A/61/644
General Assembly Distr.: General 18 December 2006 Original: Spanish
06-66833 (E) 191206
Sixty-first session Agenda item 151
Financing of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste
Report of the Fifth Committee
Rapporteur: Mr. Diego Simancas (Mexico)
I. Introduction
1. At its 2nd plenary meeting, on 13 September 2006, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include in the agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste" and to allocate it to the Fifth Committee.
2. The Fifth Committee considered the item at its 22nd and 34th
meetings, on 17 November and 18 December 2006. Statements and observations made in the course of the Committee's consideration of the item are reflected in the relevant summary records (A/C.5/61/SR.22 and 34).
3. For its consideration of the item, the Committee had before it the following documents:
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste for the period from 25 August 2006 to 31 March 2007 (A/61/519);
(b) Report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (A/61/567).
II. Consideration of draft resolution A/C.5/61/L.11
4. At its 34th meeting, on 18 December, the Committee had before it a draft resolution entitled "Financing of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor- Leste" (A/C.5/61/L.11), which was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee, the representative of Greece, on the basis of informal consultations.
5. At the same meeting, the Chairman of the Committee drew the attention of the members of the Committee to a letter dated 15 November 2006 from the Secretary- General addressed to the President of the General Assembly (A/61/598).
6. Also at the same meeting, the Director of the Peacekeeping Financing Division made a statement (see A/C.5/61/SR.34).
7. Also at the 34th meeting, before the adoption of the draft resolution, the representative of the Sudan made a statement (see A/C.5/61/SR.34).
8. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.5/61/L.11 without a vote (see para. 9).
III. Recommendation of the Fifth Committee
9. The Fifth Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolution:
Financing of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste
The General Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste1 and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,2
Recalling Security Council resolution 1704 (2006) of 25 August 2006, by which the Council decided to establish a follow-on mission in Timor-Leste, the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, for an initial period of six months, with the intention to renew it for further periods,
Recognizing that the costs of the Mission are expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member States in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations,
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 Mission with the financial resources necessary to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolution of the Security Council,
1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Head of the Mission with the task of formulating future budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolutions 59/296 of 22 June 2005 and 60/266 of 30 June 2006, as well as other relevant
resolutions;
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements;
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1 A/61/519.
2 A/61/567.
5. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates;
6. Recalls its resolution 60/266, section VI, paragraph 1, and emphasizes the importance of ensuring coordination and collaboration of efforts with the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and the implementation of a unified workplan, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on measures taken and progress made and to provide clear descriptions of respective roles and responsibilities in its future budget submissions;
7. 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 Mission;
8. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,2 subject to the provisions of the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation;
9. Notes the additional information provided by the Secretary-General on the ability to finance twenty-two general temporary assistance positions for the backstopping of the Mission at United Nations Headquarters in the amount of 2,307,500 United States dollars from the resources approved for the peacekeeping support account for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007;3
10. Authorizes the Secretary-General to finance up to twenty-two general temporary assistance positions at United Nations Headquarters to provide support for the deployment of the Mission from the resources approved for the peacekeeping support account for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007, to be reported to the General Assembly in the context of the peacekeeping support account performance report for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007;
11. Reaffirms its resolution 59/296, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full implementation of its relevant provisions and the relevant provisions of its resolution 60/266;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy;
13. 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 Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission;
14. Further requests the Secretary-General to make greater use of national staff;
Budget estimates for the period from 25 August 2006 to 31 March 2007
15. Authorizes the Secretary-General to establish a special account for the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste for the purpose of accounting for the income received and expenditure incurred in respect of the Mission;
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3 See A/C.5/61/SR.34.
16. Also authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for the Mission for the period from 25 August 2006 to 31 March 2007 in a total amount not exceeding 170,221,100 dollars, inclusive of the amount of 49,961,500 dollars previously authorized by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions under the terms of section IV of General Assembly resolution 49/233 A of 23 December 1994;
Financing of the commitment authority
17. Decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 143,140,420 dollars for the period from 25 August 2006 to 25 February 2007, 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 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003, and the scale of assessments for 2007;4
18. Also decides 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 17 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 2,046,840 dollars, representing the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Mission for the period from 25 August 2006 to 25 February 2007;
19. Further decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 27,080,680 dollars for the period from 26 February to 31 March 2007 at the monthly rate of 23,556,753 dollars, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolution 58/256, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2007, subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Mission;
20. Decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 19 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 387,360 dollars, representing the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Mission for the period from 26 February to 31 March 2007;
21. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions;
22. 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 Mission, bearing in mind paragraphs 5 and 6 of Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003;
23. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission 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;
24. Decides to keep under review during its sixty-first session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste".
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4 To be adopted by the General Assembly.
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