BUDGET COMMITTEE TAKES UP ADJUSTED FINANCING FOR RWANDA, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TRIBUNALS

Sixty-first General Assembly

Fifth Committee

32^nd Meeting (AM)

BUDGET COMMITTEE TAKES UP ADJUSTED FINANCING FOR RWANDA, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TRIBUNALS

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this morning considered requests for an additional $26.8 million for the International Tribunals for Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia -– necessary because of inflation and a weakening of the dollar -– as well as a proposal for retention bonuses for Tribunal staff because of high staff turnover rates.

According to the first performance reports for the two tribunals (documents A/61/585 and 586), introduced by the Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division, Sharon Van Buerle, the Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia will require additional appropriations of $18.8 million as the result of the weakening of the United States dollar vis-à-vis the euro, inflation and standard salary costs.  The Rwanda Tribunal will need additional appropriations of $7.9 million, also as a result of changes in exchange rates, inflation and standard salary costs.

The report on the matter by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) (document A/61/633), introduced by that Committee’s Chairman, Rajat Saha, recommendes approval of the requests, which will lead to revised appropriations for the biennium 2006-2007 in the amount of $326 million for the Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and $277 million for the Rwanda Tribunal.

Another report of the Secretary-General (document A/61/522) addressed the financial implications that will result from a staff retention bonus at the International Tribunals.  Those bonuses will be necessary, as staff have left the Tribunals well in advance of the completion of their appointments, especially since the Tribunals approach the end of their mandates.  A cost-benefit analysis has found that the loss of productivity without a retention bonus will cost the Rwanda Tribunal $73.2 million and the Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia $57.6 million.  Implementing the bonus will amount to $32.8 million for Rwanda and $25.9 million for the former Yugoslavia Tribunal.

The Advisory Committee, according to its Chairman, was of the view that the proposal did not provide sufficient detailed information, that it was too broad and that it could lead to the creation of a new entitlement.  The Advisory Committee recommended, therefore, that the Secretary-General explore further ways of applying existing staff regulations that dealt with termination indemnities.

The representative of South Africa, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, said that, as the budget adjustments had been clearly justified and endorsed by the Advisory Committee, the Group supported the requests.  She urged the Tribunals to continue to proactively implement their capacity-building programmes, in order to ensure a smooth transfer of trials to national jurisdictions.

Rwanda’s representative said that his country would become the primary focus for the transfer of trials to national jurisdictions when the mandate of the Tribunal ended in 2008.  Some 14 years after the events that had led to establishment of the Tribunal, it was time for his country to regain full national ownership of the process of justice.  To that end, it was imperative that the Tribunal implement the programme for capacity-building.

The representative of Finland, on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said that the Tribunals needed to continue to maximize their efforts to rationalize and increase efficiency, and keep to the completion timetables.  She noted that some $55 million was still owed by Member States to the Tribunals’ budgets, adding that it was unacceptable for Member States to neglect their obligations that way.

Highlighting the importance of staff retention at the Tribunals, she said that high staff turnover and departures of key personnel impacted directly on the Tribunals’ ability to carry out their mandates.  Regarding the proposal for a staff retention bonus, the Union shared the Advisory Committee’s concerns.  There was little alternative to asking the Secretary-General to present a revised proposal, which should be presented as early as possible in 2007, to enable full consideration of the issue.

Committee will meet again at 3 p.m.

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For information media • not an official record