SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 34th MEETING

Chairman:  

Mr. TEIRNLINCK

(Belgium)

                        

Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and

Budgetary Questions:  Mr. MSELLE

CONTENTS

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AGENDA ITEM 116:  FINANCING OF THE ±¬ÁÏÍøITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

(a) ±¬ÁÏÍøITED NATIONS DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE

(b) ±¬ÁÏÍøITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON

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The meeting was called to order at 10.30 a.m.

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AGENDA ITEM 116:  FINANCING OF THE ±¬ÁÏÍøITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCES IN THE MIDDLE EAST ( and )

(a) ±¬ÁÏÍøITED NATIONS DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE (A/49/553)

(b) ±¬ÁÏÍøITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON ()

22. Mr. TAKASU (Controller) said that the Secretary-General was of the view that the surplus balance in the Special Account of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (±¬ÁÏÍøDOF) which was held in suspense could be reduced only under the following conditions:  if substantial payment of arrears was made by Member States; if prompt and full payments were made by Member States of their assessed contributions in respect of future mandates approved by the Security Council; and if there was cash available after the operating expenses of ±¬ÁÏÍøDOF had been met.

23. With regard to the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (±¬ÁÏÍøIFIL), (A/49/644), savings of $7.5 million had been effected as a result of reductions in average troop strength and the replacement of international civilian staff by local staff.  He recalled that, in resolution 48/254, the General Assembly had requested the Secretary-General to include in his next report to the General Assembly on the financing of ±¬ÁÏÍøDOF comments on the feasibility of a gradual reduction of the surplus balance, taking into account the financial situation of the Force, the status of reimbursement to troop-contributing countries and the views expressed by Member States.  Given the substantial outstanding balance of assessed contributions, however, it would be difficult to recommend a reduction of the surplus balance.

24. Mr. MSELLE (Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions) noted that the financial situation of ±¬ÁÏÍøDOF was better than that of ±¬ÁÏÍøIFIL.  The Advisory Committee therefore saw no need to enter the surplus balance of $9.1 million into the suspense account; that surplus should be instead credited to Member States.  The Advisory Committee further recommended that the General Assembly should appropriate the amount of $16,080,000 gross ($15,594,000 net) authorized and assessed in accordance with paragraph 18 of General Assembly resolution 48/253 for the period from 1 June to 30 November 1994.  Additionally, the Advisory Committee recommended that the General Assembly should also appropriate an amount of $32,132,000 gross ($31,132,000 net) for the period from 1 December 1994 to 31 May 1995.  For the period beyond 31 May 1995, should the Security Council renew the mandate of ±¬ÁÏÍøDOF, the Advisory Committee recommended that the General Assembly should authorize the Secretary-General to enter into commitments at a monthly rate not exceeding $2,677,583 gross ($2,594,000 net) per month for the maintenance of the Force.

25. With regard to ±¬ÁÏÍøIFIL, the Advisory Committee concurred in the Secretary-General's proposal in paragraph 25 (d) of his report (A/49/644) to enter the surplus balances of $5,780,416 covering the period from 1 February 1991 to 31 January 1992 and $12,198,044 for the period from 1 February 1992 to 31 January 1993 into the suspense account.  As for the cost estimates for the period from 1 February 1995 to 31 January 1996, the Advisory Committee noted that the Secretary-General, in paragraph 25 (b) of his report, was seeking commitment authorization at a monthly rate of $11,234,500 gross from the General Assembly.  The Advisory Committee recommended acceptance of that proposal, should the Security Council decide to renew the mandate of ±¬ÁÏÍøIFIL beyond 31 January 1996.

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The meeting rose at 11.55 a.m.