Resolution 56/294
(June 27, 2002)
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 1425 (2002)
of 30 May 2002,
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 55/264
of 14 June 2001,
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,
Noting with appreciation that voluntary
contributions have been made to the Force,
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,
Concerned that the surplus balances
in the Special Account for the United Nations
Disengagement Observer Force have been used
to meet expenses of the Force in order to
compensate for the lack of income resulting
from non-payment and late payment by Member
States of their contributions,
1. Requests the Secretary-General
to continue the productive and fruitful dialogue
with local staff and to report on such dialogue;
2. Takes note of the status of contributions
to the United Nations Disengagement Observer
Force as at 30 April 2002, including the contributions
outstanding in the amount of 15.7 million
United States dollars, representing some 1.4
per cent of the total assessed contributions,
notes with concern that only fifty-one Member
States have paid their assessed contributions
in full, and urges all other Member States,
in particular those in arrears, to ensure
payment of their outstanding assessed contributions;
3. Expresses its appreciation to those
Member States which have paid their assessed
contributions 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. Urges all Member States to make
every possible effort to ensure payment of
their assessed contributions to the Force
in full and on time;
6. 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;
7. Emphasizes that all future and
existing peacekeeping missions shall be given
equal and non-discriminatory treatment in
respect of financial and administrative arrangements;
8. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping
missions shall be provided with adequate resources
for the effective and efficient discharge
of their respective mandates;
9. 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;
10. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations
contained in the report of the Advisory Committee
on Administrative and Budgetary Questions
3 and the conclusions contained in the report
of the Secretary-General, 4 and requests the
Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation;
11. Requests the Secretary-General
to take all necessary action to ensure that
the Force is administered with a maximum of
efficiency and economy;
12. Also 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 2000 to 30 June 2001
13. Takes note of the report of the
Secretary-General on the financial performance
of the Force for the period from 1 July 2000
to 30 June 2001; 5
Budget estimates for the period from 1
July 2002 to 30 June 2003
14. Decides to appropriate to the
Special Account for the United Nations Disengagement
Observer Force the amount of 40,760,200 dollars
for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June
2003, inclusive of 38,991,800 dollars for
the maintenance of the Force, 1,579,200 dollars
for the support account for peacekeeping operations,
and 189,200 dollars for the United Nations
Logistics Base;
Financing of the appropriation
15. Decides also to apportion among Member
States the amount of 40,760,200 dollars at a monthly rate of 3,396,683
dollars, in accordance with the levels set out in resolution 55/235,
as adjusted by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/236 of 23 December
2000, and taking into account the scale of assessments for the years
2002 and 2003 as set out in its resolution 55/5 B of the same date,
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 1,151,800
dollars for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 at a monthly
rate of 95,983 dollars, comprising the estimated staff assessment income
of 919,800 dollars approved for the Force for the period from 1 July
2002 to 30 June 2003, the prorated share of 215,100 dollars of the estimated
staff assessment income approved for the support account for the period
from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 and the increase in staff assessment
income of that account for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001,
and the prorated share of 16,900 dollars of the estimated staff assessment
income approved for the United Nations Logistics Base for the period
from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 and the reduction in staff assessment
income of that account for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001;
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 of 575,100 dollars and their respective
share of other income of 2,264,000 dollars
in respect of the financial period ended 30
June 2001, in accordance with the levels set
out in resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the
General Assembly in its resolution 55/236,
and taking into account the scale of assessments
for the year 2001, as set out in its resolution
55/5 B;
18. Decides also that for Member States
that have not fulfilled their financial obligations
to the Force, their respective share of the
unencumbered balance of 575,100 dollars and
other income of 2,264,000 dollars in respect
of the financial period ended 30 June 2001
shall be set off against their outstanding
obligations in accordance with the scheme
set out in paragraph 15 above;
19. Decides further that the increase
in the staff assessment income of 80,200 dollars
shall be set off against the credits from
the unencumbered balance in respect of the
financial period ended 30 June 2001 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;
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 fifty-seventh 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".
105th plenary meeting
27 June 2002
Sources: The United Nations |