UNIFIL/Financing – GA resolution

42/223.  Financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

The General Assembly,

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

Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978, by which the Council established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Force, the latest of which was resolution 599 (1987) of 31 July 1987,

Recalling its resolution S-8/2 of 21 April 1978 on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 41/179 of 5 December 1986,

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, that the economically less developed countries have a relatively limited capacity to contribute towards peace-keeping operations, and that the States permanent members of the Security Council have special responsibilities in the financing of peace-keeping operations decided upon in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,

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

Recalling its decision 34/439 of 17 December 1979 that the Special Account for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon should be maintained for the periods of its mandates subsequent to 18 January 1979,

Recalling also its resolution 34/9 E of 17 December 1979 and subsequent resolutions which suspended the provisions of regulations 5.2 (b), 5.2 (d), 4.3 and 4.4 of the Financial Regulations of the United Nations, the latest of which was resolution 41/179 B,

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, including reimbursement to current and former troop-contributing States, resulting from the withholding of contributions by certain Member States,

Concerned also that the surplus balances 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 further that the application of the provisions of financial regulations 5.2 (b), 5.2 (d), 4.3 and 4.4 would aggravate the already difficult financial situation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon,

1. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account referred to in section I, paragraph 1, of General Assembly resolution S-8/2 an amount of $77,932,200 gross ($76,627,400 net) authorized and apportioned by section IV of Assembly resolution 41/179 A for the operation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon from 19 January to 31 July 1987, inclusive;

2. Decides also to appropriate to the Special Account an amount of $67,567,800 gross ($66,436,600 net) authorized and apportioned by section IV of General Assembly resolution 41/179 A for the operation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon from 1 August 1987 to 31 January 1988, inclusive;

3. 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 $11,765,000 gross ($11,618,000 net) per month for the 12-month period beginning 1 February 1988, should the Security Council decide to continue the Force beyond the period of six months authorized under its resolution 599 (1987);

4. 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 among Member States the amount resulting from the implementation of the provisions of paragraph 3 above, in accordance with the provisions of Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955 and the scheme set out in section III, paragraph 2, of resolution 41/179 A;

5. Decides also 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 $6,845,651, which otherwise would have to be surrendered pursuant to those 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;

6. ecides further that the special financial period of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon shall be for 12 months, beginning on 1 February of one year and ending on 31 January of the next, effective from 1 February 1988, subject to the renewal of the mandate of the Force by the Security Council;

7. 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;

8. 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, and also to make voluntary contributions in cash to the Suspense Account  established in accordance with its resolution 34/9 D of 17 December 1979.

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