GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES WORK FOR MAIN PART OF FIFTY-THIRD SESSION
UNITED-NATIONS
Press Release
GA/9539
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES WORK FOR MAIN PART OF FIFTY-THIRD SESSION
19981218
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__The United Nations would enter the twenty-first century with about
$2.545 billion at its disposal, according to the budget outline for
2000-2001 that the General Assembly adopted this evening. As it closed
the first part of its fifty-third session, the Assembly also resolved
to appropriate $1.261 billion for 1999 and, of that amount, assess
almost $1.218 billion on Member States, by another resolution
recommended by its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).
For 1999, the Assembly decided to appropriate $1.261 billion and, of
that amount, assess almost $1.218 billion on Member States. The United
Nations programme budget for 1998-1999 was reduced from some $2.532
billion to about $2.527 billion to reflect revised cost estimates and
the cost of resolutions adopted by the Assembly during its current
session, by another of 13 resolutions and 12 decisions adopted without
a vote.
The General Assembly requested that the Committee on Contributions
recommend ways to tighten application of Article 19 of the United
Nations Charter, which strips Member States of voting rights when
their arrears equal or exceed the amount due from them for the past
two years, by one text. It emphasized the need for equal treatment in
considering requests for exemption to Article 19 sanctions, and asked
the Contributions Committee to recommend ways to address requests when
it is not in session.
The United Nations Pension Fund will make payments to divorced
surviving spouses, according to the terms of a nine-part resolution.
The Fund's regulations will also be amended to eliminate the practice
of discontinuing surviving spouse's benefits upon remarriage.
The Assembly approved an additional $3.3 million for the Integrated
Management Information System (IMIS) and requested the
Secretary-General to ensure that adequate and qualified staff are
assigned to operate IMIS in all user departments.
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General Assembly Plenary - 1a - Press Release GA/9539 93rd Meeting
(Night) 18 December 1998
The Assembly also approved the calendar of conferences and meetings
for 1999. Noting that the two holidays of Id al-Fitr and Id al-Adha
are to be observed as official holidays, it requested the
Secretary-General to ensure that this was the case when preparing
future draft calendars, and invited United Nations bodies to avoid
holding meetings on 9 April 1999. Also, it asked the Committee on
Conferences to consider avoiding United Nations meetings on lunar New
Year's Day.
By a resolution on results-based budgeting, the Secretary-General was
asked to provide more justification for his proposed change to a
results-based budget format, and provide a comparative analysis of the
current and the proposed methods. He was also asked to submit his
proposed 2000-2001 programme budget using the present system, but to
also provide prototype fascicles in the results-based format.
In other action, it adopted a resolution on programme planning by
which it approved changes to the medium-term plan for 1998-2001. In
addition, the Assembly adopted a series of texts concerning its review
of administrative and financial efficiency. Among those, it approved
the Fifth Committee's programme of work for 1999-2000. By a resolution
on the United Nations common system, the base salary scale for
Professional and higher categories of staff will be increased, as will
children's allowance.
In other action, the Assembly adopted resolutions on financing the
International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and for
Rwanda in 1999, appropriating some $102.5 million gross for the
former, and nearly $75.8 million for the latter. It decided to
appropriate an additional $87.2 million gross to finance the United
Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA), for the period from 1 July
1998 to 30 June 1999.
By another text, the Assembly approved all the recommendations of the
Board of Auditors, noting with serious concern the Board's qualified
audit opinions of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations
International Drug Control Programme. It asked the Secretary-General
and the heads of those entities to take steps to avoid qualified
audits next time.
Consideration of human resources management was deferred until the
Assembly's resumed session, and the Secretary-General was asked to
maintain current procedures limiting eligibility for certain vacancies
to internal candidates pending that consideration.
The Assembly's consideration of the Development Account's modalities
and the use of its $13.1 million will be deferred until its resumed
session, by another decision. The proposed revolving credit fund will
be considered at the Assembly's fifty-fourth session, by another text.
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General Assembly Plenary - 1b - Press Release GA/9539 93rd Meeting
(Night) 18 December 1998
Among other actions, the Assembly took note of a report on death and
disability benefits and another on administrative arrangements for the
International Trade Centre (ITC), as well as the Secretary-General's
reports on a revolving credit fund, and on the budgetary and financial
situation of the organizations of the United Nations system.
Actions related to the programme budget for 1998-1999 concerned
financial arrangements for the dining room at the International Court
of Justice, and the relationship between perennial activities and the
contingency fund. At the outset of the meeting, the Assembly appointed
Kenshiro Akimoto (Japan) to the United Nations Staff Pension
Committee.
The Committee's reports were introduced by its Rapporteur, Tammam
Sulaiman, of Syria.
On matters taken up this evening not arising from recommendations of
the Fifth Committee, the Assembly's Acting President, Jemat Haji Ampal
(Brunei Darussalam), announced that the Working Group on the Security
Council would meet from 8 to 19 February 1999.
Also this evening, the Assembly adopted a text on the situation in
Afghanistan. It called upon all Afghan parties to cease all armed
hostilities, to renounce the use of force and to engage, without delay
or preconditions, in a political dialogue aimed at achieving a lasting
political settlement of the conflict through creating a broad-based,
multi-ethnic and fully representative government.
In addition, the Assembly decided that the International Organization
of la Francophonie would participate, in the capacity of observer, in
its work, instead of the Agency for Cultural and Technical
Cooperation, as the organization has assumed the rights and
obligations of the Agency.
It also decided which items it would keep open during its current
session.
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Assembly Work Programme
The General Assembly met this evening to consider a draft resolution
on the situation in Afghanistan and to take action on reports of its
Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).
Also before the Assembly was a note by the Secretary-General (document
A/53/701) on cooperation between the United Nations and the Agency for
Cultural and Technical Cooperation. In a letter dated 3 September, the
Secretary-General of the International Organization of la
Francophonie, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, informed the Secretary-General
that the International Organization of la Francophonie had assumed the
rights and obligations of the Agency for Cultural and Technical
Cooperation. Also, the Office of the Permanent Observer of the Agency
to the United Nations had become the Office of the Permanent Observer
of the new organization to the United Nations. That change would imply
that the International Organization of la Francophonie would assume
the rights and responsibilities of the former Agency as an observer
invited by the Assembly to participate in its sessions and work.
Annexed to the note is the Charter of la Francophonie adopted by the
Seventh Conference of heads of State and Government of countries that
use French as a common language, held in Hanoi on 15 November 1997.
By the terms of a two-part draft resolution on the situation in
Afghanistan (document A/53/L.66), the Assembly would stress that the
main responsibility for finding a political solution to the conflict
lies with the Afghan parties and urge them to respond to the United
Nations calls for peace.
By the terms of part A of the text, which has 23 operative paragraphs
focusing on implications for international peace and security, the
Assembly would call upon all Afghan parties to cease all armed
hostilities, to renounce the use of force and to engage, without delay
or preconditions, in a political dialogue aimed at achieving a lasting
political settlement of the conflict through creating a broad-based,
multi-ethnic and fully representative government.
The Assembly would urge the parties to take further
confidence-building measures and the Taliban and other Afghan parties
to refrain from all acts of violence, especially against civilians. It
would also condemn continued foreign military support to the Afghan
parties and call on States to strictly refrain from any outside
interference and to end the supply of arms and military equipment,
training or any other military support to the parties of conflict in
Afghanistan, including the presence of foreign military, paramilitary
or secret service personnel. The Secretary-General would be requested
to authorize the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan (UNSMA)
to continue its efforts to facilitate an immediate ceasefire.
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The Assembly would further endorse establishing a separate civil
affairs unit of the Special Mission to deter grave violations of human
rights and promote respect for minimum humanitarian standards and to
send an assessment mission to the country, as soon as security
conditions permit, to determine the exact mandate, composition and
location of the civilian monitors. It would welcome the constitution
of groups of interested States, in particular the "Six plus Two"
group, to coordinate their efforts, as well as the activities of
international organizations, in particular the Organization of the
Islamic Conference (OIC) and the initiatives of its Secretary-General,
and urge them to continue their efforts in a constructive manner to
promote peace in Afghanistan.
Also by the terms of the draft, the Assembly would call upon the
Taliban to provide security guarantees for an investigation under the
auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on
the reports of massacres of civilians and mass executions of prisoners
of war, as well as on reports of killings in Mazar-i-Sharif and
Bamiyan, and urge all the parties, in particular the Taliban, to
demonstrate their full commitment to the safety and security of
international and humanitarian personnel.
It would further take note of the Supplementary Protocol to the
Memorandum of Understanding of 13 May, signed by the United Nations
and the Taliban, on the security of United Nations personnel in
Afghanistan and urge the Taliban to proceed with an investigation of
the death, serious injury and disappearance of staff members and
persons employed by the United Nations, in particular the killing of
the two Afghan staff members of the World Food Programme (WFP) and of
the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) in Jalalabad and of the Military Adviser to the UNSMA in
Kabul, and to keep the United Nations regularly informed about the
progress of that investigation.
The Assembly would strongly condemn the killing of the diplomatic and
consular staff of the Consulate General of Iran in Mazar-i-Sharif and
the correspondent of the Islamic Republic News Agency, and urge the
Taliban to inform the Government of Iran and the United Nations about
the result of its investigation to date. It would call upon the
Taliban to cooperate fully with an international investigation of the
murders with the view to prosecute the guilty parties.
Also by the terms of the text, the Assembly would urge the Taliban and
other parties to recognize, protect and promote all human rights and
freedoms and call upon them to end discriminatory policies and to
recognize the equal rights and dignity of men and women. It would
condemn the continuing widespread violations of international
humanitarian law in Afghanistan and urgently call upon all parties to
respect its provisions that provide essential protection for the
civilian population in armed conflicts.
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The Assembly would demand that all parties, in particular the Taliban,
stop harbouring and training terrorists and that all Afghan parties
cooperate with efforts to bring indicted terrorists to justice. The
Assembly would reiterate its call to all parties to halt all illegal
drug activities and to support international efforts to ban illicit
drug production and trafficking. It would further call upon all Afghan
parties, in particular the Taliban, to protect the cultural and
historic relics and monuments of Afghanistan and request all Member
States to take appropriate measures to prevent the looting of cultural
artifacts and to ensure their return to Afghanistan.
By the terms of part B of the draft resolution, which has 15 operative
paragraphs, addressing emergency international assistance for peace,
normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan, the General
Assembly would endorse the observations contained in the report of the
Secretary-General. It would call upon all relevant organizations of
the United Nations to continue to coordinate their humanitarian
assistance to Afghanistan on the basis of the strategic framework, in
particular to ensure a consistent approach on matters of principle,
human rights and security. It would also appeal to donor countries and
other humanitarian organizations to cooperate closely with the United
Nations.
It would further call upon the leaders of all Afghan parties to place
the highest priority on national reconciliation, demand that all
Afghan parties respect international humanitarian law and that they,
in particular the Taliban, ensure the safety, security and freedom of
movement of all humanitarian personnel and the protection of property
of humanitarian organizations, and to cooperate fully with the United
Nations and associated bodies as well as with other humanitarian
organizations in their efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs of
the people of Afghanistan. The Assembly would condemn all blockades or
other interference in the delivery of humanitarian relief supplies to
the Afghan people, and note the recent lifting of the blockade in
central Afghanistan by the Taliban.
Also by the terms of the draft, the Assembly would urge all Afghan
parties to provide unimpeded access and facilitate the delivery of
humanitarian assistance, and to prevent the looting of United Nations
premises and food supplies. It would denounce the continuing
discrimination against girls, women and religious minorities and other
violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in
Afghanistan, and call upon all parties within Afghanistan to respect
fully the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, regardless of
gender, ethnicity or religion, in accordance with international human
rights instruments.
The Assembly would also strongly urge all of the Afghan parties to end
discriminatory policies and to recognize and promote the equal rights
and dignity of women and men, including their rights to full and equal
participation in the life of the country, freedom of movement, access
to
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General Assembly Plenary - 5 - Press Release GA/9539 93rd Meeting
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education and health facilities, employment outside the home, personal
security and freedom from intimidation and harassment, in particular
with respect to the implications of discriminatory policies for the
distribution of aid. It would appeal to all States and to the
international community to ensure that all humanitarian assistance to
the people of Afghanistan integrates a gender perspective and promotes
the participation of both women and men.
The Assembly would express concern over the continued laying of
landmines and urge all Afghan parties to put a complete halt to their
use, which continues to take a heavy toll on civilians and seriously
impedes the delivery of humanitarian assistance. It would urgently
appeal to all States and organizations to continue to provide, when
conditions on the ground permit, all possible financial, technical and
material assistance for the Afghan population and the voluntary, safe
and secure return of refugees and internally displaced persons. In
addition, the Assembly would call upon the international community to
respond to the inter-agency consolidated appeal for emergency
humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance for Afghanistan to be
launched by the Secretary-General for the period from 1 January to 31
December 1999, bearing in mind the availability also of the
Afghanistan Emergency Trust Fund.
The draft is sponsored by Afghanistan, Andorra, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, Costa
Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany,
Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco,
Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian
Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States and Uzbekistan.
Reports of Fifth Committee
In addition, the Assembly had before it a decision by the Fifth
Committee apprising it that should it adopt the above draft an
additional appropriation of about $5.9 million would be required under
section 3 of the programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999.
The Assembly had before it a report of the Fifth Committee (document
A/53/752) on appointments recommending Kenshiro Akimoto (Japan) to
complete a term on the United Nations Staff Pension Committee left
vacant by a resignation, expiring on 31 December 2000.
Another Fifth Committee report (document A/53/738) contained a draft
resolution on the United Nations financial reports and audited
financial statements, and the reports of the Board of Auditors. That
text would have the Assembly approve all recommendations of the Board
of Auditors, request the
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Secretary-General and executive heads of agencies and programmes to
ensure timely implementation of the Board's recommendations, and
endorse the related comments of the ACABQ.
Noting with serious concern the Board's qualified audit opinions of
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations International Drug
Control Programme, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General
and the heads of those agencies and programmes to take steps to avoid
qualification during the next audit, under other provisions.
Also by the draft, the Assembly would accept the Board's reports,
statements, audit opinions and its summary of principal findings,
conclusions and recommendations. It would decide to take up certain
issues at its resumed fifty-third session.
A report of the Fifth Committee on review of efficiency (document
A/C.5/53/L.33) contained a draft resolution on the proposed programme
budget outline for 2000-2001 by which the Assembly would invite the
Secretary-General to prepare his proposed programme budget for
2000-2001 on the basis of a total preliminary estimate of $2.545
billion at revised 1998-1999 rates. That estimate would include some
provision for special political missions expected to be extended or
approved during the course of the biennium. The Assembly would decide
that the anticipated reduction of $19.8 million related to
compensating economies would not be included in the budget outline,
and recognize that efforts to achieve efficient utilization of
resources was an ongoing process and should not adversely affect the
implementation of mandated programmes and activities.
By terms of a seven-part draft resolution contained in a report on
programme planning (document A/53/743), the Assembly would adopt
proposed revisions to the medium-term plan for the period 1998-2001 as
amended by the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC). It
would decide that priorities shall continue to be established in the
medium-term plan and emphasize that these, once established by the
Assembly, cannot be changed until it so decides. Also, the Assembly
would note with concern that resources were redeployed to fund
activities that were not approved in the 1996-1997 programme budget,
while a number of mandated programmes and activities in priority areas
were postponed, curtailed or cancelled.
The Secretary-General would be requested to report -- with clear
evidence -- on the impact of United Nations reform and the
restructuring of the Secretariat on programme delivery during
1998-1999, among other terms of the draft. The Assembly would deeply
regret the use of vacant posts for consultancies and short-term
appointments and reaffirm that vacancies should not be used to achieve
savings.
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Under other provisions of the text, the Assembly would reaffirm the
role of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) as the main
General Assembly subsidiary organ of the General Assembly and the
Economic and Social Council for planning programming and coordination.
It would approve the new programme narratives for section 7A, Economic
and social affairs, and section 26, Public information. Also, it would
request the Secretary-General to submit a preliminary report on
possible arrangements for post-conflict rehabilitation and
reconstruction.
Under the provisions of a draft decision contained in a further report
of the Fifth Committee on administrative and budgetary coordination of
the United Nations with the specialized agencies and the International
Atomic Energy Agency (document A/53/713), the Assembly would note the
statistical report of the Administrative Committee on Coordination
(ACC) on the budgetary and financial situation of United Nations
bodies and the relevant paragraphs of the first report of the ACABQ.
The Committee's report on pattern of conferences (document A/53/744)
contains a five-part draft, 88-operative-paragraph resolution by which
the Assembly would decide to include resources in the budget for the
next biennium to provide interpretation services to all regional and
other major groupings of Member States that so requested. Also, it
would approve the revised calendar of conferences and meetings for
1999.
On publications, the Assembly would decide that when a report was
submitted late to Conference Services, the reasons for the delay
should be included in a footnote to the document, according to the
text. Also, the Secretariat should submit a report with detailed data
on reasons for delays, and an analysis of costs incurred as a
consequence.
Noting with appreciation that the two holidays of Id al-Fitr and Id
al-Adha shall be observed as official holidays, it would request the
Secretary-General to ensure strict implementation when preparing all
future draft calendars, and decide that United Nations bodies should
be invited to avoid holding meetings on 9 April 1999. Also, the
Committee on Conferences would be requested to consider a proposal to
avoid holding United Nations meetings on lunar New Year's Day.
The report on scale of assessments (document A/53/464/Add.3) contains
one draft resolution by which the Assembly would request that the
Committee on Contributions recommend ways to tighten application of
Article 19 of the United Nations Charter, which strips Member States
of voting rights when their arrears equal or exceed the amount of
contributions due from them for the past two years.
The Assembly would emphasize the need for equal treatment in
considering requests for exemption to Article 19, by other provisions
of the draft. The
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Contributions Committee would be asked to recommend ways to address
requests when it is not in session, since it is the body that
considers those requests and makes recommendations on them to the
Assembly.
The Committee on Contributions would be requested to hold a special
session in early 1999 to consider requests for exemption to Article 19
of the United Nations Charter, by which Member States lose voting
rights when their outstanding dues reach a certain point, according to
the text.
A draft decision on human resources management, contained in another
report of the Committee (document A/53/748), would have the Assembly
decide to defer consideration of the agenda item until its resumed
session, request the Secretary-General to maintain current procedures
regarding internal candidates and postpone promulgation of proposed
amendments to the staff rules pending that consideration.
The Assembly also was to take up a draft resolution on the United
Nations common system (document A/53/754) in five parts, relating to
the conditions of service of professional and higher level staff,
conditions of service applicable to both Professional and General
Service staff, the consultative process and working arrangements of
the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), the framework for
human resources management, and on gender balance. Among a range of
other matters, the draft would have the Assembly approve a 2.48 per
cent increase in base salary scale for Professional and higher
categories staff. It would also approve an increase in children's
allowance (including for disabled children) and in the secondary
children's allowance, effective 1 January 1992.
Two reports on the United Nations Pension System contain draft texts.
By a nine-part resolution in the first, (document A/53/736), the
Assembly would approve additional resources of some $4.1 million for
1998-1999 for administrative arrangements, to be charged to the
Pension Fund. It would also approve the revised cost-sharing
arrangements between the United Nations and the Fund, and approve the
reclassification of the Chief of the Investment Management Service
post to the D-2 level.
Under provisions on entitlement to survivors' benefits for spouses and
former spouses, the Assembly would approve amending the Fund's
Regulations to provide for a payment facility in respect of former
spouses. It would also approve including a new article in the
Regulations to provide for a divorced surviving spouse's benefit. It
would approve an arrangement for the optional purchase of surviving
spouses' benefits after separation, and amendments to eliminate the
current provision which requires discontinuation of a surviving
spouse's benefit on remarriage. The Board would be asked to monitor
implementation of the payment facility for former spouses.
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On the application of the Interim Commission from the International
Trade Organization to withdraw from the United Nations Joint Staff
Pension Fund, the Assembly would decide to terminate that body's
membership as of 31 December 1998 and that the proportionate share of
the assets of the Fund payable to the World Trade Organization upon
termination shall be a complete and final settlement.
By a draft decision in the second report (document A/53/737), the
Assembly would be informed that should it adopt the above-mentioned
draft resolution on the pension system, the programme budget for the
biennium 1998-1999 would be reduced by $625,400.
The Assembly also had before it a report of the Fifth Committee
containing a draft resolution on financing United Nations operations
in Angola (document A/53/745), by which it would appropriate an
additional $87.2 million gross ($84.6 million net) for the period from
1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, taking into account some $45.9 million
gross (about $44.3 million net) already appropriated for the period
from 1 July to 31 October 1998.
A draft resolution on financing the International Criminal Tribunal
for Rwanda would have the Assembly appropriate nearly $75.3 million
for the period 1 January to 31 December 1999 (document A/53/755). It
would decide to assess some $64.2 million for 1999 by the normal
process for the Tribunal. The Assembly would also request the
Secretary-General to conduct a review of the Rwanda and the Former
Yugoslavia Tribunals, in cooperation with their Presidents, evaluating
their operation and functioning.
Also before the Assembly was the Committee's report on financing the
International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (document A/53/756),
containing a draft resolution by which the Assembly would decide to
revise the level of appropriation to a total of some $68.3 million
gross for the period 1 January to 31 December 1998, and appropriate a
total of some $102.5 million gross for the period 1 January to 31
December 1999. It would decide to assess, for 1999, some $99.4 million
gross in accordance with the normal procedures for the Tribunal's
assessments.
The Committee's report on administrative and budgetary aspects of
peacekeeping operations (document A/53/522/Add.1) contains one draft
decision A, according to which, the Assembly would take note of the
report of the Secretary-General on death and disability benefits
(document A/C.5/53/16).
Also before the Assembly was the draft report of the Fifth Committee
(document A/C.5/53/L.27), containing three draft resolutions and three
draft decisions. By the drafts, the 1998-1999 programme budget would
be decreased by a little over $5.6 million, to reflect the
Secretary-General's revised estimates and the programme budget
implications of resolutions adopted by the Assembly on the
recommendation of other Committees. Accordingly, the budget
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level that the Assembly approved in 1997 for the current biennium, of
some $2.532 billion, would be adjusted to just under $2.527 billion.
By another text in the same report, the Assembly would appropriate
some $1.261 billion for 1999. Of that amount, almost $1.218 billion
would be assessed on Member States.
By other provisions, the Assembly would note a balance of just over
$15.3 million in the contingency fund.
A part of the draft pertains to the Integrated Management Information
System (IMIS) and would have the Assembly approve an additional
appropriation of $3.3 million while also requesting that the
Secretary-General take action to ensure that related activities are
performed efficiently and economically and that adequate and qualified
staff are assigned to implement and operate IMIS in all user
departments.
Under other terms, the Assembly would defer consideration of the
Secretary-General's tenth progress report, the report of the
independent experts and the related report of the ACABQ to its resumed
fifty-third session, and request the Secretary-General to submit an
addendum to his report, taking into consideration the report of the
Office of Internal Oversight Services.
The document also contains of texts by which the Assembly would:
-- approve a subvention of $213,000 for the United Nations Institute
for Disarmament Research for 1999;
-- decide to defer consideration of reports on the relationship
between the treatment of perennial activities in the programme budget
and the use of the contingency fund;
-- take note of the Secretary-General's report on a cost-benefit
analysis on conference facilities at the Palais Wilson in Geneva;
-- take note of his report on net budgeting and endorse the
observations of the ACABQ;
-- take note of the report on financial arrangements for the
International Court of Justice's dining room, understanding that the
United Nations does not subsidize that operation;
-- take note of the Secretary-General's report on the consolidation of
technical secretariat servicing of intergovernmental bodies, and
revert to the matter as appropriate; and
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-- take note of the Secretary-General's report on conference
facilities at Adis Ababa and Bangkok and endorse the ACABQ's
recommendations in paragraph 5 of its report.
Action on La Francophonie Organization, Afghanistan
The Assembly decided that the International Organization of la
Francophonie would participate, in the capacity of observer, in the
sessions and the work of the Assembly and of its subsidiary organs
instead of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation.
Next, the Assembly took up the draft resolution on the situation in
Afghanistan.
The Acting President, JEMAT HAJI AMPAL (Brunei Darussalam), announced
that Albania, Fiji, Honduras, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, and the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia had joined as co-sponsors since
the introduction of the draft.
The Assembly adopted the two-part draft resolution on Afghanistan
without a vote.
Action on Fifth Committee Reports
TAMMAM SULAIMAN (Syria), Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee, introduced
the Committee's reports.
The General Assembly first acted on the Committee's recommendation to
appoint Kenshiro Akimoto (Japan) to the United Nations Staff Pension
Committee. It decided to accept that recommendation.
It then took up the Committee's report on financial statements and
reports of the Board of Auditors, containing one draft resolution,
which it adopted without a vote.
It then took up the Committee's report on review of the United Nations
administrative and budgetary efficiency, containing two draft
resolutions and six draft decisions.
SUSAN SHEAROUSE (United States) said her delegation could not join the
agreement on the $2.545 billion budget outline for 2000-2001. It did
not accept a budget outline level that was greater than the current
budget, and that was much more than was needed to carry out all
mandated programmes effectively. The United States believed that an
outline equal to or less than the current budget would have enabled
full implementation of mandated activities, would have reflected the
likely $20 million or more in efficiency savings as a result of
improvements in United Nations operations, and would
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have provided resources for the special political missions that might
be undertaken in the budget period. Despite clear indications that a
budget less than the current level would be sufficient for the next
period, the proposed resolution endorsed an outline level that
substantially exceeded that amount. Actual spending for the first year
of the current biennium was well below the approved budget level. To
increase projected expenditure level above the current approved level,
which itself exceeded the actual spending pattern, was simply
irresponsible.
She said the United States could not agree to an outline that rejected
the Secretary-General's proposal to achieve $20 million in savings
through efficiency gains, which was a tiny amount when compared to the
overall budget. That capricious approach went against the United
Nations Charter's Article 97, which gave the Secretary-General
responsibility for administering the Organization in the most
efficient way possible. Any budget totalling $2.5 billion would easily
contain more than $20 million in savings opportunities. The original
proposal would have made such savings a distinct part of the budget
proposal. The United States fully expected the Secretary- General to
identify efficiency savings when proposing his budget for 2000- 2001.
Approving a higher budget outline level than was justified on
technical and programmatic grounds had set an unfortunate precedent,
she said. It seemed that there were other forces at play that gave
rise to such an extraordinary and expensive action. The United States
looked forward to reviewing the Secretary-General's budget estimates
next year. Those estimates should fully reflect the benefits of reform
and efficiency measures, while also providing a realistic perspective
of the United Nations resource requirements for the biennium.
KAZUO WATANABE (Japan) said that he could not accept the figure in the
draft, for reasons stated in the Fifth Committee this afternoon, but
he would not block the resolution.
The General Assembly then adopted the draft resolution on
results-based budgeting without a vote.
It then turned to the draft resolution on the programme budget outline
for the biennium 2000-2001, which it adopted without a vote.
It then adopted the draft decision on the revolving credit fund
without a vote.
It then turned to the draft decision on the administrative
arrangements for International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, which it
adopted without a vote.
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(Night) 18 December 1998
It then turned to the draft decision on guidelines for internal
control standards, which it adopted without a vote.
The draft decision on the impact of the implementation of pilot
projects on budgetary practices and procedures was then adopted
without a vote.
Turning next to the draft decision on the biennial programme of work
of the Fifth Committee, it adopted that decision without a vote.
It next turned to a draft decision on items for consideration by the
Fifth Committee during the resumed fifty-third session of the General
Assembly, which was also adopted without a vote.
MICHAEL POWLES (New Zealand), speaking in explanation of position on
behalf of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Federated States of
Micronesia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon
Islands and Vanuatu, said that his delegations joined the consensus in
support of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions (ACABQ) recommendation that the Secretary-General prepare
additional prototype fascicles in a results-based budgeting format, so
the General Assembly would have more technical information at hand
next year.
They also agreed that the Secretary-General should provide additional
justification for his recommendation to move to results-based
budgeting, he said. However, they were concerned that some paragraphs
of the resolution seemed to prejudge the outcome of the comparative
analysis. The discussion at the next session of the General Assembly
should be technical, but, at the same time, the decision would effect
the health of the Organization.
The Secretary-General should note that there was concern among some
Member States about his recommendation, but strong support from
others, he said. It was of the utmost importance that proper
consideration be given to the proposal. A more credible United Nations
was what was sought. Small States relied on the United Nations, and,
if its management and administrative structure was not modernized and
strengthened, the Organization was at risk. Therefore, the Member
States he spoke for continued to support a gradual transition to
results-based budgeting, for that would provide the seeds for a more
effective Organization.
THOMAS SCHLESINGER (Austria), speaking for the European Union, said
the Assembly had adopted resolution 41/213 seeking to improve the
financial and administrative functioning of the Organization and
facilitate agreement among Member States on the programme budget. The
concept of the budget outline, introduced then, was now a pillar in
the budgetary process. The Union had been pleased to join consensus on
the resolution, and welcomed delegations' flexibility.
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(Night) 18 December 1998
The Union was not fully satisfied with the text, he said. It would
have preferred to have retained in the outline the $20 million
expected to be through economies. The amount was not unreasonable in a
budget of this size. He trusted the Secretary-General would continue
to apply scrutiny when preparing the budget he would propose next
year. Such economies should only be sought in the context of full and
effective financing for the implementation of mandated programmes and
activities.
The Union welcomed the resolution, which effectively reversed calls
for deviations made in the past for political reasons, he said. He was
particularly pleased to see the reaffirmation that the contingency
fund, in the amount of 0.75 per cent, was additional to the overall
budget figure. Also, he appreciated that the budget outline now
contained provision for special missions. While it was unfortunate
that some delegations were unhappy with the resolution, he expected
that the spirit of consensus underpinning the text would guide future
work on the Secretary-General's budget proposal.
DULCE BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said her delegation had joined the
consensus, but reaffirmed that the budget outline was a preliminary
estimate and was in no way a ceiling on the budget. She noted the
amount approved for special political missions, which in her opinion
departed from the provisions of resolution 41/213. She said she
trusted that during the next session's negotiations, the Assembly
would be able to ensure and approve the real amount of resources
needed to implement all the programmes and activities mandated by the
Assembly.
PENNY WENSLEY (Australia) spoke also for Canada and New Zealand. The
adoption of an outline for the 2000-2001 programme budget represented
an important first stage in the budgetary process, setting parameters
within which the Secretary-General would prepare his proposed budget.
She was pleased that the outline, for the first time, included
provisions for special political missions. The three delegations were
disappointed that the outline did not take into account the amount of
$20 million in anticipated efficiencies. Still, she understood that
the Secretary-General would pursue efficiencies and looked forward to
the results of that effort.
The figure contained in the resolution was higher than current level
appropriations, and higher than the three delegations considered
financially prudent, particularly in light of the financial climate in
some parts of the world, she said. The fact that the amount was too
high to be endorsed by the two largest contributors was a serious
concern and must be addressed. She trusted that the Secretary-General
would continue efforts to allow more resources to be invested in
substantive programmes.
JAN JAREMSZUK (Poland) said his delegation aligned itself with the
statement made by the representative of Austria for the Union.
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(Night) 18 December 1998
Next, the Assembly turned to the Fifth Committee's report on programme
planning (document A/53/743), and adopted the seven-part draft
resolution contained therein, again without a vote.
The Assembly then adopted the draft decision contained in the
Committee's report on administrative and budgetary coordination of the
United Nations with the specialized agencies and the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) (document A/53/713).
It next adopted, without a vote, the five-part draft resolution on
United Nations pattern of conferences.
Again, acting without a vote, the Assembly then adopted the draft
resolution contained in the Committee's report on the scale of
assessments (document A/53/464/Add.3).
HANS PETER MANZ (Austria), spoke on behalf of the European Union, the
Central and Eastern European countries associated with the Union, and
the associated country Cyprus, as well as the EFTA countries members
of the EEA. He said that while the Union was pleased with the adoption
by consensus of the resolution dealing with the report of the
Committee on Contributions, much more remained to be done in pursuit
of the Union's long-held objective of making the system of financing
the Organization more transparent and more equitable.
He said it was right that the Committee on Contributions should be
instructed to look at ways of tightening Article 19, in order that the
effective arrears period be brought in line with the original intent
of the authors of that Article. Member States should risk the loss of
their vote in the Assembly if they were in default of their
obligations after a real two-year period, and not the nearly three
years which presently applied. The Committee on Contributions should
specifically advise on the impact of doing the calculation twice a
year rather than just one, and it should look closely at the
consequences of using net, rather than gross, figures in the
calculation.
It had long been an important objective of the Union to make the
scales of assessment more equitable, he said, and, in that context, he
regretted that its members had once again been prevented from even
discussing its proposals to bring a more rational system to bear in
the financing of peacekeeping operations. The technical advice of the
Contributions Committee would be valuable in that area. It was
unacceptable that a straightforward request for the Committee's help
should be blocked by one group of Member States.
Concerning the current system for financing peacekeeping operations,
he said that too many countries continued to receive an 80 per cent
discount as a result of a calculation of their relative share of the
world gross national product (GNP) in 1973, some 25 years ago. It was
unacceptable that some of
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(Night) 18 December 1998
those countries continued to gain an unwarranted subsidy at the
expense, not only of those who paid fully and promptly, but also from
those countries which, with a change to the group system, would
deservedly benefit from it. That situation should not be allowed to
continue, and the Union was not prepared to accept that it was denied
an opportunity to discuss the problem. It, therefore, reserved the
right to return to that issue at the resumed fifty-third session.
PRAYONO ATIYANTO (Indonesia), speaking for the "Group of 77"
developing countries and China, said the Group had joined the
consensus, but had done so with great disappointment. It was very
concerned by the spirit evinced during negotiations. Any mistrust
should be avoided. It was irrelevant to link discussion on the item
with the scale for assessing peacekeeping. The Committee on
Contributions did not have the mandate to discuss that scale.
The Assembly then turned to the Fifth Committee's report on human
resources management (document A/53/748). Again, acting without a
vote, it adopted the draft decision contained therein.
Next taking up the Fifth Committee's report on the United Nations
common system (A/53/754), the Assembly adopted the draft resolution
without a vote.
Again without a vote, the Assembly adopted the nine-part resolution in
the Committee's report on the United Nations pension system (document
A/53/736).
It then took up the Fifth Committee's report containing one draft
resolution on financing the United Nations Angola Verification Mission
and the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (document A/53/745),
adopting that text without a vote.
The Assembly then adopted the resolution contained in the report on
financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
(document A/53/755).
IOURI G. ORLOV (Russian Federation) said, in explanation of vote, that
taking into account the need to have a swift decision on the financing
of the Tribunal it had joined the consensus. However, regarding
paragraph five of the resolution relating to an ACABQ recommendation
to establish an expert review of the Tribunal, the Russian Federation
doubted the need for the activity of such a group and also its
mandate. Its mandate should not go beyond administrative and budgetary
matters. Otherwise, it would infringe on an area that was exclusively
the preserve of the Security Council. Only the Security Council had
the right to give political and legal evaluation of the Tribunal's
operation and to carry out effective monitoring of its functions.
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(Night) 18 December 1998
The Assembly turned then to the Committee's report on financing the
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (document A/53/756).
NESTOR ODAGA-JALAMAYO (Uganda) drew the attention of the Assembly to a
technical error on page four of paragraph five of the text contained
in the report.
The Assembly then adopted the draft resolution.
Mr. ORLOV (Russian Federation) said, in explanation of vote, that
taking into account the need to have a swift decision on the financing
of the Tribunal it had joined the consensus. However, regarding the
paragraph of the resolution relating to an ACABQ recommendation to
establish an expert review of the Tribunal, the Russian Federation
doubted the need for the activity of such a group and also its
mandate. Its mandate should not go beyond administrative and budgetary
matters. Otherwise, it would infringe on an area that was exclusively
the preserve of the Security Council. Only the Security Council had
the right to give political and legal evaluation of the Tribunal's
operation and to carry out effective monitoring of its functions.
Mr. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) expressed pleasure that the Assembly had
decided on a review by an expert group on the functioning of the
Tribunals. He hoped the forthcoming report would be useful in helping
the United Nations organs concerned to take the necessary steps to
improve the functioning of the Tribunals. The resolution noted efforts
by the Office of Human Resources Management to review the remuneration
package for those in the Tribunal, and he hoped that would lead to
helping reduce the high levels of vacancies. Efforts to improve the
Tribunal's operations were noted.
The Assembly next turned to the Committee's report on financing United
Nations peacekeeping operations (document A/53/522/Add.1), adopting
the draft decision on death and disability benefits contained therein
without a vote.
Turning then to the Fifth Committee's report on the programme budget
for the biennium 1998-1999, the Acting President drew attention to a
correction in the document symbol. The correct symbol was
A/53/485/Add.1, and not A/53/757.
The text contained two draft resolutions and three draft decisions.
Draft resolution I, "questions relating to the programme budget for
the biennium 1998-1999", was adopted without a vote.
Draft resolution II, "programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999",
was adopted in the same manner.
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(Night) 18 December 1998
Turning then to the three draft decisions, the Assembly adopted,
without a vote, a text on financial arrangements associated with the
dining room at the International Court of Justice.
In the same manner, it adopted the draft on the relationship between
the treatment of perennial activities in the programme budget and the
use of the contingency fund.
It then adopted the draft decision on the Development Account, again
acting without a vote.
In other action, the Assembly decided that the following agenda items
would remain open for consideration during the current session:
Item 10 Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the
Organization
Item 11 Report of the Security Council
Item 17 Appointments to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other
appointments
Item 20 Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster
relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic
assistance
Item 30 United Nations reform; measures and proposals
Item 31 Culture of peace
Item 38 Oceans and the law of the sea
Item 39 Question of Palestine
Item 40 The situation in the Middle East
Item 43 The situation of democracy and human rights in Haiti
Item 44 The situation in Central America: procedures for the
establishment of a firm and lasting peace and progress in fashioning a
region of peace, freedom, democracy and development
Item 57 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte
Item 58 Strengthening of the United Nations system
Item 59 Questioning of equitable representation on and increase in the
membership of the Security Council and related matters
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Item 60 Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly
Item 61 Restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in the
economic, social and related fields
Item 62 Question of Cyprus
Item 111 Financial reports and audited financial statements, and
reports of the Board of Auditors:
Item 112 Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial
functioning of the United Nations
Item 113 Programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999
Item 114 Programme planning
Item 115 Improving the financial situation of the United Nations
Item 116 Administrative and budgetary coordination of the United
Nations with the specialized agencies and the International Atomic
Energy Agency
Item 117 Pattern of conferences
Item 118 Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of
the United Nations
Item 119 Human resources management
Item 120 United Nations common system
Item 121 United Nations pension system
Item 122 Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the
Middle East
Item 123 Financing of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission
and the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola
Item 125 Financing of the activities arising from Security Council
resolution 687 (1991)
Item 126 Financing and liquidation of the United Nations Transitional
Authority in Cambodia
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(Night) 18 December 1998
Item 127 Financing of the United Nations Protection Force, the United
Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia, the United
Nations Preventive Deployment Force and the United Nations Peace
Forces headquarters
Item 128 Financing of the United Nations Operation in Somalia II
Item 129 Financing of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique
Item 130 Financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
Item 131 Financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
Item 132 Financing of the United Nations Mission in Haiti
Item 133 Financing of the United Nations Assistance Mission for
Liberia
Item 134 Financing of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda
Item 135 Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution
of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International
Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia
since 1991
Item 136 Financing of the United Nations Mission of Observers in
Tajikistan
Item 137 Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the
Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious
Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the
Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and
Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring
States between 1 January and 31 December 1994
Item 138 Financing of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Item 139 Financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration
for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium and the Civilian
Police Support Group
Item 140 Financing of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force
Item 141 Financing of the United Nations Support Mission in Haiti, the
United Nations Transition Mission in Haiti and the United Nations
Civilian Police Mission in Haiti
Item 142 Financing of the Military Observer Group of the United
Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala
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(Night) 18 December 1998
Item 143 Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the
United Nations peacekeeping operations
Item 144 Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the
Office of Internal Oversight Services
Item 145 Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolution
48/218 B
Item 155 Measures to eliminate international terrorism
Item 161 Financing of the United Nations Mission in the Central
African Republic
Item 163 Financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra
Leone
Item 165 Joint Inspection Unit
Item 167 Armed aggression against the Democratic Republic of the Congo