Sixty-eighth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

43^rd Meeting (PM)

Fifth Committee Considers Proposed $313 Million to Cover Initial Costs

 

of United Nations Mission in Central African Republic

 

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) would need $313 million to meet its immediate and essential start-up costs for the period from 10 April 2014 to year-end, a senior United Nations official told the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today.

The amount included $59.6 million previously authorized by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) for the period from 10 April to 30 June, said Maria Eugenia Casar, Assistant Secretary-General and Controller, as she introduced the Secretary-General’s note on financing of the Mission (document A/68/874).

She said that MINUSCA would also require 28 temporary positions for the period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015, and the associated financial requirements of $6.1 million should come from the support account for peacekeeping operations.

Carlos Ruiz Massieu, ACABQ Chairman, supported the Secretary-General’s proposal to approve the Mission’s $313 million interim requirements, as he presented that body’s corresponding report (document A/68/782/Add.18).

As for the temporary posts, the Advisory Committee recommended against the approval of the positions of Geographic Information System Officer (P-3), Procurement Officer (P-3), Investigator (P-3) and Team Assistant (GS OL) as capacity for those functions already existed.  Further, it recommended that the positions and related costs of the Electoral Officer (P-4) and the Administrative Assistant (GS OL) for the Electoral Assistance Division be financed from within the proposed commitment for the Mission.

Therefore, the Advisory Committee recommended approval of $4.99 million from the support account for the period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015.

Kodjovi Dosseh (Togo), speaking on behalf of the African Group, expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the Central African Republic and reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to lasting peace and security in that country.  He noted the importance of the close coordination between the United Nations and the African Union to deploy a transition team for transferring authority from the African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA) to MINUSCA by mid-September.  The Group would closely examine the budget proposal for MINUSCA and actively participate in informal consultations on the matter to reach a positive outcome.

The Fifth Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on 30 May to examine the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

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For information media • not an official record