Financing of peacekeeping missions – Fifth Cttee meeting – Press release (excerpts)

Fifty-fifth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

27th Meeting (AM)

PROPOSED BUDGET METHODOLOGY SHOULD NOT BE TOOL

TO REDUCE UN’S RESOURCES, FIFTH COMMITTEE TOLD

In a multilateral organization, expected accomplishments and indicators of achievement could not fully justify the resource requirements, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) was told this morning as it continued its consideration of results-based budgeting.  That was particularly true in the case of programmes for which expected accomplishments were difficult, if not impossible, to quantify.

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The Committee also continued its general discussion of the United Nations common and pension systems this morning, and began its consideration of financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).  The Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), Conrad .S.M. Mselle introduced that body’s UNIFIL report.

Also speaking at today’s meeting were the representatives of Republic of Korea, Cuba, Egypt, Libya, Colombia (on behalf of the Rio Group) and Lebanon.

The Committee will continue its work at 3 p.m. Thursday, 16 November, when it is expected to conclude its general discussion of the United Nations common and pension systems and continue its consideration of the financing of UNIFIL.

Committee Work Programme

This morning, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met to continue its general discussion of the United Nations common system and to conclude its general debate on the results-based budgeting.  (For background information on the results-based budgeting, see Press Releases GA/AB/3407 of 9 November.  The Committee was also scheduled to commence consideration of the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)).

On the latter agenda item, the Committee had before it a report of the Secretary-General (document A/55/482), containing the revised budget of UNIFIL for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.  The Secretary-General asks for $225.71 million gross ($221.51 million net), inclusive of budgeted voluntary contributions in kind amounting to around $180,000.  That figure incorporates additional requirements for the expansion of the Force, which was endorsed by the Security Council on 23 May.

The Secretary-General says that, of the total budget, operational requirements account for some 62 per cent, military personnel costs reflect 23 per cent, approximately 13 per cent of resources relate to civilian personnel costs and staff assessment comprise 2 per cent of the total.

According to the report, the Secretary-General recommends that the Assembly appropriate an additional amount of $86.76 million gross ($86.30 million net) for the expansion of the mission for 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, taking into account the $146.83 million gross ($141.89 million net) already appropriated by the Assembly on 15 June.  

Also before the Committee was the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ)(document A/55/516), which explains that the mandate of UNIFIL has been extended several times by the Council, most recently in resolution 1310 (2000) of 27 July, which extended the mandate until 31 January 2001.  The ACABQ was informed that, as at 30 September, $903.77 million had been reimbursed for troop costs for the period from 1 December 1989 to 31 March 2000, and that the amount owed for the period from 1 April to 31 August 2000 was $26.48 million.

With regard to reimbursement for contingent-owned equipment, the ACABQ was informed that the amount owed from 1 June 1994 to 30 September 2000 was $3.92 million; the estimated amount owed as of 30 September 2000 was $5.94 million; and unliquidated obligations for contingent-owned equipment amounted to $1.41 million.  As regards death and disability claims, as at 30 September 2000, 414 claims, totalling $19.56 million, had been paid; unliquidated claims amounted to $3.45 million; and 8 claims were pending.

The ACABQ was informed that, as of 12 October 2000, the cash balance of UNIFIL amounted to $100.2 million.  Upon inquiry, the ACABQ was informed that the troop payments for peacekeeping missions were now being made for the period from 1 April to 30 June 2000.  The amount of the payment for UNIFIL is $14.7 million.

Assessments for the period from 16 June 1993 to 30 September 2000 amounted to $3,188.2 million, the report states.  As of 30 September 2000, payments received totalled $3,021.4 million, and the amount outstanding was $166.8 million.  Total unliquidated obligations for the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000 were $23.55 million for governments and $14.32 million for non-governmental obligations as at 30 September 2000.

The proposed budget of UNIFIL of $225.54 million gross reflects increases of 74.5 per cent ($59.65 million) in military personnel costs; 16.5 per cent ($4.14 million) in civilian personnel costs; 75.5 per cent ($22.51 million) in operational requirements; and 12.2 per cent ($457,100) in staff assessment, the ACABQ reports.  

That increase covers an increase in troop strength to 7,935 from the previous authorized strength of 4,513.  The Committee was informed that, as of 30 September 2000, 5,732 troops were already in theatre.  With regard to civilian personnel, the ACABQ notes that the revised budget proposes an increase of 81 posts (34 international and 47 local staff) from 491 posts (141 international and 350 local staff) to 572 posts (175 international and 397 local staff).  It was informed that, against the authorized staffing establishment of 141 international and 350 local staff, posts encumbered, as of 30 September 2000, numbered 131 staff and 350 staff respectively.

Noting that the new reimbursement arrangements came into force on 1 July 1997, the ACABQ reports that it is of the view that the present situation is not satisfactory, since nearly four years after the introduction of the new reimbursement arrangements, the Secretariat is still facing difficulties implementing aspects of the contribution agreements in a timely manner.  Of 11 current troop contributors, 10 are expected to choose the wet lease arrangements for reimbursement of contingent-owned equipment.

The ACQBQ recommends approval of the proposal of the Secretary-General that the General Assembly appropriate the additional amount of $86.76 million gross ($86.30 million net) for the expansion of the mission subject to the extension of the mandate of the Force by the Security Council beyond 31 January 2001.

Statements

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When the Committee then turned its attention to the financing of UNIFIL, CONRAD S.M. MSELLE, Chairman of the ACABQ, introduced that body’s report on its financing.

Mr. ALATRASH (Libya), speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, thanked the Secretary-General for his report, and expressed gratitude to the ACABQ for its recommendations.  However, having received the report of the Secretary-General only last Friday, the Group was not in a position to discuss the reports before the Committee yet, and he hoped that the item would remain open this week.

GERT ROSENTHAL (Guatemala), Chairman of the Fifth Committee, said that the formal discussion of the item would continue on Thursday afternoon.

HOUSSAN DIAB (Lebanon) asked for clarification regarding informal consultations on the item.  

The CHAIRMAN then informed the Committee that at 2 p.m. today an informal briefing would be held by Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services Dileep Nair on the annual report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services.  

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