Sixty-eighth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

42^nd Meeting (AM)

Fifth Committee Told United Nations Support Mission in Libya Needs $22.8 Million

 

for 2014, as It Considers Secretary-General’s Proposed Budget Increase

 

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) would need $22.8 million net to carry out its mandate in 2014, a senior United Nations official told the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today.

The funds, net of staff assessment, would be used mainly to bolster security and operations, Johannes Huisman, Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division, said as he introduced the Secretary-General’s report on the UNSMIL budget requirements for 2014 (document A/68/327/Add.12).

Specifically, the funds would pay for 80 new international positions in the Security Section to increase the Mission’s ability to protect itself and its staff, and 15 new positions in the Mission Support Division, as well as cover operational costs, he said.  All the new positions would be based in Tripoli.

But the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) recommended that the Mission be given $60,500 less for civilian staffing and information technology, thus reducing the budget to $22.73 million, said Carlos Ruiz Massieu, ACABQ Chairman, as he presented that body’s corresponding report (document A/68/7/Add.28).

Mr. Ruiz Massieu, noting the deteriorating security situation in Libya and the need to strengthen and restructure the Security Section, said ACABQ did not object to the Secretary-General’s proposal to add 80 positions to the Section.  But it recommended against creation of two of the positions proposed for the Mission Support Division — one United Nations Volunteer position in the Finance Section and one local-level national staff position in the Transport and Movement Control Section — since the Division’s existing staff could perform some of the additional support functions.

Additionally, the Advisory Committee recommended modest reductions for computer equipment to bring the Mission’s information technology holdings in line with the Standard Cost and Ratio Manual.

Beatrice Keronga Pacunega Manano (Uganda), speaking on behalf of the African Group, welcomed the Secretary-General’s request for greater resources for UNSMIL and said the Group would scrutinize his proposal, as well as ACABQ’s corresponding recommendation, in order to ensure the Mission had sufficient resources to carry out its mandate.

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For information media • not an official record