Fifty-ninth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

25^th Meeting (AM)

Budget Committee Speakers Express Support For Sudan Advance Team Funding

Speakers in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) agreed today that the work of the United Nations advance team in the Sudan was of critical importance to ongoing efforts to bring peace to the region, and they endorsed the proposal of the Secretary-General for $21.79 million to fund the United Nations advance team in the Sudan for the 90-day period from 11 September to 10 December 2004.

Several representatives welcomed the understanding signed today between the Government of the Sudan and a representative of the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, which promised a comprehensive peace agreement by the end of the year.  The Security Council, meeting in Nairobi, had witnessed the signing and then expressed its intention to help implement it, including their establishing a peace support mission.  The representative of Uganda noted that today’s developments were an important benchmark in the long path to improving stability in the Sudan, adding that much remained to be done to keep the process on track.  The United Nations advance team in the Sudan was playing a vital role in that process.

The representative of Nigeria, speaking on behalf of the African Group, noted that the Secretary-General’s proposal would cover the requirements for expanding the mission’s core component, establishing field offices around the country, and providing for the additional needs related to Darfur.  The Group also welcomed the establishment of a liaison office in Addis Ababa, which would facilitate close cooperation between the United Nations and the regional actors involved in the ongoing peace process.  Noting progress made in the consolidated appeal for the Sudanese assistance program, the Group stressed the need for more assistance and appealed for further contributions.  She recalled the statement of the Secretary-General that “there can be no trade-offs in support” for the security and humanitarian sectors, “where success in one is dependant on progress in another”. 

The representative of the Sudan also fully endorsed the proposal of the Secretary-General, saying that his country was completely committed to providing the advance team with the necessary facilities to enable them to carry out the responsibilities entrusted to them.  He expressed concern that, despite the fact that many pledges had been made to enforce the African Union observer mission, the international community had not fulfilled many of its logistical and financial commitments.  He added that the African Union observer mission was facing daily obstacles and severe logistical difficulties –- and appealed to States to fulfil their pledges in support of the African Union as soon as possible.

The representative of the Netherlands, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, recalled that the Union repeatedly had expressed its grave concern regarding the situation in the Sudan and was fully committed to contributing to the solution of the conflicts there as a matter of great priority.  The work of the United Nations advance team in the Sudan was of great importance, considering that a comprehensive peace agreement to end the North/South conflict would contribute towards stability for the whole of Sudan, including a positive impact on the Darfur crisis.

Australia, also speaking on behalf of Canada and New Zealand, stressed the vital role of the mission in helping to establish peace and security in the Sudan, ensuring effective humanitarian relief, and supporting the African Union with planning and assessments for its mission in Darfur.  The innovation of establishing an advance team to help prepare for an anticipated peacekeeping mission was a welcome improvement to the planning and deployment process.

The documents before the Committee were introduced by the Director of the Programme, Planning and Budget Division, Warren Sach; and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), Vladimir Kuzentsov.

Also speaking today were the representatives of Qatar (on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), Egypt, Jamaica, and Cuba. 

The Committee will take up several other issues under its 2004-2005 budget agenda item at 10 a.m. Monday, 22 November.

Background

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this morning was expected to take up financing of the United Nations special political mission in the Sudan.

The Committee had before it a report of the Secretary-General containing the proposed resource requirements of the United Nations advance team in the Sudan for the 90-day extension from 11 September to 10 December 2004 (document A/59/534).  The total requirements for the period are estimated at $21.79 million gross ($21.01 million net).  The Secretary-General requests that the General Assembly approve the full amount proposed; note that part of the requirements would be met from the unspent balance of $998,600, which remains from the $16.64 million approved for the initial phase of the mission; authorize a charge against the provision for special political missions of just over $3 million, which represents the unassigned balance in that provision (appropriated under section 3, Political affairs, of the programme budget for 2004-2005); and appropriate $17.01 million under section 3, Political affairs, and $781,300 under section 32, Staff assessment, to be offset by corresponding amounts in the estimates of income, under Income section 1, Income from staff assessment, of the programme budget for 2004-2005.

The advance team in the Sudan was established by the Security Council in its resolution 1547 (11 June 2004) for a three-month period, from 11 June to 10 September 2004, and was subsequently extended by 90 days, until 10 December 2004.  This special political mission was dedicated to laying the groundwork for international monitoring, as foreseen in the 25 September 2003 Naivasha agreement on security arrangements, to facilitate contact with the parties concerned and prepare for the introduction of a peace support operation following the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement.  The Secretary-General also laid out future roles and tasks for the peace support operation in the Sudan.  Security Council resolution 1556 (30 July 2004), which extended the mandate of the special political mission in the Sudan, further requested the Secretary-General to incorporate into that mission contingency planning for the Darfur region.  The advance team was to assist the African Union with planning and assessments for its mission to Darfur and to prepare to support the implementation of a future peace agreement there.

While the conclusion of a comprehensive peace agreement at Naivasha will remain a primary focus of the mission, the incorporation of Darfur has added a significant operational and political dimension to the mandate.  In order to meet the political and other needs emanating from the urgent situation in Darfur, the mission’s activities would include:  regular meetings and verification missions of the Joint Implementation Mechanism (which was created by the Joint Communiqué issued by the Government of the Sudan and the Secretary-General on 3 July 2003); liaison with the increased presence of ceasefire monitors from the African Union, international human rights monitors, and humanitarian workers; systematic contacts with local authorities in rebel-controlled areas; and participation in the evolving political process for a peaceful resolution of the Darfur crisis.

It is intended to broaden the United Nations presence throughout the territory by establishing five field offices -- one in each of the three capital cities -- El Fasher, Nyala, and El Geneina -- and two others in the areas of Zalingei/Western Darfur and Kassala.  These field offices would complement the work of already existing humanitarian coordination offices in the area.

Additional resources are required by the mission, particularly in the areas of political and civil affairs, human rights, civil-military liaison, and integration of the work of the country team into a more unified approach in order to ensure the success of the Organization’s work in the Sudan.  The $21.79 million proposed would provide for:  the costs of 10 military advisers ($187,100); four civilian police advisers ($88,800); civilian personnel costs consisting of the salaries and common staff costs of 419 positions ($5,109,800); official travel of staff ($435,700); and other related operational requirements, including facilities and infrastructure, ground and air transportation, communications, information technology and other requirements ($15,186,700).  These requirements include the proposed addition of 19 positions (five Field Service and 14 local-level) under the core mandate for strengthening safety and security and 215 new positions for the Darfur component.

Of the total requirements, $12.79 million gross relate to Darfur and would provide for:  civilian personnel costs consisting of the salaries and common staff costs of 215 positions indicated in the included table ($1,779,100); official travel of staff ($185,700); and other related operational requirements ($10,587,500).

A report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) (document A/59/569) recommends approval of the full $21.79 million proposed by the Secretary-General for the United Nations advance team in the Sudan for the period from 11 September to 10 December 2004.  The Committee notes that the incorporation of Darfur into the mission brings it closer to a peace support operation.  If a peacekeeping operation is authorized by the Security Council for the Sudan, the mission would be an integrated, complex mission, with a large humanitarian component.

The Advisory Committee exchanged views with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the structure of the mission in the Sudan, which is based on the standard template being used by the Secretariat for complex integrated peacekeeping operations.  The Committee was informed that the mission structure would evolve from its present preliminary form to accommodate future mandates for such a peace support operation, as may be decided by the Security Council.  In this connection, the Advisory Committee has consistently pointed out the need to avoid top-heaviness and duplication, and it will revert to this matter in light of the report the Secretary-General is to submit on the management structure of all peacekeeping operations.

Introduction of Documents

WARREN SACH, Director of the Programme, Planning and Budget Division, introduced the Secretary-General’s report on the proposed resource requirements for the advance team in the Sudan for a three-month period ending on 10 December 2004.  The requirements for the initial stage, which had ended on 10 September, had been met through the utilization of the provision for special political missions under section 3, Political affairs, of the 2004-2005 budget.  To date, a total of $166.43 million had been charged against the appropriation of $169.43 million for that purpose under the terms of Assembly resolution 58/271, leaving an unassigned balanced of some $3 million. Subsequently, by its resolution 1556 of 30 July, the Security Council had extended the mission through 10 December and expanded its mandate to incorporate into the mission contingency planning for the Darfur region.  The proposed requirements took into account the changes in the mandate.

A related report of the ACABQ was introduced by its Chairman, VLADIMIR KUZNETSOV, who said that advance team had been established as a special political mission through 10 September 2004.  Now, the requirements for a subsequent period of 90 days were before the Committee not merely related to the carry-over of the mission’s initial activities, but reflecting changes in its mandate. Incorporation of the activities in the Darfur region had added to the requirements.  The ACABQ had been informed that the expenditure against the pre-mandate commitment authority amounted to $28 million.  Those expenditures related to 15 military liaison officers, one civilian police officer and 39 international and 43 national staff, and other operational costs.  The current request of the Secretary-General was limited to the advance team, and authorization of the commitment authority to facilitate rapid deployment of a possible peacekeeping mission would be dealt with by the ACABQ, should the requirements for such a mission be submitted by the Secretary-General.

Statements

MARK ZELLENRATH (Netherlands), speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, recalled that the Union repeatedly had expressed its grave concern regarding the situation in the Sudan and was fully committed to contributing to the solution of the conflicts there as a matter of great priority.  Considering that a comprehensive peace agreement to end the North/South conflict would contribute towards stability for the whole of the Sudan, including a positive impact on the Darfur crisis, the work of the United Nations advance team was of great importance to the Union.  With the advance team’s mandate extended to cover contingency planning for the Darfur region and support to the African Union’s mission in Darfur –- in addition to its original role of preparing for a United Nations peace support operation following the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement in Naivasha –- it was essential to provide the necessary resources.  The Union supported the proposals of the Secretary-General, as seconded by the ACABQ, to approve the budget for the advance team for the period from 11 September to 10 December 2004 in the amount of $21 million – of which $4 million would be met through unspent balances.

MOHAMMED AL-NUTHAFAR (Qatar), speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, supported the Secretary-General’s proposals related to the financing of the advance team in the Sudan and noted that the Advisory Committee had recommended their approval by the Assembly.  The Group looked forward to an early conclusion of the consideration of the item by the Fifth Committee.

NONYE UDO (Nigeria), speaking on behalf of the African Group, aligned the Group with the statement made by the representative of Qatar on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.  The African Group welcomed the Secretary-General’s budget proposal of $21.79 million for the United Nations advance team in the Sudan, which would cover the requirements for expanding the mission’s core component, establishing field offices, and additional needs related to Darfur.  The Group also supported the Secretary-General’s proposal for financing the mission, as endorsed by the ACABQ.  The Group further welcomed the establishment of a liaison office in Addis Ababa, which would facilitate close cooperation between the United Nations and the regional actors involved in the ongoing peace process.

Taking note of the information on the status of the consolidated appeal for the Sudanese assistance programme and appreciating the response of the donor community, the African Group stressed the need for more assistance and appealed for further contributions to support the mission.  She recalled the statement of the Secretary-General that “there can be no trade-offs in support” for the security and humanitarian sectors, “where success in one is dependant on progress in another”.

In conclusion, the African Group noted the comments of the ACABQ regarding the integrated structure of the mission in the Sudan, but reiterated its view that any consideration of staffing structure of missions should be based on the specificities, complexities, and mandates of each individual mission.

DAVID DUTTON (Australia), also speaking on behalf of Canada and New Zealand, urged the Security Council to continue its efforts to resolve the conflicts in the Sudan and maintain strong pressure on all the parties to protect civilians and work constructively towards a comprehensive, peaceful settlement.  He was heartened by the signing in Nairobi this morning of the memorandum of understanding to conclude a final settlement by the end of this year and welcomed the adoption of Security Council resolution 1574.  The countries he represented were making a contribution to international efforts to resolve the crises in the Sudan through provision of substantial funding for United Nations operations and support for the African Union’s mission.

The advance mission had a vital role in the Sudan to assist the process of establishing peace and security in the country, ensure effective humanitarian relief, and support the African Union with planning and assessments for its mission in Darfur, he continued.  The innovation of establishing an advance team to help prepare for an expected peacekeeping mission was also a welcome improvement to the planning and deployment process that had already demonstrated its value.  He supported fully the mission’s role and provision of the necessary funds for the period 11 September to 10 December.  During informals, he would like to hear further details on the mission’s structure.  It was crucial for the people of the Sudan and the reputation of the Organization that the mission achieve its challenging objectives.  Its structure must, therefore, be streamlined, with a clear chain of command.

Mr. ELKARIM ELRAYAH BALLA (Sudan) expressed his delegation’s support for the statements made by the representative of Qatar, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and by the representative of Nigeria, speaking on behalf of the African Group.

He noted that the United Nations advance team in the Sudan had made strenuous efforts towards full cooperation and close coordination with the Government of the Sudan, and expressed his admiration and thanks for those efforts.  He recalled that the Government of the Sudan had signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations regulating the relationship between the Government and the mission.  His country was completely committed to providing the mission team with the necessary facilities to enable them to carry out the responsibilities entrusted to them.  He also noted the high-level coordination between his Government and the United Nations advance team –- as well as with the United Nations Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Despite fact that many pledges had been made to enforce the African Union observer mission -- and despite the fact that his Government had done all it could to cooperate with the African Union –- the international community had not fulfilled many of its pledges, including logistical and financial commitments.  On that basis, he appealed to States to fulfil their pledges in support of the African Union as soon as possible.  He added that the African Union observer mission was facing daily obstacles and severe logistical difficulties.  In conclusion, his delegation supported the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General.

FRANCIS MUMBEY-WAFULA (Uganda), noting that he could never be more passionate or articulate than the Chairman of the Group of 77, the representative of Nigeria who spoke on behalf of the African Group, and the delegate of the Sudan who had already spoken, associated his delegation with those statements and limited his remarks to echoing the importance that Uganda attached to funding this mission.

The United Nations advance team in the Sudan was of critical importance to his delegation, as the 21-year war had afflicted the southern Sudan and the region in general.  The successful ongoing Security Council meetings in Nairobi –- and later in Kampala –- were testimony to the urgency of efforts to bring back peace to the Sudan and the region.  His delegation was glad to note that the Government of the Sudan and the various factions had made tremendous progress today in their negotiations in Nairobi.  Today’s developments were a benchmark by the parties demonstrating the will to sustain the momentum of the Machakos Protocol of July 2002, subsequent agreements, and the Naivasha process geared at improving stability in the Sudan.  However, a lot remained to be done to keep the process on track.

He noted the commitment of the Secretary-General, and particularly the role of the Special Representative for the Sudan, Jan Pronk, and called for support to help sustain the process.  His delegation fully supported the request of the Secretary-General for $21.79 million to cover the expansion of the core component of the mission, the establishment of field offices, requirements for Darfur, and the creation of liaison office in Addis Ababa.

Regarding the staffing of the mission, he hoped that its structure would evolve to reflect the situation on the ground.  As to the consolidated appeal, his delegation commended the donor community for their support and encouraged Norway to continue its efforts to arrange a donor conference for development assistance.

YASSER ELNAGGAR (Egypt) supported the position of the Group of 77 and China and the African Group, as well as the statement by the representative of the Sudan.  He supported the financial request of the Secretary-General, which should be met due to the important role of the advance team.  As for the consolidated appeal for assistance to the Sudan contained in the ACABQ report, he noted the pledges made by the donor community and urged those countries to strengthen their assistance and help end the suffering of the Sudanese people, achieve national reconciliation within united Sudan, and push forward the process of political dialogue in Abuja, Nairobi and Cairo.

NORMA ELAINE TAYLOR ROBERTS (Jamaica) associated herself with the position of the Group of 77 and the African Group and said that she wanted to add her voice of support for the assistance by the United Nations to the Sudan.  The situation in the country was very complex, and it was clear that a military solution alone would not be adequate.  It was also necessary to take into account humanitarian issues, the human rights situation, as well as political and economic issues.

The situation was made more difficult by the events in Darfur, she added.  She supported the proposal to incorporate contingency planning for that area in the mandate of the mission.  A negotiated political solution was the only way to resolve the crisis.  Despite some progress, there was still a long way to go, and a possible United Nations peacekeeping operation was intended to address that issue.  She commended the efforts of the African Union and encouraged the Government of the Sudan and all parties to commit themselves to a peaceful solution.  Without political will, there would be no lasting solution to the crises.  She supported the provision of the $21.78 million for the advance team in the Sudan for a three-month period ending on 10 December.

NORMA GOICOCHEA (Cuba) supported the statements made by the representative of Qatar on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, the representative of Nigeria on behalf of the African Group, and the representative of the Sudan, as well as all those who supported the resource requests of the Secretary-General.  Cuba also fully supported the Secretary-General’s request.

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