Concluding Resumed Session, Budget Committee Approves Resolutions on Financing for 15 Peacekeeping Missions in 2016/17, Cross-Cutting Issues

Concluding its second resumed session, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today sent 25 draft resolutions and one decision to the General Assembly, asking the world body to authorize the allocation of $7.86 billion to finance 15 peacekeeping missions for the year beginning 1 July 2016.

As it did last year, the Committee also reached agreement on cross-cutting issues related to the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations.  Its approval of a draft resolution on the subject would have the General Assembly address a range of items, and among other things, express serious concern over sexual exploitation and abuse allegations involving peacekeeping missions.  In that regard, it would welcome the appointment of a Special Coordinator on improving the United Nations response to sexual exploitation, and ask the Secretary-General to regularly update States on her work.

It approved related drafts on the support account for peacekeeping operations, and financing for the account, as well as for the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, and Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda.

Also approved was a text on the United Nations financial reports and audited financial statements on peacekeeping missions, as well as the Board of Auditors’ reports on them.  In addition, the Committee sent to the Assembly texts on three closed peacekeeping missions:  the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT); United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT); and the United Nations Support Mission in Syria (UNSMIS).

It approved a draft resolution on special subjects relating to the 2016-2017 programme budget and a draft decision by which the Assembly would defer until the second part of its resumed seventy-first session consideration of reports on the financial position of closed peacekeeping missions.

All the texts were approved without a vote, except a draft resolution setting out the provisional budgetary arrangements for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which the Committee passed by a recorded vote of 146 in favour to 3 against (Canada, Israel, United States), with no abstentions.

The Committee also elected Diana Lee (Singapore), from the Group of Asia-Pacific States, as the Rapporteur of its seventy-first session.  It also elected, by acclamation Marcio Burity (Angola), from the Group of African States, and Stefan Pretterhofer (Austria), from the Group of Western European and Other States, as Vice-Chairs of the Session.

Outgoing Committee Chair Durga Prasad Bhattari (Nepal) said members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States were still carrying out consultations on a nominee for the post of Chair of the Committee.  He, therefore, proposed that an election for that post be postponed to a subsequent meeting.

Delivering closing statements today were representatives of Thailand (on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), United Republic of Tanzania (on behalf of the African Group), China, Japan, Mexico, United States and Egypt, as well as the European Union Delegation.

Mission	Total Appropriation
MINURSO (Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara)	$55.39 million
MINUSCA (Mission in Central African Republic)	$976.27 million
MINUSMA (Mission in Mali)	$989.72 million
MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti)	$364.60 million
MONUSCO (Stabilization Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo)	$1.31 billion
UNAMID (African Union-United Nations in Darfur)	$1.10 billion
UNDOF (Disengagement Observer Force)	$50.29 million
UNFICYP (Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus)	$57.81 million
UNIFIL (Interim Force in Lebanon)	$515.07 million
UNISFA (Interim Security Force in Abyei)	$284.83 million
UNMIK (Mission in Kosovo)	$38.46 million
UNMIL (Mission in Liberia)	$197.24 million
UNMISS (Mission in South Sudan)	$1.15 billion
UNOCI (Operation in Côte d’Ivoire)	$161.31 million
UNSOS (Political Office for Somalia)	$608.95 million
TOTAL	$7.86 billion

 

Action on Draft Resolutions

The Committee approved all but one of the draft resolutions before it without a vote.

By the terms of the draft on financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors (document A/C.5/70/L.37), the General Assembly would accept the financial report and audited financial statements of United Nations peacekeeping operations for the period 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015.  It would also endorse the recommendations in the corresponding reports of the Board and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), and ask the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation.  It would go on to ask the Secretary-General to indicate an expected time frame for implementation, and to give, in his next report, a full explanation for delays in implementation of the Board’s outstanding recommendations, the root causes of recurring issues and measures to be taken.

Turning to drafts on peacekeeping missions, the Committee first approved a text on financing of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) (document A/C.5/70/L.39), by which the Assembly would decide to appropriate to the Special Account for UNISFA the amount of $284.83 million for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, including $268.62 million for the maintenance of the Force, $11.67 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations, $2.83 million for the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, and $1.71 million for the Regional Service Centre at Entebbe, Uganda.

It then approved a draft resolution on financing of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) (document A/C.5/70/L.34), by which the Assembly would take note of the status of contributions to the Mission as of 30 April 2016, including the $35.05 million in credits,  decide that Member States that had fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission would be credited with their respective share of the $35.05 million in net cash available as of 30 April 2016 and that those that had not fulfilled their financial obligations would have their respective share set off against their outstanding obligations, in line with the levels updated in resolution 64/249 of 24 December 2009.

Turning to a text on financing of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (document A/C.5/70/L.40), the Committee approved the text, by which the Assembly would decide to appropriate to the Special Account for the Mission $976.27 million from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, including $920.73 million for the maintenance of the Mission, $39.99 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations, $9.71 million for the United Nations Logistics Base and $5.85 million for the Regional Service Centre.

The Committee then approved a text on financing of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) (document A/C.5/70/L.41).  By its terms, the Assembly would be asked to appropriate $8.26 million to the Special Account for UNOCI for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, including $6.65 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations and $1.61 million for the United Nations Logistics Base.

The Committee approved a text on financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) (document A/C.5/70/L.42).  By its terms, the Assembly would decide to appropriate to the Special Account for UNFICYP $57.81 million for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, inclusive of $54.85 million for the maintenance of the Force, $2.38 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations and $578,400 for the United Nations Logistics Base.

Next, it approved a text on financing of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (document A/C.5/70/L.43).  The Assembly would be asked to appropriate to the Special Account for MONUSCO $1.31 billion for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, inclusive of $1.24 billion for the maintenance of the Mission, $53.67 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations, $13.03 million for the United Nations Logistics Base and $7.85 million for the Regional Service Centre.

The Committee approved a text on financing of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) (document A/C.5/70/L.35).  By the text, the Assembly would take note of the status of contributions to UNMIT as of 30 April 2016, including the $900,000 in outstanding contributions, note with concern that only 171 Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urge all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding contributions.  It would also decide that Member States that had fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission shall be credited with their respective share of the $9.06 million in net cash available as of 30 April 2016 and that those Member States that had not fulfilled their financial obligations would have their respective share set off against their outstanding obligations, in accordance with the levels updated in resolution 67/239 of 24 December 2012.

The Committee then approved a text on financing of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) (document A/C.5/70/L.44) which would have the Assembly decide to appropriate to the Special Account for that Mission $364.60 million for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, including $345.93 million for MINUSTAH’s maintenance, $15.02 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations and $3.65 million for the United Nations Logistics Base.

Next, the Committee approved a text on financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) (document A/C.5/70/L.45), by which the Assembly would decide to appropriate to the Special Account for UNMIK $38.46 million for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, including  $36.49 million for the maintenance of the Mission, $1.58 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations and $384,800 for the United Nations Logistics Base.

It then approved a draft on financing of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) (document A/C.5/70/L.46).  By its terms, the Assembly would appropriate to the Special Account for UNMIL $197.24 million for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, including $187.14 million for the maintenance of the Mission, $8.13 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations and $1.97 million for the United Nations Logistics Base.

The Committee also approved a draft on financing of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) (document A/C.5/70/L.47), by which the Assembly would decide to appropriate to the Special Account for the Force $989.72 million for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, including $933.41 million for the maintenance of the Mission, $40.54 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations, $9.84 million for the United Nations Logistics Base, Italy, and $5.93 million for the Regional Service Centre.

Under its agenda item on financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East, the Committee approved two texts.

It first approved a draft on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) (document A/C.5/70/L.48), by which the Assembly would decide to appropriate to the Special Account for the Force $50.29 million for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, including $47.71 million for the maintenance of UNDOF, $2.07 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations and $503,200 for the United Nations Logistics Base.

Next, it took up a draft on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) (document A/C.5/70/L.38).  By its terms, the Assembly would decide to appropriate to the Special Account for UNIFIL $515.07 million, for the period from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, inclusive of $488.69 million for the maintenance of the Force, $21.22 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations and $5.15 million for the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy.

Also by the draft, the Assembly would express deep concern that Israel had not complied with previous resolutions on UNIFIL, and request that the Secretary-General take the measures necessary to ensure the full implementation of their relevant paragraphs.

Before taking action, the representative of Israel said that considerations of UNIFIL constituted shameful special treatment.  By evading engagement and participating in wholesale politicization, the UNIFIL budget item had become another “sideshow in the theatre of absurd”.  She emphasized that Israel maintained an excellent relationship with all peacekeeping operations, including UNIFIL.  Her country would vote against the text being considered.

The Committee then took action on preambular paragraph 4 and operative paragraphs 4, 5 and 13.

By a recorded vote of 94 in favour to 3 against (Canada, Israel, United States), with 50 abstentions, those paragraphs in question were approved.

Following that action, the representative of the United States said that her country supported UNIFIL.  However, the use of General Assembly funding for resolutions to pursue claims against a Member State was not procedurally correct.  For that reason, her delegation had opposed similar resolutions which required that Israel pay for costs stemming from the Qana incident of 1996.  Using a funding resolution to legislate a settlement was inappropriate, she said, adding that it politicized the work of the Committee.

The representative of the Netherlands, on behalf of the European Union, expressed concern that no consensus had been reached during the draft resolution negotiations, and regret that political elements had been introduced during the work of the Committee.  Though they would vote in favour of the resolution as a whole, European Union Member States had abstained from voting on preambular paragraph 4 and operative paragraphs 4, 5 and 13 because they considered the drafted text inappropriate in the context of a resolution dealing with UNIFIL financing.  The broader political aspects of the events to which the draft resolution referred, including the incident in Qana, had already been discussed.  Consultations in the Committee should be confined to the budgetary aspects of financing UNIFIL.

Taking action on the draft resolution as a whole, the Committee approved it, as orally amended, by a recorded vote of 146 in favour to 3 against (Canada, Israel, United States), with no abstentions.

After the vote, the representative of Lebanon thanked those who had voted in favour of the resolution, particularly the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League, noting his appreciation for the sacrifices by countries contributing to the mission.  The paragraphs under consideration and proposed by the Group of 77 and China were not political, he said.  Israel had not abided by the 23 previous resolutions, having bombed Qana in 1996, destroying the checkpoint and killing innocent people.  The $117 million in reparations to be paid was meant to account for UNIFIL headquarters’ material losses, according to United Nations estimates.  It was a purely financial issue and thus, it was logical that the Committee should consider it.

The Committee then approved a draft on financing of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) (document A/C.5/70/L.49), by which the Assembly would decide to appropriate to the Special Account for the Mission $1.15 billion for the period from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, including $1.08 billion for the maintenance of the Mission, $46.98 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations and $11.41 million for the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, and $6.87 million for the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda.

The Committee next approved a draft on financing of the United Nations Supervision Mission in the Syrian Arab Republic (UNSMIS) (document A/C.5/70/L.36), by which the Assembly would take note of the status of contributions to UNSMIS as of 30 April 2016, including outstanding contributions in the amount of $100,0000, note with concern that only 153 Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urge all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions.

The Committee would also decide that Member States that had fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission shall be credited with their respective share of the $1.82 million in net cash available as of 30 April 2016 and that those that had not fulfilled their financial obligations would have their respective share set off against their outstanding obligations, in accordance with the levels updated in resolution 64/249 of 24 December 2009.

The Committee also approved a draft on financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) (document A/C.5/70/L.50), by which the Assembly would decide to appropriate to the Special Account for the Mission $55.39 million for the period from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, including $52.55 million for the maintenance of the Mission, $2.28 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations and $554,200 for the United Nations Logistics Base.

It then approved a draft on financing of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) (document A/C.5/70/L.51), which would have the Assembly appropriate to the Special Account for the Operation $1.10 billion from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, including $1.04 billion for the maintenance of the Operation, $45.15 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations and $10.97 million for the United Nations Logistics Base and $6.60 million for the Regional Service Centre.

It then took up a text on financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 1863 (2009) (document A/C.5/70/L.52), by which the Assembly would appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Support Office for the African Union Mission in Somalia (UNSOA) $608.95 million for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, including $574.30 million for the maintenance of the Office, $24.94 million for the support account for peacekeeping operations, $6.06 million for the United Nations Logistics Base and $3.65 million for the Regional Service Centre.

Administrative and Budgetary Aspects of Financing Peacekeeping Operations

It also approved a draft resolution on cross-cutting issues (document A/C.5/70/L.53).

By that text, the General Assembly would take action in several key areas, including budget presentation and financial management, personnel issue, operational requirements, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, and other issues.

The Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General’s reports on the overview of the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations:  budget performance for the period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 and budget for the period from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, and special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.

On budget presentation, it would welcome the new format of the Secretary-General’s overview report and encourage further such development, stress the importance of further steps to make more accurate forecasts and ask the Secretary-General to report in his next overview report on improvements made due to implementation of Umoja and the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).  In the area of personnel issues, the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to improve the ratio of substantive to support staff, and urge him to make every effort to reduce recruitment lead time for staff in field missions, to enhance the transparency of the staffing process at all stages and to report on the steps taken and results achieved in the context of his next overview report.

The Assembly would also request that he report on measures taken to expand women’s participation in peacekeeping operations and make further recommendations to increase the numbers of uniformed and civilian women.

It would recall paragraph 107 of the report of the ACABQ and paragraph 14, section II, of its resolution 63/250 and would request the Secretary-General, in the context of the next report on Human Resources Management, provide detailed analysis on the financial implications and justification for the proposed expansion of the maximum duration of temporary duty assignments to meet requirements directly linked to a mission start-up or expansion due to a crisis.  It would also request the Secretary-General provide the same detailed analysis, with financial implications and justification, on extending the engagement duration of retired staff.

On reducing the overall environmental footprint of peacekeeping missions, the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to continue his efforts in full compliance with relevant rules and regulations.

Recalling paragraph 40 of resolution 69/307, it would request the Secretary-General to report on efforts to ensure that procurement of unmanned aerial systems from commercial providers complied with the United Nations Procurement Manual.  It would also recall its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that reimbursement of such systems provided by troop-contributing countries was consistent with the framework set out in the Contingent-Owned Equipment Manual.

On the areas of procurement and asset management across peacekeeping missions, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to strengthen oversight and internal controls, taking into account mission needs and the full implementation of the IPSAS.  It would also ask the Advisory Committee to request the Board of Auditors to compile and issue lessons learned from the Global Field Support Strategy on its website.

Welcoming the appointment of the Special Coordinator on improving the United Nations response to sexual exploitation and abuse, the Assembly, expressing serious concern over the matter in the most recent report, would ask the Secretary-General to regularly update States on her progress.  Recognizing the risk factors linked to those allegations as identified by the Secretary-General in paragraph 25 of his report, the Assembly would ask him to further analyse all such factors, provide recommendations to mitigate the risks and include in his future reports information on such abuse allegations by non-United Nations forces operating under a Security Council mandate.  Noting with concern the findings of the independent review, it would also ask the Secretary-General to report on lessons learned and measures to improve the system-wide response to such abuse.

The Assembly would also ask the Secretary-General to continue promoting effective coordination and collaboration within the Office of Insight Oversight Services’ audit, evaluation and investigation functions in order to ensure an integrated approach for oversight of peacekeeping missions.

It then approved a text on the support account for peacekeeping operations (document A/C.5/70/L.54).  By its terms, the Assembly would decide to approve the support account requirements of $327.38 million for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, including $18.83 million for the enterprise resource planning project and $821,500 for information and systems security.  It would also approve the requirement of 1,341 continuing and 25 new temporary posts, as well as the redeployment, reassignment and reclassification of posts, as set out in annex I of the text, 97 continuing and seven new general temporary assistance positions and 41 person-months, as set out in annex II, as well as related post and non-post requirements.

The Committee then approved a draft on the financing of the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy (document A/C.5/70/L.55), by which the Assembly would approve the cost estimates for the Base in the amount of $82.86 million for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017.

The Committee then approved a draft on financing of the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda (document A/C.5.70/L.56), by which the Assembly would approve the amount of $39.2 million for the maintenance of the Centre for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017.

The Committee then approved a draft on special subjects relating to the programme budget for the biennium 2016-2017 (document A/C.5/70/L.57).  By its terms, the Assembly would endorse the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the (ACABQ) on supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development.

Also by that text, having considered the report of the Secretary-General on revised estimates relating to his report on the future of United Nations peace operations, specifically the implementation of the recommendations of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, the Assembly would approve additional resources of $2.06 million net of staff assessment under section 3, Political Affairs ($1.60 million) and section 29D, Office of Central Support Services ($469,200).

Programme Budget for the Biennium 2016-2017

The Committee approved a draft decision on questions deferred for future consideration (document A/C.5/70/L.57).  The text would allow the Assembly to defer until the second part of its resumed seventieth session consideration of the reports of the Secretary-General and the ACABQ on closed peacekeeping missions.

Review of United Nations Efficiency and Administrative/Financial Functioning

Finally, the Committee took note of a note by the Secretary-General (document A/C.5/70/23) on financing of the support account for peacekeeping operations, the United Nations Logistic Base at Brindisi, Italy, and the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda.

Closing Remarks

The representative of Thailand, on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, noted that, despite delays, the Committee was concluding its work earlier than it had in the previous three years, which demonstrated States’ spirit of cooperation, flexibility and compromise.  An accomplishment of note was the resolution on cross-cutting issues, including budget presentation and financial management, personnel issues and transparency.  However, it was unfortunate that agreement could not be reached on closed peacekeeping missions despite creative options to find sustainable solutions to issues relating to claims payable to States, particularly troop- and police-contributing countries. She also expressed the Group’s concern over the proposed 2016-2017 programme budget to support implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Addis Ababa Action Agenda.  The Group looked forward to a new comprehensive proposal from the Secretary-General to address the effective, efficient delivery of mandates in support of the two Agendas in compliance with relevant regulations and established budgetary process.

The representative of the United Republic of Tanzania, spoke on behalf of the African Group and associated himself with the statement of the Group of 77 and China, saying the African Group expected the Secretary-General and managers to ensure the timely and full implementation of approved mandates.  It also looked forward to the future Secretary-General’s proposals for strengthening the work of the Organization.

The representative of the European Union Delegation said the resolution on cross-cutting issues had been a major accomplishment.  Among other things, it addresses sexual exploitation and abuse in a comprehensive and transparent way and provided tools for enforcing a zero tolerance policy.  He regretted that no solution could be found to the long-standing question of reimbursement of Member States’ financial contributions and payment of troop-contributing countries’ claims in respect of closed peacekeeping operations.  Regarding the Committee’s working methods, he said that five or six weeks would be appropriate for its second resumed session, starting in early May with a firm deadline of mid-June.

The representative of China, associating herself with the statement of the Group of 77, noted the improved efficiency of the Committee.  She hoped that all Member States would pay their dues on time and in full, and that the Secretariat would use financial resources more efficiently.  She regretted that the Committee had yet to approve a budget for the 2030 Agenda.

The representative of Japan said it was regrettable that the Committee could not conclude its work within the allotted time again this year.  The Committee should not take up budgetary issues which did not cover peacekeeping missions in its second session.  Alternatively, it should postpone those issues until the end of the session after concluding peacekeeping mission budgets.

The representative of Mexico said the cross-cutting issues resolution was a fundamental guideline to the Secretariat on States’ priorities.  The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) continued to play an important role in Haiti, as it promoted the rule of law and human rights in a fragile and vulnerable situation, he said, calling for the Mission to continue supporting Haiti’s electoral process.  Welcoming mediation revitalization through the Department of Political Affairs following the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations’ recommendations, he noted, however, that the resources approved were insufficient.  He looked forward to continued discussions.

The representative of the United States commended the Committee’s consensus in approving a 2016/17 budget enabling effective, efficient mandate delivery and backstopping support.  The almost five per cent reduction in the budget since last year responsibly reflected the decreasing deployment of uniformed personnel.  Adopting a cross-cutting resolution for the second consecutive year provided important strategic guidance on financial and budgetary policies governing peacekeeping activities.  Also, several items beyond the normal agenda had been considered, including the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations and the peacebuilding architecture review.  Though there had not been sufficient time to discuss the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, she looked forward to a discussion on them in the seventy-first session.

The representative of Egypt noted in particular the fourth section of the resolution on cross-cutting peacekeeping issues — protection from sexual exploitation and abuse — expressed States’ strong commitment to the United Nations zero tolerance policy, and its resolve to bringing perpetrators of such crimes to justice.  The resolution’s successful outcome confirmed that the Assembly was capable of guidance on eradicating such cases from peacekeeping missions.

DURGA PRASAD BHATTARAI (Nepal), Committee Chair, expressed his thanks to all groups and States for their hard work with record efficiency and important accomplishments.  Though it had not achieved all it had wanted, the Committee had accomplished a great deal, and he was confident that no stone had been left unturned in the process.  He noted that the Committee’s hectic second part involved decisions on a budget approaching $8 billion and directly affected people on the ground.