FINANCING OF THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCES IN THE
MIDDLE EAST: UNITED NATIONS DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE
Report of the Fifth Committee
Rapporteur: Mr. Félix ABOLY-BI-KOUASSI (Côte d'Ivoire)
1. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 18 September 1987, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include in the agenda of its forty-second session, and to allocated to the Fifth Committee, the item entitled:
"Financing of the United Nations peace-keeping forces in the Middle East:
"(a) United Nations Disengagement Observer Force: report of the Secretary-General;
"(b) United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon: report of the Secretary-General;
"(c) Review of the rates of reimbursement to the Governments of troop-contributing States: report of the Secretary-General".
2. The Fifth Committee considered sub-item (a) of agenda item 125 at its 46th and 48th meetings, on 27 and 30 November 1987. It had before it the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (A/42/642) and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (A/42/791).
II. CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT RESOLUTION A/C.5/42/L.5
3. At the 46th meeting, on 27 November, the representative of Canada introduced draft resolutions A and B (A/C.5/42/L.5) sponsored by Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, Ghana, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden, subsequently joined by Nepal.
4. At its 48th meeting on 30 November, the Committee adopted draft resolutions A and B by a recorded vote of 94 to 3, with 7 abstentions (see para. 6). The voting was as follows:
In favour: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, German Democratic Republic, Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Albania, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Syrian Arab Republic.
Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Democratic Yemen, Iraq, Maldives, Sudan, Yemen.
5. Statements and observations made in the course of the Committee's consideration of this sub-item are reflected in the relevant summary records (see A/C.5/42/SR.46 and 48).
III. RECOMMENDATION OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE
6. The Fifth Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolutions:
FINANCING OF THE UNITED NATIONS DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE
The General Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force 1/ and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, 2/
Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 350 (1974) of 31 May 1974, by which the Council established the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Force, the latest of which was Security Council resolution 603 (1987) of 25 November 1987,
Recalling its resolution 3211 B (XXIX) of 29 November 1974 on the financing of the United Nations Emergency Force and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 41/44 A of 3 December 1986,
Reaffirming its previous decisions regarding the fact that, in order to meet the expenditures caused by such operations, a different procedure is required from the one applied to meet expenditures of the regular budget of the United Nations,
Taking into account the fact that the economically more developed countries are in a position to make relatively larger contributions and that the economically less developed countries have a relatively limited capacity to contribute towards peace-keeping operations involving heavy expenditures,
Bearing in mind the special responsibilities of the States permanent members of the Security Council in the financing of such operations, as indicated in General Assembly resolution 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963 and other resolutions of the Assembly,
I
1. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account referred to in section II, paragraph 1, of General Assembly resolution 3211 B (XXIX) the amount of $17,400,000 gross ($17,100,000 net) authorized and apportioned by section III of Assembly resolution 41/44 A for the operation of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force for the period from 1 June to 30 November 197, inclusive;
II
1. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account an amount of $17,664,000 for the operation of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force for the period from 1 December 1987 to 31 May 1988, inclusive;
2. Decides further, as an ad hoc arrangement, without prejudice to the positions of principle that may be taken by Member States in any consideration by the General Assembly of arrangements for the financing of peace-keeping operations, to apportion the amount of $17,664,000 among Member States in accordance with the scheme set out in section II, paragraph 2, of Assembly resolution 41/44 A;
3. Decides that there shall be set off against the apportionments among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 2 above, their respective share in the estimated income of $10,000 other than staff assessment income approved for the period from 1 December 1987 to 31 May 1988, inclusive;
4. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 2 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of $296,000 approved for the period from 1 December 1987 to 31 May 1988, inclusive;
III
Authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force at a rate not to exceed $2,944,000 gross ($2,893,000 net) per month for the period from 1 June to 30 November 1988, inclusive, should the Security Council decide to continue the Force beyond the period of six months authorized under its resolution 603 (1987), the said amount to be appropriated among Member States in accordance with the scheme set out in section II, paragraph 2, of Assembly resolution 41/44 A;
IV
1. Stresses the need for voluntary contributions to the United Nations Disengagement Force, both in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General;
2. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the United Nations Disengagement Force is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy.
Having regard to the financial position of the Special Account for the United Nations Emergency Force and the United Nations Disengagement Force, as set forth in the report of the Secretary-General, 1/ and referring to paragraph 6 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, 2/
Recalling its resolution 33/13 E of 14 December 1978 and the subsequent resolutions in which it decided that the provisions of regulation 5.2 (b), 5.2 (d), 4.3 and 4.4 of the Financial Regulations of the United Nations should be suspended, the latest of which was General Assembly resolution 41/44 B of 3 December 1986,
Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the United Nations Disengagement Force with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,
Concerned that the Secretary-General continues to face difficulties in meeting the obligations of the Forces on a current basis, particularly those due to the Governments of troop-contributing States,
Recognizing that, in consequence of the withholding of contributions by certain Member States, the surplus balances in the Special Account for the United Nations Emergency Force and the United Nations Disengagement Force have, in effect, been drawn upon to the full extent to supplement the income received from contributions for meeting expenses of the Forces,
Concerned that the application of the provisions of regulations 5.2 (b), 5.2 (d), 4.3 and 4.4 of the Financial Regulations of the United Nations would aggravate the already difficult financial situation of the Forces,
Decides that the provisions of regulations 5.2 (b), 5.2 (d), 4.3 and 4.4 of the Financial Regulations of the United Nations shall be suspended in respect of the amount of $1,331,921, which otherwise would have to be surrendered pursuant to those provisions, this amount to be entered into the account referred to in the operative part of General Assembly resolution 33/13 E and held in suspense until a further decision is taken by the Assembly.
