General Assembly Session 53 meeting 93

The Acting President

May I take it that the General Assembly decides that the International Organization of la Francophonie will participate, in the capacity of observer, in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and of its subsidiary organs, instead of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation, which had been invited to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and of its subsidiary organs in the capacity of observer by General Assembly resolution 33/18 of 10 November 1978?

The Acting President

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/53/L.66, which is in two parts. Part A is entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security", and Part B is entitled "Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan".

I should like to announce that since the introduction of draft resolution A/53/L.66, the following countries have become sponsors of the draft resolution: Albania, Fiji, Honduras, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The report of the Fifth Committee on the programme budget implications of draft resolution A/53/L.66 is contained in document A/53/753.

May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft resolution A/53/L.66?

The Acting President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 20?

The Acting President

Moreover, the General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 45.

The Acting President

The General Assembly will now consider the reports of the Fifth Committee an agenda items 17 (k), 111, 112, 114, 116 to 121, 123, 135, 137, 143 (a) and 113.

I request the Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee, Mr. Tammam Sulaiman of the Syrian Arab Republic, to introduce the reports of the Fifth Committee in one intervention.

Mr. Sulaiman (Syria)

I have the honour today to present to the General Assembly the reports of the Fifth Committee on agenda items allocated to it. Members will recall that 37 items were allocated for consideration by the Fifth Committee. The Committee considered 24 items during the main part of the fifty-third session of the General Assembly. The remaining items allocated to the Committee will be considered during the resumed fifty-third session.

From 5 October to 15 December 1998, the Fifth Committee held 45 meetings. Moreover, negotiations were carried out in the course of numerous informal consultations. I shall today give a brief report on the results of the work of the Fifth Committee.

Let me recall first of all that the Fifth Committee has already submitted reports under a number of items that were considered in October and November, including the following. Under agenda item 112, "Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations", the Committee has reported on administrative arrangements for the International Trade Centre, on the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), on the World Trade Organization, on gratis personnel provided by Governments and other entities, and on the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on its activities during the fifty-second session. Under agenda item 113, "Programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999", the Committee has reported on the programme budget implications of the special session of the Committee on Contributions in 1999 and on the savings achieved from the ninth session of UNCTAD, as well as on the programme budget implications of draft resolution I recommended by the Third Committee in its report contained in document A/53/623, entitled "International Covenant on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination", and of draft resolution A/53/L.20 on the situation in Central America, entitled "United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala".

Under agenda item 118, "Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations", requests for exemption to Article 19 have been made by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq and Tajikistan.

Other agenda items mainly relate to peacekeeping operations, such as agenda item 125, "Financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara"; agenda item 136, "Financing of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan"; item 140, "Financing of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force"; and the support account for peacekeeping operations under agenda item 143, "Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations".

I shall now present to the General Assembly the reports of the Fifth Committee on the items considered during the last weeks of its session.

Regarding agenda item 17 (k), entitled "Appointment of a member of the United Nations Staff Pension Committee", the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/53/752. In paragraph 5 of that report, the Fifth Committee recommends to the General Assembly the appointment of Mr. Kenshiro Akimoto to fill the unexpired portion of the term of office of a member who has resigned. Mr. Akimoto's nomination was made in the Committee by acclamation.

In relation to agenda item 111, entitled "Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors", the report of the Committee is contained in document A/53/738. In paragraph 9 of the report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution, which the Fifth Committee adopted without a vote.

Concerning agenda item 112, entitled "Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations", the report of the Committee is contained in document A/53/521/Add.1. In paragraph 12 the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution regarding the report of the Secretary-General on the proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 2000-2001, and the adoption of two draft decisions, which concern, respectively, the action taken on certain agenda items and relevant reports of the Committee and the biennial programme of work for the Fifth Committee. The draft resolution and the two draft decisions were adopted by the Committee without a vote.

With regard to agenda item 113, entitled "Programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999", the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/53/485/Add.1. Under this agenda item, the Committee adopted two draft resolutions -- draft resolution I, which deals with questions relating to the programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999, and draft resolution II, dealing with the programme budget for the biennium for the period 1998-1999. I wish to inform the Assembly that A/C.5/53/L.27 will be amended to reflect the actual work of the Committee. In addition, the seventh part of the first draft resolution concerning the programme on administrative information will be replaced with the text contained in A/C.5/53/L.32, which shows the consensus reached in the informal consultations on the integrated information system. This text was issued in A/C.5/53/L.27 and adopted by the Committee without a vote.

Turning to agenda item 114, entitled "Programme planning", the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/53/743. In paragraph 8 of that report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote.

Concerning agenda item 116, entitled "Administrative and budgetary coordination of the United Nations with the specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency", the report of the Committee is contained in document A/53/713. In paragraph 5 of that report, the Committee recommends that the General Assembly take note of the report of the Administrative Committee on Coordination on the budgetary and financial situation of organizations of the United Nations system and the relevant paragraphs of the first report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. The draft decision was adopted by the Committee without a vote.

Under agenda item 117, entitled "Pattern of conferences", the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/53/744. In paragraph 7 of that report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote.

Regarding agenda item 118, entitled "Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations", the report of the Committee is contained in document A/53/464/Add.3. In paragraph 6 of that report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote.

Turning to agenda item 119, entitled "Human resources management", the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/53/748. In paragraph 9 of that report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft decision, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote.

Concerning agenda item 120, entitled "United Nations common system", the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/53/754. In paragraph 7 of that report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote.

Turning to agenda item 121, entitled "United Nations pension system", the report of the Committee is contained in document A/53/736. In paragraph 8 of that report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote.

Regarding agenda item 123, entitled "Financing of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission and the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola", the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/53/745. In paragraph 6 of that report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote.

Under agenda item 135, entitled "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", the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/53/755. In paragraph 6 of the report the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution that was adopted by the Committee without a vote.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to all the members of the Fifth Committee who contributed to the successful conclusion of this part of our work and to all the members of the Secretariat for the valuable assistance they provided to facilitate our work.

The Acting President

If there is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, I shall take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the reports of the Fifth Committee that are before the Assembly today.

The Acting President

Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote or position.

The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Fifth Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records.

May I remind members that under paragraph 7 of decision 34/401, the General Assembly agreed that

"When the same draft resolution is considered in a Main Committee and in plenary meeting, a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote only once, i.e., either in the Committee or in plenary meeting unless that delegation's vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee."

May I also remind delegations that, also in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes.

Before we begin to take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the Fifth Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Fifth Committee.

The Acting President

In paragraph 5 of its report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly should appoint Mr. Kenshiro Akimoto as a member of the United Nations Staff Pension Committee for the remainder of a term of office beginning on 1 January 1999 and ending on 31 December 2000.

May I take it that the General Assembly appoints that person?

The Acting President

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 17.

The Acting President

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 9 of its report.

The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Acting President

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 111.

The Acting President

I shall now call on those representatives who wish to speak in explanation of position before action is taken on the draft resolutions contained in paragraph 18 of the Committee's report. May I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

Ms. Shearouse (United States)

The United States cannot join the agreement reached on the $2.545 billion budget outlined for the biennium 2000-2001. We do not accept a budget outline level that is both greater than the current budget level and much more than is necessary to carry out all mandated programmes efficiently and effectively. It is our belief that an outline level equal to or lower than the current budget would have enabled full implementation of mandated activities, including real increases in several priority areas; reflected the likelihood of at least $20 million in efficiency savings in the next biennium as a result of improvements in efficiencies in United Nations operations; and provided resources for the special political missions that may be undertaken during the course of the budget period.

Despite clear indications that a budget less than the current level would be sufficient for the next biennium, the proposed resolution endorses an outline level that substantially exceeds this. Actual spending for the first year of the current biennium was well below the approved budget level. To increase the projected expenditure level above the current approved level, which itself exceeds the actual spending pattern, is simply irresponsible.

We also cannot agree to a budget outline that rejects the Secretary-General's proposal to achieve $20 million in savings through efficiency gains -- a tiny amount when compared with the overall budget total. This capricious approach goes against Article 97 of the United Nations Charter, which gives the Secretary-General responsibility for administering the Organization in the most efficient and effective ways possible.

In truth, any budget totalling $2.5 billion would easily contain substantially more than $20 million in savings opportunities. The original proposal would have made such savings a distinct part of the budget proposal. While this approach was not embraced, we fully expect the Secretary-General to identify efficiency savings when proposing his budget for the biennium 2000-2001.

Approving a higher budget outline level than is justified on technical and programmatic grounds has set an unfortunate precedent. Given this situation, one can only conclude that there are other forces at play that gave rise to such an extraordinary and expensive action.

We would only add that we look forward to reviewing the Secretary-General's detailed budget estimates next year. These estimates should fully reflect the benefits of the reform and efficiency measures while also providing a realistic perspective on the United Nations resource requirements for the biennium.

Mr. Watanabe (Japan)

Just for the record, my delegation would like to state the following concerning draft resolution II. The Government of Japan cannot accept the figure of $2.545 billion outlined for the biennium 2000-2001 because of the reasons stated in the Fifth Committee this afternoon. However, my delegation will not block the adoption without a vote of the draft resolution.

The Acting President

The Assembly will now take a decision on the two draft resolutions recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 18 of its report (A/53/521/Add.1) and on the six draft decisions recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 19 of the same report.

We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled "Results-based budgeting", which the Fifth Committee adopted without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Acting President

Draft resolution II is entitled "Proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 2000-2001", which, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/53/L.33. The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution II without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Acting President

We will now turn to the six draft decisions recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 19 of its report (A/53/521/Add.1).

The Fifth Committee adopted draft decision I, entitled "Revolving credit fund", without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Acting President

The Fifth Committee adopted draft decision II, entitled "Administrative arrangements for the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO", without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Acting President

The Fifth Committee adopted draft decision III, entitled "Guidelines for Internal Control Standards", without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Acting President

The Fifth Committee adopted draft decision IV, entitled "Impact of the implementation of pilot projects on budgetary practices and procedures", without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Acting President

The Fifth Committee adopted draft decision V, entitled "Biennial programme of work of the Fifth Committee for 1999-2000", without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Acting President

The Fifth Committee adopted draft decision VI, entitled "Items for consideration by the Fifth Committee during the resumed fifty-third session of the General Assembly", without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Acting President

I shall now call on those representatives who wish to speak in explanation of position on the resolutions just adopted.

May I remind delegations that explanations of vote or position are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

Mr. Powles (New Zealand)

This brief explanation of position on the resolution on results-based budgeting is being delivered on behalf of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In addition, the delegations of the following countries have asked to be associated with it: the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu -- in all, 10 Member States.

Our delegations have joined in the consensus on the resolution on results-based budgeting in support of the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions that the Secretary-General should provide additional prototype budget fascicles in a results-based budgeting format. We believe that, in order for the General Assembly to have more technical information at hand when considering this matter next year, paragraph 7 of the resolution is essential.

Our delegations also agreed with the wish of other delegations that the Secretary-General should provide additional justification for his recommendation to move to results-based budgeting. However, our delegations retain some concern that many of the paragraphs in this resolution seem to prejudge the outcome of the comparative analysis that the General Assembly is requesting of the Secretary-General.

It is our delegations' hope that, when the General Assembly takes up this matter again at its fifty-fourth session, the receipt of additional information requested will foster a well-informed and constructive discussion on results-based budgeting. This discussion should be based on technical aspects, but, at the same time, it affects the future health of this Organization.

Our delegations would be grateful if the Secretary-General would note that, while there is understandable uncertainty on the part of some delegations concerning his recommendation in the United Nations reform programme on results-based budgeting, there is also firm and unwavering support for the concept on the part of many delegations. We reiterate here the utmost importance that our delegations attach to the proper consideration of results-based budgeting in the United Nations.

Like other Member States, we seek a more credible United Nations. We fear that, if the United Nations management and administrative machinery is not modernized and strengthened, this Organization runs a serious risk of being unable to respond to the growing needs of the international community in the new century. If that were to be the case, all Member States would suffer, particular developing countries and small States. My own country is obviously in that category. We are the ones that rely most on the United Nations.

Therefore, our delegations will continue to support the gradual transition to a results-based budgeting system for the United Nations, for it is in this system that the seeds of a much more effective Organization can be found.

Mr. Schlesinger (Austria)

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

The General Assembly adopted resolution 41/213 because it wished to improve the financial and administrative functioning of the Organization and to facilitate the agreement among Member States on the programme budget. The concept of a budget outline was introduced and has since been a pillar of the budgetary process. It is for this reason that we attach great importance to it. The European Union was therefore pleased to join consensus on the present resolution after much work and welcome flexibility on the part of many delegations to reach the broadest possible agreement.

This is not to say that we were fully satisfied with all elements of the text. In particular, like others, we would have preferred to have retained in the outline the $20 million which the Secretary-General expects to be able to save through economies achieved by intense scrutiny of the programme budget. It is our view that this is by no means an unreasonable target for such economies in a budget of this size and we trust that the Secretary-General will continue to apply such scrutiny when preparing the budget he will propose next year. Of course, it goes without saying that such economies should be sought only in the context of full and effective financing for the implementation of mandated programmes and activities.

We welcome the resolution we have just adopted, which reaffirms General Assembly resolution 41/213. It effectively reverses calls for deviations made in the past for political reasons. In this context, we are particularly pleased to see the reaffirmation that a contingency fund in the amount of 0.75 per cent is additional to the overall budget figure, as specified in resolution 41/213. We also appreciate that the budget outline now contains a provision for special missions, as recommended by the Secretary-General and the Advisory Committee.

The European Union has long agreed with the view of the Secretary-General that previous arrangements in this regard were an unsatisfactory basis for organizing the future management of resources for such missions.

It is unfortunate that some delegations remain unhappy with this resolution, which was adopted without a vote. But we expect that the procedures stipulated in resolution 41/213 and the spirit of consensus underpinning it will continue to guide our work when we come to discuss the Secretary-General's budget proposal, for which this resolution provides an indicative planning estimate.