UNRWA Working Group on Finance – Draft resolution

Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Comoros, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine: draft resolution

Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 2656 (XXV) of 7 December 1970, 2728 (XXV) of 15 December 1970, 2971 (XXVI) of 6 December 1971, 57/118 of 11 December 2002 and the previous resolutions on this question,

Recalling also its decision 36/462 of 16 March 1982, by which it took note of the special report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, ¹ 

Having considered the report of the Working Group, ² 

Taking into account the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003, ³

Expressing support for the expansion of the microfinance and microenterprise programme, as well as the various major rehousing and infrastructure projects,

Deeply concerned about the continuing financial situation of the Agency, which has affected and affects the continuation of provision of necessary Agency services to Palestine refugees, including the emergency-related and humanitarian and development programmes,

Emphasizing the continuing need for extraordinary efforts in order to maintain, at least at the current level, the activities of the Agency, as well as to enable the Agency to carry out essential construction and rehabilitation,

1. Commends the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for its efforts to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency;

2. Takes note with approval of the report of the Working Group;² 

3. Welcomes further progress in improving the unified budget structure for the biennium 2004-2005, which can contribute significantly to improved budgetary transparency and enhances the utility of the budget as a planning, managerial and fund-raising tool;

4. Requests the Working Group to continue its efforts, in cooperation with the Secretary-General and the Commissioner-General, to find a solution to the financial situation of the Agency;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work.

Notes

¹ A/36/866 and Corr.1; see also A/37/591.

²A/58/450.

³Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/58/13).