UNDOF/Financing – Fifth Cttee action – Report

Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces
in the Middle East: United Nations Disengagement Observer Force

Report of the Fifth Committee

Rapporteur : Mr. Santiago Wins ………………………..  (Uruguay)

I.  Introduction 

1.   At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 19 September 2001, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include in the agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled “Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East: United Nations Disengagement Observer Force” and to allocate it to the Fifth Committee.

2.   The Fifth Committee considered the item at its 54th, 55th and 60th meetings on 13 and 15 May, and 17 June 2002. Statements and observations made in the course of the Committee’s consideration of the item are reflected in the relevant summary records (A/C.5/56/SR.54, 55 and 60).

3.   For its consideration of the item, the Committee had before it the following documents:

 (a)   Report of the Secretary-General on the financial performance of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 (A/56/813);

 (b)   Reports of the Secretary-General on the budget for the Force for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 (A/56/832 and Add.1);

 (c)   Reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (A/56/887 and Add.8).

II.  Consideration of draft resolution A/C.5/56/L.72

4.   At the 60th meeting, on 17 June, the representative of Nepal, Vice-Chairman of the Committee and coordinator of informal consultations on this item, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force” (A/C.5/56/L.72).

5.   At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.5/56/L.72 without a vote (see para. 7).

6.   Also at the same meeting, the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic made a statement.

III.  Recommendation of the Fifth Committee

7.   The Fifth Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolution:

Financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force

  The General Assembly,

 Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force ¹ and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, ²

 Recalling Security Council resolution 350 (1974) of 31 May 1974 regarding the establishment of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Force, the latest of which was resolution 1381 (2001) of 27 November 2001, 

  Recalling also its resolution 3211 B (XXIX) of 29 November 1974 on the financing of the United Nations Emergency Force and of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 55/264 of 14 June 2001,

 Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, 

  Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Force,

 Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the 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 Special Account for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force have been used to meet 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.   Requests the Secretary-General to continue the productive and fruitful dialogue with local staff and to report on such dialogue;

 2.  Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force as at 30 April 2002, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 15.7 million United States dollars, representing some 1.4 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only fifty-one Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure the payment of their outstanding assessed contributions;

 3.   Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full;

 4.  Expresses concern about the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments;

 5.  Urges all Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Force in full and on time;

 6.   Expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa;

 7.  Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements;

 8.  Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 

 9.  Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Force;

 10.   Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions ³ and the conclusions contained in the report of the Secretary-General, ⁴ and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation;

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

 12.   Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Force against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Force;

    Performance report for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 

 13.   Takes note of the financial performance report of the Force for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001; ⁵

    Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003

 14.   Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force the amount of 40,760,200 dollars for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003, inclusive of 38,991,800 dollars for the maintenance of the Force, 1,579,200 dollars for the support account for peacekeeping operations, and 189,200 dollars for the United Nations Logistics Base;

    Financing of the appropriation

 15.  Also decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 40,760,200 dollars at a monthly rate of 3,396,683 dollars, in accordance with the levels set out in General Assembly resolution 55/235 of 23 December 2000, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolution 55/236 of the same date, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2002 and 2003 as set out in its resolution 55/5 B also of the same date, and subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Force;

 16.  Further 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 15 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 1,151,800 dollars for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 at a monthly rate of 95,983 dollars, comprising the estimated staff assessment income of 919,800 dollars approved for the Force for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003, the prorated share of 215,100 dollars of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the support account for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 and the increase in staff assessment income of that account for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, and the prorated share of 16,900 dollars of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the United Nations Logistics Base for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 and the reduction in staff assessment income of that account for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001;

 17.   Decides that for Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Force, there shall be set off against their apportionment, as provided for in paragraph 15 above, their respective share of the unencumbered balance of 575,100 dollars and their respective share of other income of 2,264,000 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2001, in accordance with the levels set out in General Assembly resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolution 55/236, and taking into account the scale of assessments for the year 2001, as set out in its resolution 55/5 B; 

 18.  Also decides that for Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission, their respective share of the unencumbered balance of 575,100 dollars and other income of 2,264,000 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2001 shall be set off against their outstanding obligations in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 15 above;

 19.  Further decides that the increase in the staff assessment income of 80,200 dollars shall be set off against the credits from the unencumbered balance in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2001 referred to in paragraphs 17 and 18 above;

 20.  Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions;

 21.  Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Force;

 22.  Invites voluntary contributions to the 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 and practices established by the General Assembly;

 23.  Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled “Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East”, the sub-item entitled “United Nations Disengagement Observer Force”.

Notes

1/ A/56/813, A/56/832 and Add.1.

2/ A/56/887 and Add.8.

3/ A/56/887 and Add.8.

4/ A/56/832/Add.1, paras. 11 and 12.

5/ A/56/813.

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