Bookstore Glossary Library Links News Publications Timeline Virtual Israel Experience
Anti-Semitism Biography History Holocaust Israel Israel Education Myths & Facts Politics Religion Travel US & Israel Vital Stats Women
donate subscribe Contact About Home

UN General Assembly Resolutions: Resolution 55/264

(June 14, 2001)

The General Assembly,

Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force A/55/747 and A/55/778. and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, A/55/874 and Add.1.

Recalling Security Council resolution 350 (1974) of 31 May 1974, by which the Council established 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 1351 (2001) of 30 May 2001,

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 54/266 of 15 June 2000,

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 United Nations Disengagement Observer 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,

Bearing in mind the reported hardships incurred by the local staff upon relocation of the headquarters of the Force from Damascus to Camp Faouar, and welcoming the efforts made to address them,

1. Notes that some of the concerns regarding the improvement of the working conditions of the local staff in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force have been addressed;

2. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to continue the process of improving the working conditions of the local staff, including by making allowance for difficulties resulting from the relocation of the headquarters of the Force from Damascus to Camp Faouar, through mutual and fruitful dialogue;

3. Notes that paragraph 2 of its resolution 54/266 was not fully implemented, in particular with regard to making allowance for the difficulties mentioned in that paragraph, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to take concrete measures to ensure the full implementation of the matter and to report thereon to the General Assembly during the first part of its resumed fifty-sixth session;

4. Takes note of the status of contributions to the Force as at 30 April 2001, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 22.8 million United States dollars, representing some 1.4 per cent of the total assessed contributions from the inception of the Force to the period ending 31 May 2001, notes that some 19 per cent of the Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States concerned, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions;

5. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full;

6. Expresses concern about 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;

7. Urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Force in full and on time;

8. 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;

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

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

11. 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;

12. Endorses the recommendations contained in paragraphs 8 and 26 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, A/55/874/Add.1. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation;

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

14. 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;

15. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force the amount of 35,689,968 dollars gross (34,793,582 dollars net) for the maintenance of the Force for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002, inclusive of the amount of 1,044,551 dollars gross (916,696 dollars net) for the support account for peacekeeping operations and the amount of 109,117 dollars gross (97,986 dollars net) for the United Nations Logistics Base;

16. Decides also to apportion among Member States the amount of 35,689,968 dollars gross (34,793,582 dollars net) at a monthly rate of 2,974,164 dollars gross (2,899,465 dollars net), in accordance with the levels set out in General Assembly resolution 55/235 and as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolution 55/236 of 23 December 2000, and taking into account the scale of assessments for the years 2001 and 2002, as set out in its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000, subject to the decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Force;

17. 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 16 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 896,386 dollars approved for the Force for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002;

18. Decides that, for Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Force, there shall be set off against the apportionment, as provided for in paragraph 16 above, their respective share of the unencumbered balance of 324,900 dollars gross (297,700 dollars net) in respect of the period ending 30 June 2000, in accordance with the composition of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of General Assembly resolution 43/232 of 1 March 1989, as adjusted by the Assembly in subsequent relevant resolutions and decisions for the ad hoc apportionment of peacekeeping appropriations, the latest of which were resolution 52/230 of 31 March 1998 and decisions 54/456 to 54/458 of 23 December 1999 for the period 1998–2000, and taking into account the scale of assessments for the year 2000, as set out in its resolutions 52/215 A of 22 December 1997 and 54/237 A of 23 December 1999;

19. Decides also that, for Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Force, their respective share of the unencumbered balance of 324,900 dollars gross (297,700 dollars net) in respect of the period ending 30 June 2000 shall be set off against their outstanding obligations in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 18 above;

20. Decides further, pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 13 of its resolution 53/226 of 8 June 1999, to credit back to Member States the amount of 4 million dollars during the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly, representing the remaining net balance held in the suspense account for the Force, according to the procedures set out in paragraphs 16 to 19 above;

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 Force;

23. 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;

24. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth 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".


Sources: The United Nations