant portion of the budget for various development activities. However, he did not want to link those issues at this particular time. Peacekeeping and development did complement each other, and there was a need for urgent remedial actions to address the multitude of problems with which peacekeeping activities were faced.

AIZAZ AHMAD CHAUDHRY (Pakistan) said that his country wanted to see the Organization play an effective role in peacekeeping. While Pakistan wished to participate in the discussions actively, it could do so only once all relevant documents had been made available. He associated his delegation with the statement made by the Group of 77. He was disappointed that on Monday 27 November one country referred to some countries as “nitpickers”. Such language would not be helpful, particularly once the discussions had commenced.

ALFONSO VALDIVIESO (Colombia), speaking on behalf of the Rio Group of States, said that the introduction of the report of the Brahimi panel on Monday 27 November was a demonstration of the importance of the item. The Rio Group recognized the need to strengthen the structures of peacekeeping operations, which would help to enhance the credibility of the Organization in maintaining international peace and security. The Rio Group also recognized the importance of conflict prevention and peace-building. The Rio Group was awaiting the respective reports of the Special Committee and the ACABQ on the subject. Aware of the importance of providing the Organization with a more dynamic structure, the Rio Group reiterated its willingness to participate constructively in the process.

DURGA P. BHATTARAI (Nepal) said that he supported the statement by the Group of 77 regarding the need to take a procedural approach to the discussion on the item. The Brahimi panel report had come as a welcome addition to the understanding of peace operations. It was a much needed panel and its work complemented the Secretary-General’s Millennium report. He was eager to see significant elements of the report translated into action. While there was no doubt that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations needed to be strengthened, without development peacekeeping could hardly stand. It was necessary to reconcile various approaches and priorities regarding peacekeeping and

development. Some might see expanded peacekeeping operations as a panacea. Others underlined the importance of development, and wished to see more resources channelled into development activities. In the end, the gap between peacekeeping and development might not be so unbridgeable. However, as many developed countries were increasingly reluctant to send peacekeeping troops, a serious imbalance in peacekeeping operations was likely to emerge. Would the full implementation of the Brahimi report imitate the military structures of Member States? Such a situation would be untenable for the Organization. Clearly, the Committee needed a broader understanding of the issue before the Brahimi report was implemented. Only mature steps towards greater understanding would help further the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations. He looked forward to discussing the issue once the relevant reports of the other bodies were received. It was necessary, however, to reach consensus on the issue.

Turning to the report of the Economic and Social Council, the Committee then decided to recommend to the General Assembly to take note of the chapters of that document that were allocated to the Fifth Committee for consideration.

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