SUMMARY OF THE WORK OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE

WEEKS OF 13 to 30 November 2000

The Fifth Committee held a general discussion on the itementitled “Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of Internal Oversight Services” and on three questions relating to the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001, namely, “Request for a subvention to UNIDIR (A/C.5/55/15)”, “Administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations of the International Civil Service Commission (A/55/629);” and “revised estimates under section 7:International Court of Justice (A/C.5/55/221)”.

At its 30th meeting, on 21 November, the Committee decided that for the forthcoming weeks, the Committee will focus its programme of work on items and issues requiring action by the General Assembly before the end of this part of the 55th session, namely, the proposed medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005; proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 2002-2003; scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations; Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations peacekeeping operations; the Budget estimates for the period from 1 January 31 December 2001 of the two International Criminal Tribunals (ICTY and ICTR);phase I of the Brahimi report; Pattern of Conferences; UN Common System; UN Pension system;Financing of UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL); results based budgeting; human resources management; procurement reform and outsourcing practices and questions relating to the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001, including statements of programme budget implications of draft resolutions recommended by other main Committees.
   

On Monday, 27 November, the Secretary-General addressed the Committee on the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations. He drew the attention of delegations to the importance of implementing the recommendations contained in that report. Delegations who participated in the discussion were divided on the assessment made by the Secretary-General with regard to the strengthening of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and other structural arrangements for the administration of peace operations. The Committee agreed to revert to the consideration of that question once the report of the Special Committee on Peace Keeping Operations and the related report of ACABQ are available to the Committee.
  

At its meeting on 29 November, the Committee adopted a draft resolution on the financing of the UN Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)(A/C.5/55/L.10) and a draft resolution on the financing of the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) (A/C.5/55/L.9). It also took note of the Chapters of the report of the Economic and Social council (Chapters I, VII (sections B & C) and IX), which were allocated to the Fifth Committee.


Informal consultations are continuing on the scale of assessments for the regular budget, the scale of assessments for peacekeeping operations, results based budgeting, procurement reform and outsourcing practices in the UN; human resources management, UN Common system and UN Pension system, report of the Secretary-General on the activities of Internal Oversight Services, proposed medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005; Financing of Un Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL); pattern of conferences and on the three questions relating to the programme budget for the period 2000-2001 considered during the weeks.


According to a decision taken by the General Assembly, the Fifth Committee has to complete its work by 15 December 2000.