Fifty-Ninth General Assembly

Plenary

93^rd Meeting (AM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY AUTHORIZES BUDGET OF $595.5 MILLION FOR INITIAL

ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN SUDAN

Adopting Resolution Without a Vote, Assembly

Expresses Concern Over Financial Situation Regarding Peacekeeping

The General Assembly, acting on the recommendation of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), this morning authorized a budget of $595.5 million for the initial establishment of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNAMIS).

Acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted resolution A/C.5/59/L.48, by which it also authorized the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for the Mission for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 September 2005.  The budget total would comprise $279.5 million for the period 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005, including $100 million previously authorized by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), and $316 million for the period 1 July to 31 October 2005.

With respect to financing of the commitment authority, the Assembly apportioned among Member States a total of $497.87 million for the period from 1 July 2004 to 23 September 2005, comprising $279.5 million for the period 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005, and $218.4 million for 1 July to 23 September 2005.  It decided further to apportion among Member States $97.6 million for the period from 24 September to 31 October 2005.

The Assembly expressed concern about the financial situation regarding peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bore additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments.  It emphasized that no peacekeeping operation should be financed by borrowing funds from other active missions, and that all missions should be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates.

Expressing concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, particularly in Africa, the Assembly emphasized that all peacekeeping missions should be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements.  It requested the Secretary-General to ensure that UNAMIS was administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy. 

The General Assembly will meet again at a time announced.

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