Subject: UN: G. Assembly Comm. Authorizes up to $35
million to start
Date: Sat, 29 May 1999 11:39:35 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>24 May 1999 Press Release
GA/AB/3297
ASSEMBLY WOULD AUTHORIZE SECRETARY-GENERAL TO ENTER INTO COMMITMENT UP TO $35 MILLION
FOR UN ACTIVITIES RELATED TO EAST TIMOR, BY FIFTH COMMITTEE TEXT
19990524
The General Assembly would authorize the Secretary-General to enter into commitment of
up to $35 million from all sources of funding for the initial requirements of the United
Nations activities related to East Timor, pending further action by the Security Council
and the submission of a revised budget by the Secretary-General, according to a draft
decision approved by its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this afternoon.
By other terms of the text, the Assembly would express concern at the tendency of
substantive Committees and other intergovernmental bodies to involve themselves in
administrative and budgetary matters and reaffirm that the Fifth Committee was entrusted
with responsibility for administrative and budgetary matters.
The $35 million-commitment authority, based on the recommendation of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), was larger than the amount
requested by the Secretary-General -- some $25.4 million. The reason for this, ACABQ
Chairman C.S.M. Mselle explained as he introduced his report, was that the ACABQ had been
informed that larger expenditures were being contemplated using voluntary contributions
from the trust fund established for East Timor. The ACABQ was of the view that the full
expenditures should be addressed, regardless of the source of funding, he said.
The Secretary-General was to submit to the Council a report no later than 24 May
recommending the mandate, size, structure and budget of the mission, he continued. After
that, the Security Council would formally establish the mission, and the Assembly would
consider the budget of the mission as a whole.
Indonesia's representative said his delegation supported all efforts to establish a
United Nations presence in East Timor as soon as possible. The international community
should provide for the financial commitments made in the 5 May Agreements between
Indonesia and Portugal. He appealed to all Member States to increase their support to
expedite the process in a timely manner.
Portugal's representative expressed her Government's satisfaction with delegations'
support in launching the United Nations presence in East Timor.
Fifth Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/AB/3297 60th Meeting (PM) 24 May 1999
The Security Council, in resolution 1236 (1999) of 7 May, welcomed the
Secretary-General's intention to establish a United Nations presence to assist in
implementing the Agreements signed by Portugal, Indonesia and the United Nations regarding
consultations on an autonomy proposal for East Timor. Early in May, the Secretary-General
established a trust fund for voluntary contributions to finance the quick establishment of
the mission without waiting for the assessed budgetary process. Some staff have already
been deployed to ensure the execution of the consultation process pending a formal
decision by the Council on the mission.
The representatives of Germany (for the European Union and associated States),
Philippines (for the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN)), Norway, United
States, Australia, Cuba, China and New Zealand spoke. Uganda's representative spoke on
other matters.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 25 May, to continue discussing the
financing of peacekeeping operations.
Committee Work Programme
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this afternoon to consider the
question of East Timor. It had before it reports of the Secretary-General and the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).
The Secretary-General's report (document A/C.5/53/61) explains that the Security
Council, in its resolution 1236 (1999) of 7 May, welcomed his intention to establish, as
soon as practicable, a United Nations presence to assist in implementing agreements signed
by Portugal, Indonesia and the United Nations regarding consultations on an autonomy
proposal for East Timor.
The Secretary-General estimates that the consultation process -- excluding the civilian
police component -- would cost some $45.7 million gross ($44.2 million net), the report
states. He requests the Assembly to approve a budget of this amount and to grant him
authority to enter into commitments no greater than some $25.4 million.
Early in May, the Secretary-General established a trust fund to which Member States may
channel voluntary contributions to finance the quick establishment of the mission without
waiting for the assessed budgetary process, the report explains. The trust fund contains
some $16.5 million, and in-kind contributions valued at close to $2.4 million have been
pledged. Some staff, although not the civilian police component, have already been
deployed to ensure the execution of the consultation process pending a formal decision by
the Council on the mission.
In its related report (document A/53/7/Add.13), the ACABQ states that it had not
considered the abovementioned budget since it had been informed that, following the
Security Council's action on the matter, the Secretary-General would submit a revised
budget for the full cost of the entire mission, including civilian police.
The ACABQ had been informed that, pending submission of the revised budget by the
Secretary-General, an amount of $35 million would need to be committed from all sources of
funds, the report states. The ACABQ recommends approving commitment authority of that
amount for initial requirements of United Nations activities related to East Timor,
pending further action by the Council and the submission of a revised budget.
That recommendation is without prejudice to the ultimate mode of financing to be
decided upon by the General Assembly for the expenses of the United Nations in East Timor,
the report states. It stresses the importance of showing and authorizing spending for the
full cost of the mandated activities of an operation or mission, regardless of whether the
operation is financed through peacekeeping or the regular budget.
Fifth Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/AB/3297 60th Meeting (PM) 24 May 1999
Statements
C.S.M. MSELLE, ACABQ Chairman, introduced that body's report. The Committee had not
considered the budget estimates for the mission in East Timor, as the Secretary-General
was to submit a report no later than 24 May. After that report, the Security Council would
formally establish the mission. The Assembly had to consider the budget of the mission as
a whole, authorize the related expenditure and determine the mode of financing the budget.
Those actions would take place after the Secretary-General submitted a revised budget.
To permit the Secretary-General to proceed expeditiously, the ACABQ recommended that he
be granted commitment authority of $35 million, he said. That amount was larger than the
amount requested in the Secretary-General's report because larger expenditures had been
contemplated using resources from the trust fund. The ACABQ was of the view that the full
expenditures should be addressed, regardless of the source of funding.
He drew attention to paragraph 4 of his report, relating to the role of the Assembly
under Article 17 of the Charter, as well as resolution 45/248 on the Fifth Committee's
role in the United Nations administrative and budgetary matters.
KLAUS-DIETER STEIN (Germany), on behalf of the European Union, Bulgaria, Czech
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Cyprus, Iceland and Liechtenstein, said the Union supported all efforts to bring peace to
East Timor. It had, therefore, welcomed the signing of the Agreements on the future of
East Timor on 5 May by the Secretary-General, Portugal and Indonesia. The challenge for
the international community was now the full implementation of those Agreements without
delay. In fact, security in East Timor remained crucial for the holding of a free and fair
ballot on 8 August and for an orderly and peaceful transition. Given the short amount of
time left before that date, enabling the Secretary-General to take action immediately was
a matter of utmost urgency. Therefore, the European Union concurred with the ACABQ's
recommendation to grant the Secretary-General the authority to enter into commitments in
the amount of $35 million.
MARY JO ARAGON (Philippines), for the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN),
thanked the ACABQ Chairman for submitting the report on East Timor to the Fifth Committee.
The Security Council, in its resolution 1236 (1999), had welcomed the signing of the 5 May
Agreements by Portugal, Indonesia and the Secretary-General. Her delegation attached great
importance to the question of East Timor, and the international community should ensure
that adequate funds were available to support the Agreements. Her delegation supported the
ACABQ recommendation for funding the initial requirements of the United Nations presence.
Fifth Committee - 4 - Press Release GA/AB/3297 60th Meeting (PM) 24 May 1999
ANNE MERCHANT (Norway) said the signing of the Agreements on 5 May represented an
important landmark on the path towards a peaceful and orderly resolution of the East Timor
issue. Norway strongly supported the establishment of a civilian United Nations presence
in East Timor at the earliest opportunity and had contributed $500,000 to the trust fund.
The Secretary-General should be given the necessary financial authority without delay, and
her Government concurred with the ACABQ's recommendation.
THOMAS REPASCH (United States) said his Government had pledged an initial voluntary
contribution of $6.5 million and hoped to contribute further to the mission. It was
prepared to support the ACABQ's recommendation to grant the Secretary-General authority to
enter into commitments of up to $35 million. His delegation understood that the amount
would be committed from all sources of funding, including voluntary contributions. In
addition, he expected that all expenses incurred for the mission would be met through
voluntary contributions. In endorsing the important mission, the United States expected
that it would be carried out with the strongest management controls and in full compliance
with applicable regulations and rules.
DJAUHARI ORATMANGUN (Indonesia) said that after 16 years of negotiations, the
Governments of Portugal and Indonesia had, on 5 May, signed three Agreements relating to
the question of East Timor. Those Agreements had marked the conclusion of a long and
difficult process begun in 1983, which spanned the terms of three Secretary-Generals. It
was critically important that the Agreements were fully implemented. His delegation
supported all effort to establish a United Nations presence in East Timor as soon as
possible. The international community should provide for the financial commitments made in
the Agreements and ensure that they were implemented in an expeditious manner.
His delegation appealed to all Member States to increase their support to expedite the
process in a timely manner, he said. The funds recommended by the ACABQ would allow the
Secretary-General to meet United Nations commitments in East Timor without further delay.
His delegation hoped the Fifth Committee would approve the ACABQ recommendation without
further consultation.
MILES ARMITAGE (Australia) said his delegation attached great importance to a solution
in East Timor and supported a timely and effective United Nations presence there. His
country's prior cash contribution of $6.5 million for United Nations efforts in East Timor
had been increased to total a of $7.5 million. That figure should be reflected in the
Secretary-General's report on East Timor. His delegation hoped other delegations would
support the United Nations mission in East Timor and give it the commitment it deserved.
DULCE BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) drew attention to an error in the Spanish version of the
Secretary-General's report and expressed her delegation's
Fifth Committee - 5 - Press Release GA/AB/3297 60th Meeting (PM) 24 May 1999
concern about the practice of self-revision. Regarding paragraph 8 of Council
resolution 1236 (1999), she reiterated that Assembly resolution 45/248 had reaffirmed the
role of the Fifth Committee as the body concerned with administrative and budgetary
questions. That question must be taken into account when the Fifth Committee took its
decision. Once information on the mandate, structure and scope of the mission resulted in
a revised budget, some of the issues related to financing should be considered. She noted
that the modalities of financing remained to be determined by the Assembly. That would be
done once the budget was submitted.
MINQIN SUN (China) said the Agreements were in the interest of the parties concerned
and of the peace and stability of the entire region. Her delegation supported the
Secretary-General dispatching personnel to East Timor as soon as possible to help
implement the Agreements, and agreed with the ACABQ's recommendation to grant commitment
authority for $35 million.
WEN CHIN POWLES (New Zealand) agreed with the delegation of Indonesia that the
Committee should expeditiously approve the ACABQ recommendation to approve commitment
authority for $35 million for the mission. New Zealand supported the challenging and
urgent preparations being undertaken by the Secretary-General to implement the Agreements.
Her Government had contributed $200,000 to the trust fund and was seeking to contribute 10
civilian police.
REGINA EMERSON (Portugal) expressed her Government's satisfaction with delegations'
support in launching the United Nations presence in East Timor She hoped that a speedy and
pragmatic decision would be taken on the issue.
MOVSES ABELIAN (Armenia), Fifth Committee Chairman, said the Spanish text would be
corrected. On the Cuban representative's second point, taking into account statements made
here and understanding the urgency of the issue, the Committee would review paragraph 4 of
the ACABQ report when the Assembly considered the revised budget. He then proposed the
following draft decision:
"The General Assembly decides to authorize the Secretary-General to enter into
commitment up to $35 million from all sources of funds for the initial requirements of the
United Nations activities related to East Timor, pending further action by the Security
Council and the submission of a revised budget by the Secretary-General."
Ms. BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said language from paragraph 4 of the ACABQ text regarding
resolution 45/248 should be included.
The CHAIRMAN suggested adding the following paragraph:
"The Assembly reaffirms resolution 45/248 of 21 December 1990 which reaffirmed
that the Fifth Committee was the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly
entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and
Fifth Committee - 6 - Press Release GA/AB/3297 60th Meeting (PM) 24 May 1999
budgetary matters and expressed concern at the tendency of its substantive Committees
and other intergovernmental bodies to involve themselves in administrative and budgetary
matters."
The Committee approved the decision.
Back to May Menu
Human Rights Violations in East Timor
Main Postings Menu
June '98 through February '99 |
