FINANCING OF THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCES IN THE
MIDDLE EAST: UNITED NATIONS DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE
Report of the Fifth Committee
Rapporteur: Mr. Soeprapto HERIJANTO (Indonesia)
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 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".
2. The Fifth Committee considered sub-item (a) of agenda item 120 at its 38th meeting, on 28 November 1986. It had before it the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (A/41/705) and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (A/41/820).
II. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS
3. At the 38th meeting, on 28 November, the representative of Canada introduced draft resolutions A and B (A/C.5/41/L.11) sponsored by Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden.
4. At the same meeting, the Committee considered the two draft with the following results:
(a) Draft resolution A was adopted by 82 votes to 1, with 17 abstentions (see para. 6, draft resolution A). The voting was as follows:
In favour: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Greece, Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liberia, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire and Zambia.
Against: Syrian Arab Republic.
Abstaining: Algeria, Benin, Bulgaria, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Iraq, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Maldives, Mongolia, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Viet Nam, Yemen.
(b) Draft resolution B was adopted by 84 votes to 1, with 18 abstentions (see para. 6, draft resolution G). The voting was as follows:
In favour: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Greece, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liberia, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, 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 and Zambia.
Against: Syrian Arab Republic.
Abstaining: Algeria, Benin, Bulgaria, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Iraq, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Maldives, Mongolia, Poland, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Viet Nam, 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.5/41/SR.38).
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
A
The General Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, 1/ as well as 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, 363 (1974) of 29 November 1974, 369 (1975) of 28 May 1975, 381 (1975) of 30 November 1975, 390 (1976) of 28 May 1976, 398 (1976) of 30 November 1976, 408 (1977) of 26 May 1977, 420 (1977) of 30 November 1977, 429 (1978) of 31 May 1978, 441 (1978) of 30 November 1978, 449 (1979) of 30 May 1979, 456 (1979) of 30 November 1979, 470 (1980) of 30 May 1980, 481 (1980) of 26 November 1980, 485 (1981) of 22 May 1981, 493 (1981) of 23 November 1981, 506 (1982) of 26 May 1982, 524 (1982) of 29 November 1982, 531 (1983) of 26 May 1983, 543 (1983) of 29 November 1983, 551 (1984) of 30 May 1984, 557 (1984) of 28 November 1984, 563 (1985) of 21 May 1985, 576 (1985) of 21 November 1985, 584 (1986) of 29 May 1986 and 590 (1986) of 26 November 1986,
Recalling its resolution 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973, 3211 B (XXIX) of 29 November 1974, 3374 C (XXX) of 2 December 1975, 31/5 D of 22 December 1976, 32/4 C of 2 December 1977, 33/13 D of 8 December 1978, 34/7 C of 3 December 1979, 35/44 of 1 December 1980, 35/45 A of 1 December 1980, 36/66/ A of 30 November 1981, 37/38 A of 30 November 1982, 38/35 A of 1 December 1983, 39/28 A of 30 November 1984 and 40/59 A of 2 December 1985,
Reaffirming its previous decisions regarding the fact that, in order to meet the expenditures caused by such operations, a different procedure is required from that 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 $18,282,000 gross ($17,934,498 net) authorized and apportioned by section III of Assembly resolution 40/59 A for the operation of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force for the period from 1 June to 30 November 1986, inclusive;
II
1. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account an amount of $17,400,000 for the operation of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force for the period from 1 December 1986 to 31 May 1987, 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 $17,400,000 among Member States in accordance with the scheme set out in Assembly resolution 3101 (XXVIII) and the provisions of section II, paragraph 2 (b) and 2 (c), and section V, paragraph 1, of resolution 3374 C (XXX), section V, paragraph 1, of resolution 31/5 D, section V, paragraph 1, of resolution 32/4 C, section V, paragraph 1, of resolution 33/13 D, section V, paragraph 1, of resolution 34/7 C, section V, paragraph 1, of resolution 35/45 A, section V, paragraph 1, of resolution 36/66 A, section V, paragraph 1, of resolution 37/38 A and section V, paragraphs 1 and 2, of resolution 39/28 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 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 1986 to 31 May 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 $290,000 approved for the period from 1 December 1986 to 31 May 1987, inclusive;
III
Authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force at a rate not to exceed $2,900,000 gross ($2,850,000 net) per month for the period from 1 June to 30 November 1987, inclusive, should the Security Council decide to continue the Force beyond the period of six months authorized under its resolution 590 (1986), the said amount to be apportioned among Member States in accordance with the scheme set out in the present resolution;
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 conducted 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/
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 is continuing to face growing difficulties in meeting the obligations of the Forces on a current basis, particularly those due to the Governments of troop-contributing States,
Recalling its resolution 33/13 E of 14 December 1978, 34/7 D of 17 December 1979, 34/45 B of 1 December 1980, 36/66 B of 30 November 1981, 37/38 B of 30 November 1982, 38/35 B of 1 December 1983, 39/28 B of 30 November 1984 and 40/59 B of 2 December 1985,
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 $1,496,703, 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.
