UNIFIL – Finance – Fifth Cttee report

FINANCING OF THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCES IN THE

MIDDLE EAST:  UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON;

REVIEW OF THE RATES OF REIMBURSEMENT TO THE GOVERNMENTS

OF TROOP-CONTRIBUTING COUNTRIES

Report of the Fifth Committee

Rapporteur:  Mr. Félix ABOLY-BI-KOUASSI (Côte d'Ivoire)

I.  INTRODUCTION

1. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 18 September 1987, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include in the agenda of its forty-second session, and to allocate 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;

"(c)  Review of the rates of reimbursement to the Governments of troop-contributing States:  report of the Secretary-General."

2. The Fifth Committee considered sub-item (b) and (c) of agenda item 125 at its 60th meeting, on 11 December 1987.  It had before it the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (A/42/692) and on the review of the rates of reimbursement to the Governments of troop-contributing States (A/42/374) and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (A/42/791).

II.  CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS

A.  Draft resolution A/C.5/42/L.10

3. At the 60th meeting, on 11 December, the representative of Finland introduced draft resolution A/C.5/42/L.10 sponsored by Austria, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Sweden.  She orally corrected the resolution by inserting the operative paragraph 6 after the words "31 January of the next," the words "effective from 1 February 1988".

4. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.5/42/L.10 as orally corrected by a recorded vote of 87 to 2, with 7 abstentions (see para. 8, draft resolution I).  The voting was as follows:

In favour: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, German Democratic Republic, Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia.

Against: Albania, Syrian Arab Republic.

Abstaining: Cuba, Democratic Yemen, Iraq, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Maldives, Poland, Viet Nam.

B.  Draft resolution A/C.5/42/L.11

5. At the 60th meeting, the representative of Ireland introduced draft resolution A/C.5/42/L.11).  The representative of Ireland sponsored by Austria, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Sweden.

4. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.5/42/L.11 by recorded vote of 94 to 1, with 8 abstentions (see para. 8, draft resolution II).  The voting was as follows:

In favour: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, German Democratic Republic, Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia.

Against: Syrian Arab Republic.

Abstaining: Algeria, Cuba, Democratic Yemen, Iraq, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Maldives, Viet Nam, Yemen.

7. Statements and observations made in the course of the Committee's consideration of these sub-items are reflected in the relevant summary record (see A/C.5/42/SR.60).

III.  RECOMMENDATION OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE

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

DRAFT RESOLUTION I

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 1/ and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, 2/

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 and 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, 1/ and referring to paragraph 18 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,

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

Recalling 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, 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 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 also 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 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 in 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 to appropriate to the Special Account an amount of $67,567,800 gross ($66,436,600 net) authorized and apportioned in section IV of 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 the above amount among Member States 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 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. Decides 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 resolution 34/9 D of 17 December 1979.

DRAFT RESOLUTION II

Review of the rates of reimbursement to the Governments of troop-contributing States

The General Assembly,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the review of the rates of reimbursements to the Governments of troop-contributing States, 3/ submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 40/247 of 18 December 1985, as well as the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, 4/

Recalling its decision of 29 November 1974, taken at its twenty-ninth session, by which it established, as from 25 October 1973, standard rates of reimbursement to the Governments of troop-contributing States for pay and allowances of their troops serving in the United Nations Emergency Force and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, 5/ and its decision 32/416 of 2 December 1977, by which it revised  rates of reimbursement as from 25 October 1977,

Recalling also its resolution S-8/2 of 21 April 1978, by which it applied the same standard rates of reimbursement in effect for the United Nations Emergency Force and the United Nations Disengagement Observer force to those Governments of states contributing troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon,

Recalling further its resolution 35/44 of 1 December 1980, by which it established the current standard rates of reimbursement to the Governments of troop-contributing States, with effect from 1 December 1980 in the case of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force and from 19 December 1980 in the case of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon,

Recalling further its decision of 15 December 1975, taken at its thirtieth session, 6/ by which it approved the principle of reimbursing troop-contributing States for the usage factor for personal clothing, gear and equipment and personal weaponry, including ammunition, issued to their troops for service in the United Nations peace-keeping forces,

1. Takes note with concern that, in consequence of the shortfall of financial contributions, troop-contributing States are not being reimbursed to the full extent of the established rates, thus bearing considerably larger portions of the costs for their troops serving in the United Nations peace-keeping forces than those indicated by the Secretary-General in his report; 3/

2. Takes note of the conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary-General as outlined in paragraph 7 of his report; 3/

3. Requests the Secretary-General, in light of the evolving financial situation, to expedite, to the extent possible, the payment of arrears due to current and former troop-contributing States;

4. Decides to retain the current rates of reimbursement of $950 per person per month for all ranks, plus the allowance for specialists of $280 per person per month for 25 per cent of logistics contingents and 10 per cent of other contingents, as well as $65 per person per month for the usage factor for personal clothing, gear and equipment and $5 per person per month for personal weaponry, including ammunition;

5. Also decides that the rates of reimbursement to the Governments of troop-contributing States shall be reviewed by the Secretary-General, in consultation with the troop-contributing States, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the General Assembly, at least once every two years, if, in light of inflation and currency-exchange fluctuations or other factors brought to the attention of the Secretary-General, these rates appreciably affect the absorption factor of two or more of the troop-contributing States.

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Notes

1/ A/42/692.

2/ A/42/791.

3/ A/42/374.

4/ A/42/791.

5/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 31 (A/9631 and Corr.2), p. 140, item 84.

6/ Ibid., Thirtieth Session, Supplement No. 34 (A/10034), p. 148, item 107.