UNDOF – Finance – Fifth Cttee report/Addendum

FINANCING OF THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCES IN THE
MIDDLE EAST:  UNITED NATIONS DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE
Report of the Fifth Committee (Part II)
Rapporteur:  Mr. Larbi DJACTA (Algeria)

I.  INTRODUCTION

1. The previous recommendations made by the Fifth Committee to the General Assembly under agenda item 116 (a), entitled "Financing of the United Nations peace-keeping forces in the Middle East:  United Nations Disengagement Observer Force", appear in the report of the Committee contained in document A/49/755.

2. The Fifth Committee considered the item further at its 34th and 36th meetings, on 19 and 21 December 1994.  Statements and observations made in the course of the Committee's consideration of the item are reflected in the relevant summary records (A/C.5/49/SR.34 and 36).

II.  CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT RESOLUTION A/C.5/49/L.26

3. At the 36th meeting, on 21 December, the representative of Latvia introduced a draft resolution entitled "United Nations Disengagement Observer Force" (A/C.5/49/L.26), submitted by the Chairman on the basis of informal consultations.

4. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.5/49/L.26 without a vote (see para. 5).

III.  RECOMMENDATION OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE

5. The Fifth Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolution:
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 mandate of the Force was extended, the latest of which was resolution 962 (1994) of 29 November 1994,

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 48/253 of 26 May 1994,

Reaffirming that the costs of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force are expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member States in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations,

Recalling also its previous decisions regarding the fact that, in order to meet the expenditures caused by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, 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 such operations,

Bearing in mind the special responsibilities of the States permanent members of the Security Council, as indicated in General Assembly resolution 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, in the financing of such operations,

Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,

Concerned that the surplus balances in the Suspense Account for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force have been used to meet the expenses of the Force in order to compensate for the lack of income resulting from non-payment and late payment by Member States of their contributions,

1. Expresses its deep concern about the status of contributions to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force as at 30 November 1994, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 65,900,000 United States dollars, and urges all Member States concerned to make every possible effort to ensure the payment of their outstanding assessed contribution;

2. Expresses its concern about the adverse effect that the deteriorating financial situation has on reimbursement to troop contributors, placing an additional burden on those countries and putting at risk the continuing supply of troops to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force;

3. Endorses the observations and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; 2/

4. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy;

5. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force the amount of 16,080,000 United States dollars gross (15,594,000 dollars net), authorized and apportioned by the General Assembly in paragraph 18 of its resolution 48/253 for the operation of the Force for the period from 1 June to 30 November 1994, inclusive;

6. Decides also to appropriate to the Special Account an amount of 16,065,500 dollars gross (15,566,000 dollars net) for the period from 1 December 1994 to 31 May 1995, inclusive of the amount of 2,678,000 dollars gross (2,594,000 dollars net) authorized by the General Assembly in its decision 49/__ of  __ December 1994;

7. Decides further, as an ad hoc arrangement, to apportion the amount referred to in paragraph 6 above among Member States in accordance with the composition of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of General Assembly resolution 43/232 of 1 March 1989, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolutions 44/192 B of 21 December 1989, 45/269 of 27 August 1991, 46/198 A of 20 December 1991 and 47/218 A of 23 December 1992 and its decision 48/472 A of 23 December 1993, the scale of assessments for the year 1994 3/ to be applied against a portion thereof, that is, 2,677,580 dollars gross, which is the amount pertaining on a pro rata basis to the period ending 31 December 1994, and the scale of assessments for the year 1995 4/ to be applied against the balance, that is, 13,387,920 dollars gross, for the period from 1 January to 31 May 1995, inclusive;

8. 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 7 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 492,000 dollars approved for the period from 1 December 1994 to 31 May 1995, inclusive; 82,000 dollars being the amount pertaining on a pro rata basis to the period ending 31 December 1994 and the balance, that is, 410,000 dollars, for the period from 1 January to 31 May 1995, inclusive;

9. Decides also that there shall be set off against the apportionment of Member States, as provided for in paragraph 7 above, their respective share in the estimated other income of 7,500 dollars approved for the period from 1 December 1994 to 31 May 1995, inclusive; 1,250 dollars being the amount pertaining on a pro rata basis to the period ending 31 December 1994, and the balance, that is, 6,250 dollars, for the period from 1 January to 31 May 1995, inclusive;

10. Decides further that there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 7 above, their respective share in the surplus balance of 5,330,932 dollars for the period from 1 December 1991 to 30 November 1992, inclusive, as well as the surplus balance of 3,775,797 dollars for the period from 1 December 1992 to 30 November 1993, inclusive;

11. Authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force at a rate not to exceed 2,677,583 dollars gross (2,594,000 dollars net) per month for a period up to six months from 1 June 1995, should the Security Council decide to continue the Force beyond the period of six months authorized under its resolution 962 (1994), the said amount to be apportioned among Member States in accordance with the scheme set out in the present resolution;

12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly, through the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, a financial performance report for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force for the period from 1 December 1993 to 30 November 1994;

13. Invites voluntary contributions to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure established by the General Assembly in its resolutions 43/230 of 21 December 1988, 44/192 A of 21 December 1989 and 45/258 of 3 May 1991;

14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fiftieth session under the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations peace-keeping forces in the Middle East" the sub-item entitled "United Nations Disengagement Observer Force".

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Notes

1/ A/49/553.

2/ A/49/785 and Corr.1.

3/ See resolutions 46/221 A and 48/223 A and decision 47/456.

4/ See resolution 49/___.