UNIFIL – Finance – Fifth Cttee report

FINANCING OF THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCES IN THE

MIDDLE EAST:  UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON

Report of the Fifth Committee

Rapporteur:  Mr. Soeprapto HERIJANTO (Indonesia)

I.  INTRODUCTION

1. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 20 September 1986, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include in the agenda of its forty-first session, and to allocate 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;

2. The Fifth Committee considered sub-item (b) of agenda item 120 at its 35th meeting, on 25 November 1986.  It had before it the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (A/41/783 and Corr.1) and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (A/41/820).

II.  CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS

A.  Draft resolution A/C.5/42/L.10

3. At the 35th meeting, on 25 November, the representative of Ireland introduced draft resolutions A and B (A/C.5/41/L.7 sponsored by Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Sweden and Thailand.

4. At the same meeting, the Committee considered the two draft resolutions, with the following results:

(a) Draft resolution A was adopted by 94 votes to 2, with 8 abstentions (see para. 6, draft resolution A).  The voting was as follows: 1/

In favour: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, German Democratic Republic, Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, 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, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia.

Against: Albania, Syrian Arab Republic.

Abstaining: Angola, Bhutan, Cuba, Iraq, Malawi, Maldives, Poland, Yemen.

(b) Draft resolution B was adopted by 88 votes to 2, with 16 abstentions (see para. 6, draft resolution B).  The voting was as follows: 1/

In favour: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia.

Against: Albania, Syrian Arab Republic.

Abstaining: Afghanistan, Angola, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic, Hungary Iraq, Maldives, Mongolia, Poland, Rwanda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

5. Statements and observations made in the course of the Committee's consideration of this sub-item are reflected in the relevant summary record (see A/C.5/41/SR.35).

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 Interim Force in Lebanon

A

The General Assembly,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon 2/ and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, 3/

Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 425 (1978)  and 426 (1978) of 19 March 1978, 427 (1978) of 3 May 1978, 434 (1978) of 18 September 1978, 444 (1979) of 19 January 1979, 450 (1979) of 14 June 1979, 459 (1979) of 19 December 1979, 474 (1980) of 17 June 1980, 483 (1980) of 17 December 1980, 488 (1981) of 19 June 1981, 498 (1981) of 18 December 1981, 501 (1982) of 25 February 1982, 511 (1982) of 18 June 1982, 519 (1982) of 17 August 1982, 523 (1982) of 18 October 1982, 529 (1983) of 18 January 1983, 536 (1983) of 18 July 1983, 538 (1983) of 18 October 1983, 549 (1984) of 19 April 1984, 555 (1984) of 12 October 1984, 561 (1985) of 17 April 1985, 575 (1985) of 17 October 1985, 583 (1986) of 18 April 1986 and 586 (1986) of 18 July 1986,

Recalling its resolutions S-8/2 of 21 April 1978, 33/14 of 3 November 1978, 34/9 B of 17 December 1979, 35/44 of 1 December 1980, 35/115 A of 10 December 1980, 36/138 A of 16 December 1981, 36/138 C of 19 March 1982, 37/127 A of 17 December 1982, 38/38 A of 5 December 1983, 39/71 A of 13 December 1984 and 40/246 A of 18 December 1985,

Reaffirming its previous decisions regarding the fact that, in order to meet the expenditures caused by such operations, a different procedure from the one applied to meet expenditures of the regular budget of the United Nations is required,

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 peace-keeping operations decided upon in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,

I

Decides to appropriate to the Special Account referred to in section I, paragraph 1, of General Assembly resolution S-8/2 an amount of $35/872,000 gross ($35,287,000 net), being the amount authorized with the prior concurrence of the Advisory committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and apportioned under the provisions of section IV of Assembly resolution 40/246 A for the operation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon from 19 April to 18 July 1986, inclusive;

II

Decides to appropriate to the Special Account an amount of $59,787,500 gross ($58,812,500 net), being the amount authorized with the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and apportioned under the provisions of section IV of Assembly resolution 40/246 A for the operation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon from 19 July to 18 December 1986, inclusive;

III

1. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account an amount of $16,579,000 for the operation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon for the period from 19 December 1986 to 18 January 1987, inclusive;

2. Decides, 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 above amount of $16,579,000 among Member States in accordance with the scheme set out in Assembly resolution 33/14 and the provisions of section V, paragraph 1, of resolution 34/9 B, section VI, paragraph 1, of resolution 35/115 A, section VI, paragraph 1, of resolution 36/138 A, section IX, paragraph 1, of resolution 37/127 A and section VII, paragraphs 1 and 2, of resolution 39/71 A, in the proportions determined by the scale of assessments for the years 1986, 1987 and 1988;

3. Decides that there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided in paragraph 2 above, their respective share in the estimated income of $3,000 other than staff assessment income approved for the period from 19 December 1986 to 18 January, 1987, inclusive;

4. Decides 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 $192,000 approved for the period from 19 December 1986 to 18 January 1987, inclusive;

IV

Authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for the operation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon at a rate not to exceed $12,125,000 gross ($11,922,000 net) per month for the 12-month period beginning 19 January 1987, should the Security Council decide to continue the Force beyond the period of six months authorized under its resolution 586 (1986), the said amount to be apportioned among Member States in accordance with the scheme set out in the present resolution;

V

1. Renews its invitation to Member States to make voluntary contributions to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon both in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General;

2. Invites Member States to make voluntary contributions in cash to the Suspense Account established in accordance with resolution 34/9 D of 17 December 1979;

VI

Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to ensure that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon shall be administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy.

B

The General Assembly,

Having regard to the financial position of the Special Account for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, as set forth in the report of the Secretary-General, 2/ and referring to paragraph 18 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, 3/

Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon 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 is continuing to face increasing difficulties in meeting the obligations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon on a current basis, particularly those due to Governments of troop-contributing States,

Recognizing that, in consequence of the shortfall of financial contributions, troop-contributing States are not being reimbursed to the full extent of the established rates, thus bearing considerably larger portions of the costs for their troops serving in the United Nations peace-keeping forces than those indicated by the Secretary-General in his report to the fortieth session, 4/

Recalling its resolutions 34/9 E of 17 December 1979, 35/115 B of 10 December 1980, 36/138 B of 16 December 1981, 37/127 B of 17 December 1982, 38/38 B of 5 December 1983, 39/71 B of 13 December 1984 and 40/246 B of 18 December 1985,

Recognizing that, in consequence of the withholding of contributions by certain Member States, the surplus balance in the Special Account for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon have, in effect, been drawn upon to the full extent to supplement the income received from contributions for meeting expenses of the Force,

Concerned also 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 United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon,

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 $4,763,620, which otherwise would have to be surrendered pursuant to these provisions, this amount to be entered in the account referred to in the operative part of General Assembly resolution 34/9 E and held in suspense until a further decision is taken by the Assembly.

Notes

1/ Subsequently the delegation of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya indicated that it had intended to vote against the draft resolution.

2/ A/41/783 and Corr.1.

3/ A/41/820.

4/ A/40/845.

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