UNDOF/UNIFIL financing – Fifth Cttee debate – Summary record (excerpts)

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 34th MEETING

Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and

Budgetary Questions:  Mr. MSELLE

CONTENTS

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AGENDA ITEM 116:  FINANCING OF THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

(a) UNITED NATIONS DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE

(b) UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON

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The meeting was called to order at 10.30 a.m.

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AGENDA ITEM 116:  FINANCING OF THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCES IN THE MIDDLE EAST (A/49/785 and Corr.1)

(a) UNITED NATIONS DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE (A/49/553)

(b) UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON (A/49/644)

22. Mr. TAKASU (Controller) said that the Secretary-General was of the view that the surplus balance in the Special Account of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) which was held in suspense could be reduced only under the following conditions:  if substantial payment of arrears was made by Member States; if prompt and full payments were made by Member States of their assessed contributions in respect of future mandates approved by the Security Council; and if there was cash available after the operating expenses of UNDOF had been met.

23. With regard to the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), (A/49/644), savings of $7.5 million had been effected as a result of reductions in average troop strength and the replacement of international civilian staff by local staff.  He recalled that, in resolution 48/254, the General Assembly had requested the Secretary-General to include in his next report to the General Assembly on the financing of UNDOF comments on the feasibility of a gradual reduction of the surplus balance, taking into account the financial situation of the Force, the status of reimbursement to troop-contributing countries and the views expressed by Member States.  Given the substantial outstanding balance of assessed contributions, however, it would be difficult to recommend a reduction of the surplus balance.

24. Mr. MSELLE (Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions) noted that the financial situation of UNDOF was better than that of UNIFIL.  The Advisory Committee therefore saw no need to enter the surplus balance of $9.1 million into the suspense account; that surplus should be instead credited to Member States.  The Advisory Committee further recommended that the General Assembly should appropriate the amount of $16,080,000 gross ($15,594,000 net) authorized and assessed in accordance with paragraph 18 of General Assembly resolution 48/253 for the period from 1 June to 30 November 1994.  Additionally, the Advisory Committee recommended that the General Assembly should also appropriate an amount of $32,132,000 gross ($31,132,000 net) for the period from 1 December 1994 to 31 May 1995.  For the period beyond 31 May 1995, should the Security Council renew the mandate of UNDOF, the Advisory Committee recommended that the General Assembly should authorize the Secretary-General to enter into commitments at a monthly rate not exceeding $2,677,583 gross ($2,594,000 net) per month for the maintenance of the Force.

25. With regard to UNIFIL, the Advisory Committee concurred in the Secretary-General's proposal in paragraph 25 (d) of his report (A/49/644) to enter the surplus balances of $5,780,416 covering the period from 1 February 1991 to 31 January 1992 and $12,198,044 for the period from 1 February 1992 to 31 January 1993 into the suspense account.  As for the cost estimates for the period from 1 February 1995 to 31 January 1996, the Advisory Committee noted that the Secretary-General, in paragraph 25 (b) of his report, was seeking commitment authorization at a monthly rate of $11,234,500 gross from the General Assembly.  The Advisory Committee recommended acceptance of that proposal, should the Security Council decide to renew the mandate of UNIFIL beyond 31 January 1996.

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The meeting rose at 11.55 a.m.