Recent developments on the ground necessitated additional budgetary resources for the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) heard today, as it took up resources proposals for a pair of active peacekeeping operations, as well as the final budget performance of several closed missions.
The financial health of the United Nations remained “generally sound and positive”, the Organization’s senior management official told the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today, adding that some areas still needed to be closely monitored and that Member States must make all efforts to meet their obligations.
Budget requirements for United Nations peacekeeping operations, which would top $8.3 billion for the 2016/17 fiscal period, would figure prominently in upcoming negotiations, as the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today opened the second part of its resumed seventieth session.
Taking action without a vote as it concluded the first part of its resumed seventieth session this afternoon, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) approved five texts relating to Staff Regulations and Rules, special subjects in the 2016-2017 biennium programme budget, the accountability system, the Joint Inspection Unit, and questions deferred for future consideration.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today approved a draft resolution on a new facility for the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Arusha branch, by which the General Assembly would request the Secretary-General to ensure that the project was completed within approved resources and the revised timeline.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) discussed today the proposed 2016 budget for the Office of the Special Adviser for Burundi, amid delegates’ concerns that aspects of it lacked “clarity and justification” over how to fully involve regional and subregional actors that were integral to achieving peace in the East African country, among other essential areas.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) was presented today with the revised 2016-2017 budgetary estimates for the United Nations Monitoring Mechanism for Syria, whose mandate was recently extended for one year.
As the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) discussed the use of more flexible and open workplace at the United Nations, delegates raised concerns about upwardly revised cost estimates for the now $65.7 million project, and that an assessment of its impact on productivity and staff well-being had not been finalized.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today approved a draft resolution supporting the Board of Auditors’ recommendations concerning the renovation of the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva and the Organization’s handling of information and communications technology affairs.
As the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) considered the topic of accountability today in its review of the Organization’s efficiency in administrative and financial functioning, speakers welcomed achievements and acknowledged areas where further progress was needed.
