Speakers Examine 2015/16 Peacekeeping Budget Figures, Concerns over Borrowing between Missions, as Fifth Committee Opens Resumed Session
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today opened the second part of its resumed sixty-ninth session dedicated to the United Nations’ peacekeeping operations, whose budget for 2015/16 would reach $8.5 billion.
While there was a broader consensus that the peacekeeping budget must reflect the needs on the ground and those operations must be equipped with adequate resources, Member States shouldering a high proportion of the funding, said they would closely examine the budget for each mission.
The Secretary-General’s proposed budget of $8.49 billion for the period of 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 demonstrated that strict budgetary discipline remained necessary to ensure that resources were used effectively, efficiently and in an accountable and transparent manner, said a representative of the European Union, whose member nations collectively accounted for 36.8 per cent of the peacekeeping budget.
Japan’s delegate expressed concern over incremental budgeting and the unprecedentedly high budget request of $8.5 billion, noting that he was ready to engage in negotiations to achieve an agreement on budget levels that would “neither exceed nor fall short of” the requirements to implement each mission’s mandate.
The United States’ delegate welcomed many of the Secretary-General’s strategic and management initiatives to help ensure that resources matched the mandates. She viewed the work of the Office for the Peacekeeping Strategic Partnership in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations as crucial to addressing systematic challenges in peacekeeping, including identifying gaps that impacted mandate delivery.
Ecuador’s delegate, speaking for the Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), said it was of utmost importance for missions to have the necessary resources to implement their mandates.
Algeria’s delegate, speaking on the African Group’s behalf, noted that the proposed budgets of peacekeeping missions should each be considered by its unique circumstances and must be based on existing mandates of the Security Council at the time of budget preparation. The Committee’s field trip in February demonstrated that the missions were facing many challenges, particularly with regard to the security of troops, facilities and infrastructure.
South Africa’s delegate, speaking for the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, said that other key issues to be addressed during the current session included exploring options to achieve a fair solution to claims for closed missions; assessing implementation of the Global Field Support Strategy and the proposal to shift the financial model for the Regional Service Centre; and examining the concerns of the troop- and police-contributing countries, including their underrepresentation in relevant Secretariat departments.
Turning to the Board of Auditors’ reports, delegates expressed concerns about recurring weaknesses in such areas as asset management, budget implementation, procurement and information and communications technology.
Echoing the Board’s concern regarding the need to strengthen budget formulation processes, particularly for travel management, the United States’ delegate noted that travel expenditures over the past year had exceeded the approved budget by 25 per cent and underutilization of flight hours increased to 20 per cent in 2013/14. She supported the Board’s call for the Strategic Air Operations Centre of the United Nations Global Service Centre to identify economies and efficiencies in flight operations. Asset management was another area of concern, and missions needed to closely monitor the level of ageing stock and following existing procedures for equipment not in use. Delays in procurement processes and the need for better oversight of internal control mechanisms must ensure the best value of resources by the missions, she added.
On the issue of borrowing between peacekeeping missions, Carlos Ruis Massieu, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), said that, although the level of temporary borrowing by active missions from closed missions had been declining over the past three years, it remained a concern because those missions continued to rely on borrowing to meet their cash flow requirements due to delays in receiving assessed contributions. He reiterated the General Assembly’s call for Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full and on time.
Further, he cautioned that the Secretary-General’s proposal to authorize limited borrowing between active peacekeeping missions could induce the late payment of assessed contributions, and his proposal to establish a $100 million working capital fund would entail assessing the same Member States that had already paid their dues. None of those suggestions had addressed the Advisory Committee’s reservations about using resources of the Member States that had paid in full to meet the obligations of those in arrears, he said, urging the Secretary-General to continue exploring options to address the issue.
The Committee also heard the introduction of numerous reports of the Secretary-General and ACABQ on financing of peacekeeping missions, including the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS), United Nations Supervision Mission in the Syrian Arab Republic (UNSMIS), United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), and the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), with full discussion to follow later in the session.
Fransis Kitauli, Chair of the Audit Operations Committee and Director of External Audit, introduced the report of the Board of Auditors on United Nations peacekeeping operations for the financial year ending 30 June 2014. The Secretary-General’s reports on the subject were presented by Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, Assistant Secretary-General and Controller of the Office of Programme, Planning, Budget and Accounts of the Department of Management. Mr. Ruis Massieu introduced ACABQ’s reports.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Committee approved its work programme for the session and discussed the organization of its work.
Also delivering statements today were representatives of the Russian Federation, Uganda, China and Serbia.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 6 May, to hear an update on the United Nations’ financial situation, examine cross-cutting issues and discuss financing of several peacekeeping operations, including the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA).
Organization of Work
KAREN LINGENFELDER (South Africa), speaking for the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, said with the heavy workload over the coming month, she regretted to say that reports had not been translated into all official languages. The Group was also concerned about late budget submissions and that the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) was expected to deal with a growing number of reports within the same number of scheduled work weeks as in previous years. The Group intended to thoroughly examine the peacekeeping budgets and ensure they were adopted by the Assembly so the Secretariat could issue assessment letters in time for the start of the new financial period. Support for peacekeeping missions must be addressed carefully while ensuring the Committee’s work was completed in a timely manner. She proposed a practical approach to dealing with emerging challenges for missions.
She said the current session should focus on key issues, including ensuring peacekeeping budgets were based on mandates and the real situation on the ground, not arbitrary, across-the-board cuts; exploring options to achieve a fair solution to claims for closed missions; assessing implementation of the Global Field Support Strategy and the proposal to shift the financial model for the Regional Service Centre; and examining the concerns of the troop- and police-contributing countries, including their underrepresentation in relevant Secretariat departments. When discussing working methods, the principles of sovereign equality of Member States must be considered. Previous attempts to restrict the number of participants in a discussion had backfired and an inclusive approach must be followed. An easy first step to improving working methods would be to ensure that experts were empowered to craft compromises and to make concessions at the early stages of the negotiating process.
XAVIER LASSO MENDOZA (Ecuador), speaking for the Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), said it was of utmost importance for missions to have the necessary resources to implement their mandates. Regarding cross-cutting issues and their possible outcome during the current session, CELAC considered that a pragmatic approach must prevail while awaiting the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peacekeeping Operations. He welcomed the proposal to shift the financial model for the Regional Service Centre to increase transparency, resource management and performance oversight. The Community, however, was concerned about considering budgets as a compact, underlining that each operation had a stand-alone budget, planned and approved according to its mandates and needs. He said he was eager to examine a number of issues, including the reports on the financing of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).
Turning to the budgets of five special political missions, he called their current funding arrangements inadequate and highlighted that their functioning would benefit from establishing a separate account that would be budgeted, funded and reported upon on an annual basis, with a financial period of 1 July to 30 June. In that regard, he attached great importance to achieving a solution to the long-standing discussions. On working methods, he recognized efforts being made and emphasized that an open, transparent and inclusive approach was necessary.
ABDELHAKIM MIHOUBI (Algeria), speaking for the African Group, noting that the majority of the 90 documents and at least 20 agenda items for consideration during the current session were not ready on time nor had they been translated into all the official languages, expressed concern over their late submission. The proposed budgets of peacekeeping missions should each be considered by its unique circumstances and must be based on existing mandates of the Security Council at the time of budget preparation. The Committee’s field trip in February demonstrated that the missions were facing many challenges, particularly with regard to the security of troops, facilities and infrastructure.
In the current session, the Group would take a keen interest in closely examining the performance and proposal for all the closed and active peacekeeping operations, United Nations support to the African Union Mission and performance of the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda. The Group would also closely follow issues outlined in the Board of Auditors’ reports, including budget formulation and the Global Field Support Strategy. The session carried a heavy workload, he said, and hard work, dedication, frankness and transparency in deliberations would facilitate the timely conclusion of the Committee’s work. Discouraging “closed door” small configurations for negotiations, he stressed that the Committee needed to abide by the approved official timing for negotiations, as outline in its work programme.
CARMEL POWER, a representative of the European Union Delegation, said peacekeeping activities had evolved over the last 15 years and were a vital instrument in advancing peace and security in the world. As the largest collective financial contributors, amounting to 36.8 per cent of the peacekeeping budget, her delegation would closely examine all missions with a view to providing them with adequate financing to carry out their mandates. The Secretary-General’s proposed budget of $8.49 billion for the period of 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 demonstrated that strict budgetary discipline remained necessary to ensure that resources were used effectively, efficiently and in an accountable and transparent manner.
Attaching great important to the Secretary-General’s Overview Report, she said her delegation was optimistic for a fruitful outcome in 2015, given that the Committee was, for two years, unable to conclude a cross-cutting resolution. Her delegation also looked forward to discussing the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) with a view to facilitating the seamless transition of its functions to national authorities, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and implementing partners.
HIROSHI MINAMI (Japan) expressed full support for United Nations peacekeeping operations, but stressed that they must be “efficient, effective and accountable”. Concerned by incremental budgeting and the unprecedentedly high budget request of $8.5 billion, his delegation was ready to engage in negotiations to achieve an agreement on budget levels that would “neither exceed nor fall short of” the requirements to implement each mission’s mandate. In particular, Japan would examine funding for the drawdown and closure phases, as well as civilian staff costs and operation costs in general. On cross-cutting issues, his delegation would ask many questions during informal consultations about a shared service centre and separating the budget of the regional service centre.
ISOBEL COLEMAN (United States) said her delegation remained committed to the Committee’s role in closely scrutinizing the Secretary-General’s requests to ensure the peacekeeping budgets reflected actual requirements, were driven by realistic planning assumptions, and incorporated prudent management initiatives. Welcoming many of the Secretary-General’s strategic and management initiatives to help ensure that resources matched the mandates, she viewed the work of the Office for the Peacekeeping Strategic Partnership in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations as crucial to addressing systematic challenges in peacekeeping, including identifying gaps that impacted mandate delivery.
On the Global Field Support Strategy, she strongly supported the concept of shared services for peacekeeping. As for the implementation of the Expert Panel on Technology and Innovation in United Nations peacekeeping, technology and innovation could be “force multipliers” but they needed to be embedded into the organizational culture to be truly effective. She supported many of the Expert Panel’s recommendations, including fostering a culture of innovation within the Organization and making better use of open source information, as those would enhance decision-making. She would continue to support stronger measures in combating sexual exploitation, including further accountability, as well as strengthened oversight to prevent and detect corruption, fraud and abuse.
SERGEY KHALIZOV (Russian Federation) said that the current situation of peacekeeping operations was unprecedented, with their budget nearing a new high watermark of $8.5 billion. There was a need to identify areas for additional savings while ensuring that those reductions would not impact the mandates of missions. His delegation was ready to further engage in discussions, in particular on the Secretary-General’s proposal regarding the Global Field Support Strategy, including the process and time frame of its implementation.
CAROLINE NALWANGA (Uganda) said it was important to provide adequate resources to United Nations peacekeeping missions so they could accomplish their mandates. During the resumed session, Uganda would place great emphasis on discussions on items such as the Board of Auditors’ reports, implementation of the Global Field Support Strategy, and peacekeeping budgets, and reforms. She hoped the concerns raised by the African Group on peacekeeping budget proposals were addressed so mission mandates could be fulfilled. She also looked forward to discussing the standardization of payment for mission activities and the successful conclusion of the Global Field Support Strategy, among other matters.
GUO XUEJUN (China) said the focus of the current session should aim at providing adequate resources for missions to maintain international peace and security. Optimizing logistics and mechanisms must improve the delivery of each mission’s mandate. Full consideration should also be given to Member States’ concerns, particularly in Africa, where most missions were being deployed. His delegation had maintained that assessments should be paid in a timely manner. Given the current session’s heavy work load, he regretted that documents had not been distributed on time.
Board of Auditors’ Reports
FRANSIS KITAULI, Chair of the Audit Operations Committee and Director of External Audit, introduced the report of the Board of Auditors on United Nations peacekeeping operations for the financial year ending 30 June 2014 (document A/69/5 Vol. II). Providing an overview of the report, he said a number of challenges had occurred. For the first time, financial statements had been prepared in accordance with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), which posed a major challenge for management. Delays in preparing financial reports had impacted the audit, which had discovered a number of errors that had to be revised. Moreover, alternative audit procedures were necessary as field audits of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) were not possible due to travel restrictions in Liberia resulting from the outbreak of Ebola.
Despite those setbacks, the Board issued an unqualified opinion for the period ending 30 June 2014, he said. Thus the Administration had successfully completed the transition of peacekeeping accounts from the United Nations Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS) to the IPSAS framework. The report acknowledged progress, but noted continuing deficiencies in some business processes such as asset management, equipment procurement, air transport management, the implementation of the Global Field Support Strategy and in the use of information and communication technology resources in peacekeeping. Asset management deficiencies included delays in the write-off of assets valued at $12.2 million in 11 field missions and a delay in the disposal of already written-off assets valued at $22.8 million in 12 field missions. The total value of assets not used for periods exceeding six months in four field missions was $55.23 million, while items valued at $3.17 million could not be located during physical verifications. On procurement and contracting, greater transparency and improved efficiencies could result in savings and a quicker provision of equipment and services. Concerning air resources, the underutilization of flight hours across missions increased to 20 per cent during 2013/14 from 13 per cent in 2012/13.
Despite progress in implementing the Global Field Support Strategy, activities were behind schedule and unlikely to be completed by the end of June, he said. As such, progress must be escalated with a revised and realistic plan. On travel management, the Board noted that expenditures exceeded the approved budget when it increased to $65.5 million in 2013/14 from $51.1 million in 2012/13, he said, noting high levels of non-compliance with policy at Headquarters and across field missions. With regard to auditing information and communication technology resources, there were wide variations between allocations and expenditure across six missions and the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe. Among a range of concerns, he reported insufficient cyber emergency response procedures or designated teams to effectively assess, respond and mitigate breaches of cybersecurity. In light of those and other issues, the Board recommended a more empirical and transparent process of setting standards and undertaking a cost-benefit analysis.
BETTINA TUCCI BARTSIOTAS, Assistant Secretary-General and Controller of the Office of Programme, Planning, Budget and Accounts of the Department of Management, introduced the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of recommendations of the Board of Auditors concerning United Nations peacekeeping operations for the financial period ended 30 June 2014 (document A/69/781). Those were the first sets of financial statements the Secretariat prepared under the new accounting standards, which represented a major challenge for the Organization.
She said the Administration concurred with most of the Board’s recommendations and many of its comments, but provided additional comments and information on the status of implementation, the department responsible, the estimated completion date and the priority for each recommendation. Medium and high priority recommendations in the areas of global field support strategy, information and communication technology, asset management, procurement, air transportation and other issues, were shown in a concise manner, she said. In the cases where recommendations were not accepted, explanations were provided, including the reason, background and impediment. The Administration was pleased to note that the Board had reported that there was an increase of 8 per cent in the rate of implementation of its recommendations, from 43 per cent in the 2011/12 financial period to 51 per cent in the 2012/13 financial period.
CARLOS RUIS MASSIEU, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, introduced that body’s related report (document A/69/838). It commended the Board of Auditors for the quality of its report and welcomed the review of travel management and information and communications technology resources in peacekeeping operations. The Board played an important role in guiding implementation of the new accounting standards. The ACABQ noted that the matters of ageing stock and unutilized flight hours budgeted across missions continued to cause concern. The Board indicated the need to ensure more realistic budgetary projections and redeployments with full justifications. The Committee considered that further strengthening was necessary in managing procurement and contracts, official travel, assets and air operations. As for weakness regarding the management of peacekeeping operations, the Committee concluded that reinforcement of internal control measures and monitoring mechanisms was required, and it trusted that the Secretary-General would address the issue.
Ms. LINGENFELDER (South Africa), speaking for the “Group of 77”, noted the Board’s financial statement was prepared and audited in line with ISPAS, and looked forward to improved financial statements in the future. She sought details on the Board’s recommendations for 2013/14. Her delegation was deeply concerned about the recurrence of weaknesses in areas, including asset management, budget implementation, procurement and information and communications technology equipment and software. She was also concerned that the Global Field Support Strategy continued to be an area with serious weaknesses as the strategy entered its final stage. During informal consultations, the Group would seek clarification on those matters. Welcoming the 8 per cent increase in 2013/14 of the implementation rate of the Board’s recommendations, she stressed the importance of implementing the recommendations in a full and timely manner as the Administration must continue to take practical measures to set the time frame and priorities and to hold office-holders accountable for any shortcomings. It was also crucial for the Administration to identify the root causes of recurring issues and minimizing the ageing of the Board’s previous recommendations as it implemented new recommendations.
Ms. POWER, representative of the European Union Delegation, said the Board’s independent expertise was very important to the development of a more accountable and transparent United Nations system. The European Union agreed with the Board that improvements were needed in various sectors, including budget formulation and redeployment of resources, asset and travel management, procurement and contracting, the Global Field Support Strategy, air transportation, constructions projects, and the management of QIPS and information and communications technology. She also concurred with ACABQ that more details were needed on actions taken to address the Board’s concerns and the need for the Organization to continue to strengthen its internal control framework in peacekeeping operations.
NATALIA MAHMUD (United States) said expert oversight of the United Nations operations and finances was crucial to enable peacekeeping missions to achieve their mandates efficiently and effectively. She commended the Secretary-General for increasing the implementation rate of the Board’s recommendations in 2012/13 and recognized his efforts to ensure the 2013/14 financial statements for peacekeeping were IPSAS-compliant. Her delegation echoed the Board’s concern regarding the need to strengthen budget formulation processes, particularly for travel management given that travel expenditures over the past year had exceeded the approved budget by 25 per cent and underutilization of flight hours increased to 20 per cent in 2013/14. She echoed the Board’s call for the Strategic Air Operations Centre of the United Nations Global Service Centre to identify economies and efficiencies in flight operations. Asset management was another area of concern, and missions needed to closely monitor the level of ageing stock and following existing procedures for equipment not in use. Delays in procurement processes and the need for better oversight of internal control mechanisms must ensure the best value of resources by the missions.
Financial Position of Closed Peacekeeping Missions
Ms. BARTSIOTAS introduced the Secretary-General’s report on the updated financial position of closed peacekeeping missions as at 30 June 2014 (document A/69/659). As of that date, she said, 20 of the 25 closed peacekeeping missions had a total of $58.9 million in cash surpluses available for credit to Member States. The other five had deficits totalling $86.7 million due to outstanding payments of assessed contributions. Liquidity in active peacekeeping missions was volatile, with the cash surpluses of closed missions currently being used to alleviate their cash shortage. While there had been some improvement in recent years, a significant level of cross-borrowing was still required. The report, therefore, requested that the General Assembly consider options for the temporary financing of missions facing cash shortages.
The Secretary-General was proposing the use of surplus funds from other active missions on a case-by-case basis, for a limited amount of up to $100 million, or 1.4 per cent of the total cost of peacekeeping operations, to be repaid in part or in full at the shortest possible time, she said. Closed monitoring would be accompanied by quarterly reporting online to ensure maximum transparency and accountability. Another option would be the establishment of a peacekeeping working capital fund in the amount of $100 million financed from new assessments, or from a transfer of the unencumbered balance from 2013/14. If no new mechanism was approved, the Assembly was requested to allow retention of the net cash balance of $59 million in the closed missions.
Mr. RUIS MASSIEU introduced ACABQ’s related report (document A/69/827), noting that, although the level of temporary borrowing by active missions from closed missions had been declining over the past three years, it remained a concern because those missions continued to rely on borrowing to meet their cash flow requirements due to delays in receiving assessed contributions. The Advisory Committee reiterated the Assembly’s call for Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full and on time.
The Secretary-General’s proposal to authorize limited borrowing between active peacekeeping missions could induce the late payment of assessed contributions, he said. Establishing a $100 million working capital fund would entail assessing the same Member States that had already paid their dues. None of the Secretary-General’s proposals had addressed the Advisory Committee’s reservations about using resources of the Member States that had paid their dues on time to meet the obligations of those that had not. He urged the Secretary-General to continue exploring options to address the issue of late payments.
Ms. LINGENFELDER (South Africa), speaking for the Group of 77, said she was concerned about the cash deficit situations in several closed peacekeeping missions owing to the continued non-payment of arrears of Member States, which had resulted in turn in substantial and long-standing dues owed by the United Nations troop- and police-contributing countries that had fulfilled their financial obligations to the Organization. The Group stressed the important of finding a viable solution to the issue of outstanding payments to troop- and police-contributing countries, regardless of the problem of cash deficits in those missions. The Group was grateful for the Secretary-General’s proposal towards that end, but believed that any proposal other than the full payment of outstanding funds was unfeasible, given the fact that payments were long overdue.
Financing of Peacekeeping Operations
Ms. BARTSIOTAS introduced the Secretary-General’s numerous reports on financing of peacekeeping operations. For the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), (document A/69/596), the assets with the total inventory value of $127.3 million were disposed of as of 30 June 2014. That figure was $34.2 million for United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) (document A/69/589) and $15.7 million for the United Nations Supervision Mission in the Syrian Arab Republic (UNSMIS) (documents A/69/594 and A/69/594/Corr.1). For the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) (document A/69/579), the General Assembly was requested to credit the cash balance of $21.2 million available in the Mission’s special account as of 30 June 2014 to Member States.
Turning to the closing missions, the proposed 2015/16 budget for United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) (documents A/69/591 and A/69/729) amounted to $41.4 million, down 3.6 per cent from the previous year, due mainly to lower civilian personnel costs. The proposed 2015/16 budget for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) (document A/69/595 and A/69/730) amounted to $53.3 million, down 1.2 per cent from the previous year, due mainly to a decrease in posts.
Mr. RUIS MASSIEU introduced ACABQ’s related reports. On MINURCAT (document A/69/841), he said that the Advisory Committee recommended that assets transferred to other missions be recorded according to their depreciated value in accordance with IPSAS. He expressed regret that the Mission’s asset disposal process did not follow the parameters set out in the Liquidation Manual. On UNSMIS (document A/69/847), the Advisory Committee highlighted an inventory discrepancy in the number of armoured vehicles transferred from UNSMIS to the Office of the Joint Special Representative for Syria. As such a vehicle was valued at about $130,000, the Advisory Committee expected the Secretary-General to provide a status update to the Assembly. As for UNMIS (document A/69/848), the cash surpluses for credit to Member States should be returned in full and on time.
Concerning the cost apportionment for applications developed by the Office of Information and Communications Technology and the supply chain management initiative, ACABQ disagreed with the Secretary-General’s proposal to charge the missions for the entirety of those costs and recommended that the proposed resource requirements in the individual missions be reduced accordingly. As for UNMIK (document A/69/839/Add.10), the Advisory Committee recommended a net increase of $62,800 to the proposed budget, and objected to the proposed abolishment of the P-4 post of Conduct and Discipline Officer. For MINURSO (document A/69/839/Add.3), it recommended a reduction of $815,500 to the proposed budget for 2015/16. Regarding the Mission’s decision to acquire surplus vehicles from other missions instead of buying new ones, the Advisory Committee believes that other missions should consider taking similar cost-saving steps. Expressing concern over the mission’s precarious financial position due to the late receipt of assessed contributions, he called on the Secretary-General to continue exploring options to address the issue.
The Advisory Committee’s report on financing of UNMIT is contained in document A/69/851).
KATARINA LALIĆ SMAJEVIĆ (Serbia) said her country strongly supported UNMIK for its active engagement in creating conditions for a peaceful life for residents and for its “status neutral” approach. The presence of a United Nations mission was paramount for stability in the Province and for creating the conditions that would lead to a sustainable solution. To accomplish its mandate, UNMIK needed adequate staffing and financing, she said, concerned about the Mission’s recent downsizing. “Staff should not be downsized and activities should be reinforced,” she said, expressing regret that for the second budgetary year, the P-4 post of Conduct and Discipline Officer had been proposed for abolishment. Turning to the proposed budget, she welcomed the provision of $414,000 for implementing 20 “quick impact” projects that aimed at, among other things, enhancing inter-municipal and inter-ethnic cooperation and community reconciliation. In closing, she reiterated her concern that even a minor downsizing of the Mission would have a negative effect on its mandate.