UNDOF/Financing – GA resolution

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly

[ on the report of the Fifth Committee (A/59/837)]

59/306.   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 1578 (2004) of 15 December 2004,

  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 58/306 of 18 June 2004,

 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,

 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,

 1.   Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Head of Mission with the task of formulating future budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 59/296 of 22 June 2005, as well as other relevant resolutions;

 2.   Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force as at 15 April 2005, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 16.2 million United States dollars, representing some 1 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only forty-nine 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, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Force in full;

 4.   Expresses concern at 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.   Also 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;

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

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

 8.   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;

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

 10.   Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full implementation of the relevant provisions of its resolution 59/296;

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

 12.   Further 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;

Financial performance report for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004

 13.   Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the financial performance of the Force for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004; 4/ 

Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006

 14.  Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force the amount of 43,706,100 dollars for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006, inclusive of 41,521,400 dollars for the maintenance of the Force, 1,786,400 dollars for the support account for peacekeeping operations and 398,300 dollars for the United Nations Logistics Base;

Financing of the appropriation

 15.  Decides also to apportion among Member States the amount of 43,706,100 dollars at a monthly rate of 3,642,175 dollars, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolution 58/256 of 23 December 2003, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2005 and 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003, subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Force;

 16.   Decides further 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 1,427,100 dollars, comprising the estimated staff assessment income of 1,142,400 dollars approved for the Force for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006, the prorated share of 252,500 dollars of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the support account and the prorated share of 32,200 dollars of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the United Nations Logistics Base;

 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 and other income in the amount of 1,593,400 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2004, in accordance with the levels updated in its resolution 58/256, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2004, as set out in its resolutions 58/1 B;

 18.   Decides also that, for Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Force, there shall be set off against their outstanding obligations their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income in the amount of 1,593,400 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2004, in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 17 above;

 19.   Decides further that the increase of 105,100 dollars in the estimated staff assessment income in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2004 shall be added to the credits from the amount of 1,593,400 dollars 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, bearing in mind paragraphs 5 and 6 of Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003;

 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 sixtieth 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”.

104th plenary meeting

22 June 2005

Notes

1/ A/59/625 and A/59/653 and Corr.1 and 2.

2/ A/59/736 and Add.4.

3/ A/59/736/Add.4.

4/ A/59/625.

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