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UN General Assembly Resolutions: Resolution 57/324

(June 18, 2003)

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 1451 (2002) of 17 December 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 56/294 of 27 June 2002,

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 Force with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,

1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force as at 31 March 2003, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 25.7 million United States dollars, representing some 2 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only thirty-three 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;

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

3. 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;

4. Urges all Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Force in full;

5. 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;

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

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

8. 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;

9. Takes note of the observation contained in paragraph 20 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions 3 and endorses the remaining conclusions and recommendations, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation, without prejudice to a future discussion and decision on the proposal to create the post of Deputy Force Commander, subject to the provisions of the present resolution;

10. Authorizes the Secretary-General to fill the three general staff posts referred to in paragraph 22 of the report of the Advisory Committee3 for a period not to exceed one year, and invites the Secretary-General to resubmit with full justification this request in connection with the budget request for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005;

11. Invites the Secretary-General to resubmit with full justification his request concerning the proposed upgrade of the Chief Administrative Officer in connection with the budget proposal for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005;

12. Decides to eliminate the vacant Field Service driver position in the Office of the Force Commander;

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. Notes with appreciation the implementation of paragraph 10 of its resolution 56/294 through making allowance for difficulties resulting from the relocation of the headquarters of the Force from Damascus to Camp Faouar;

16. Welcomes the Secretary-General's observation in paragraph 17 of his report 4 that all outstanding issues have been satisfactorily resolved, and in this regard recognizes the need for continuing dialogue between staff and management, consistent with the existing mechanisms in all peacekeeping missions;

17. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the modernization programme should fully respect the relevant mandates of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force and the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization;

Financial performance report for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002

18. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the financial performance of the Force for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002; 5

Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004

19. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force the amount of 41,812,200 dollars for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004, inclusive of 40,009,200 dollars for the maintenance of the Force, 1,380,600 dollars for the support account for peacekeeping operations, and 422,400 dollars for the United Nations Logistics Base;

Financing of the appropriation

20. Decides also to apportion among Member States the amount of 41,812,200 dollars at a monthly rate of 3,484,350 dollars, in accordance with the levels set out in resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the General Assembly in its resolutions 55/236 of 23 December 2000 and 57/290 A of 20 December 2002, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2003, as set out in its resolutions 55/5 B of 23 December 2000 and 57/4 B of 20 December 2002, and for 2004, 6 subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Force;

21. 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 20 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 1,318,100 dollars at a monthly rate of 109,842 dollars, comprising the estimated staff assessment income of 982,100 dollars approved for the Force, the prorated share of 311,000 dollars of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the support account, and the prorated share of 25,000 dollars of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the United Nations Logistics Base;

22. 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 20 above, their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income in the total amount of 2,488,400 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2002, in accordance with the levels set out in resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the General Assembly in its resolutions 55/236 and 57/290 A, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2002, as set out in its resolutions 55/5 B and 57/4 B;

23. Decides also that for Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Force, their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income in the total amount of 2,488,400 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2002 shall be set off against their outstanding obligations in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 22 above;

24. Decides further that the increase of 200,800 dollars in the estimated staff assessment income in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2002 shall be added to the credits from the amount referred to in paragraphs 22 and 23 above, and that the respective shares of Member States therein shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of those paragraphs as appropriate;

25. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions;

26. 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;

27. 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;

28. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth 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".


90th plenary meeting
18 June 2003

Notes

 


1 A/57/668, A/57/688 and A/57/723.

2 A/57/772 and Add.7.

3 See A/57/772/Add.7.

4 See A/57/688.

5 A/57/668.

6 To be adopted by the General Assemby


Sources: The United Nations