VZCZCXYZ0007
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1340/01 1921955
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111955Z JUL 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9551

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001340 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC KUNR PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: UN: FIFTH COMMITTEE CONCLUDES CONSIDERATION OF ALL 
PEACEKEEPING ISSUES AND BUDGETS FOR 1 JULY 2006 TO 30 JUNE 
2007 
 
 
¶1. Summary.  The Fifth Committee considered over 60 reports 
related to the budgetary, administrative and policy issues 
for UN peacekeeping at its second resumed 60th session from 
May 22 to June 30, 2006.  By the end of the session, the 
Committee had agreed to financing resolutions for all 13 
active peacekeeping missions (financed under the peacekeeping 
scale of assessments; two others are financed under the 
regular budget), three closed peacekeeping missions, the UN 
Logistics Base in Brindisi, and the Support Account.  The 
Committee also considered reports of the Board of Auditors 
and OIOS and addressed a number of critical management issues 
in its second annual cross-cutting resolution, applicable to 
all peacekeeping operations and activities.  In advance of 
and throughout the second resumed session, USdel engaged in 
extensive coordination with the EU and JUSCANZ on common 
objectives and strategies for UN peacekeeping.  This strong 
coordination and common approach in the Fifth Committee 
resulted in, among other things, the adoption of the 
action-oriented cross-cutting resolution, which addressed key 
management issues for all missions and for the Department of 
Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). The combined budget 
appropriation for all activities for the period 1 June 2006 
to 30 June 2007 is approximately $4.7 billion.  This accounts 
for the following budgets:  UNOMIG, UNDOF, MINURSO, UNFICYP, 
ONUB (commitment authority pending the submission of its full 
budget at the main 61st session), UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIK, 
UNOCI, MINUSTAH, UNMIL, UNMIS, MONUC, the Logistics Base at 
Brindisi, and the Support Account.  A mission-by-mission 
breakdown of approved budget levels can be found in document 
A/C.5/60/31.  Detailed below are key elements and highlights 
from the 6-week session.  End summary. 
 
------------------------ 
Cross-cutting resolution 
------------------------ 
 
¶2. Following last year's successful negotiation of a 
cross-cutting policy resolution applicable to all 
peacekeeping missions and activities, USdel, with the support 
of Japan, the EU and CANZ, argued strongly for another 
cross-cutting resolution to be negotiated this year.  The 
most notable resistance came from the South African delegate, 
who claimed that no resolution was needed this year given the 
time pressures in the second resumed session, the absence of 
a formal ACABQ report on cross-cutting issues, and the 
consideration of only some of the peacekeeping reports that 
would be applicable to a cross-cutting resolution.  However, 
the major financial contributors were undeterred by this weak 
argument and were also able to tap into divisions within the 
G-77 to garner support for the resolution.  With firm 
assurances from USdel and others that this year's resolution 
would be short and action-oriented, the pressure was too 
great for South Africa to continue to oppose the negotiation 
of such a resolution.  However, the South African and 
Nigerian delegations' procedural obstructions throughout most 
of the session meant that the Committee was only able to 
seriously consider the draft resolution in the final week of 
negotiations. 
 
¶3. Despite these obstacles, the resolution was successfully 
concluded and contained critical policy and management 
elements identified by the US, Japan, CANZ and the EU.  The 
full text of the 7-page resolution is contained in 
A/C.5/60/L.60, however, the major elements/sections (and key 
highlights) are briefly described below: 
 
¶A. Budget presentation: The Committee requested the 
Secretary-General (SG) to continue his review of staffing 
 
SIPDIS 
requirements to reflect evolving mandates of each mission. 
The SG was also requested to submit more detailed and current 
information, to the extent possible, on monthly expenditures. 
 The SG was further requested to review the practice of 
seconding staff from one mission to another for extended 
periods of time, with a view to ensuring that the parent 
mission is not adversely affected. 
 
¶B. Use of consultants 
 
¶C. High vacancy rates 
 
¶D. Accountability, fraud, corruption, mismanagement and 
conflict of interest: Among other things, the Committee 
requested the SG to address all cases of fraud, corruption, 
mismanagement, and misconduct; to ensure that all UN staff 
are held accountable for any proven wrongdoings; to take all 
necessary steps to recover financial and other losses; to 
take preventative measures to stop future incidents; to 
ensure that accountability is applied and enforced 
impartially at all levels in the UN system; and to ensure 
that lessons learned from fraud and presumptive fraud in 
peacekeeping missions are shared systematically with all 
missions. 
 
 
 
 
¶E.  Integrated missions: The SG was requested to continue to 
refine the concept and functioning of integrated missions, 
strengthen the mission planning process, and clearly detail 
lines of responsibility and accountability within integrated 
missions. 
 
¶F.  Procurement opportunities 
 
¶G.  Quick-impact projects (QIPs):  the Committee emphasized 
the need for a comprehensive policy, including on resource 
allocations, and requested the SG to report back at the 61st 
GA addressing the definition of QIPs, their selection 
process, duration of projects, and how they complement and 
can be integrated with the activities of other UN entities on 
the ground. 
 
¶H. Regional cooperation:  The Committee emphasized the 
importance of further enhancing collaboration between 
missions in the same region, with a view to achieving greater 
synergy in the effective and efficient use of peacekeeping 
resources.  It also requested the SG to develop and implement 
regional coordination plans aligned to the missions' 
objectives. 
 
¶I.  Fuel management: Taking into account the considerable 
expenditures on fuel and the prospects for fuel fraud in 
missions, the Committee requested the SG to review all 
aspects of fuel management, including the preparation of a 
comprehensive fuel management manual, implementation of the 
electronic fuel accounting system, development of standard 
operating procedures on fuel, and preparation of an annual 
fuel procurement plan. 
 
¶J. Costing structure for air operations: Among other things, 
the Committee requested the SG to review the ongoing 
necessity and frequency of flights, to ensure the optimal use 
of air assets, to reconfigure them to respond to the changing 
circumstances, and to achieve better utilization of air 
assets by reviewing flight schedules to accommodate more 
passengers and cargo. 
 
¶K. Spare parts: The Committee encouraged the SG to continue 
to limit the acquisition of spare parts pending a study on 
optimal levels for holdings, as well as to report back on the 
possible establishment of a global management system of spare 
parts to ensure their most efficient and effective 
utilization. 
 
¶L. Better use of technology: The SG was requested to make 
greater use of videoconferencing and e-learning facilities 
for training and other purposes and to report at the 61st 
session on improvements and efficiencies made in this regard. 
 
¶M. Staffing of field missions (300/100 series) 
 
¶N. Disaster recovery 
 
¶O. Strategic deployment stocks 
 
 
--------------- 
Support Account 
--------------- 
 
¶4. In keeping with past practice, negotiations on the Support 
Account proved to be one of the more contentious elements of 
the session.  USdel successfully proposed and negotiated 
language addressing the sharp increase in the requests for 
consultancies (which have been made in addition to the 
provision of additional posts under the Support Account in 
recent years).  As a result, future budget proposals will 
include a trend analysis of the requested level of resources 
for consultancies compared with approved levels over the past 
five years, as well as detailed supplementary information on 
justification for the request and why expertise is not 
available within the Organization.  In a separate policy 
issue, USdel got language in the resolution requesting the SG 
to report back on support to capacity-building for the 
African Union (in compliance with the World Summit Outcome 
Document), taking into account the functions and 
contributions to be provided by the UN, its funds, programs 
and agencies and all external partners, including on the 
efforts made to avoid duplication and overlap. 
 
¶5. The Committee accepted the Advisory Committee on 
Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) 
recommendations on post, general temporary assistance (GTA), 
and non-post resources with the following exceptions: 
 
-- Approval of eight posts for the following functions: 
Senior Political Affairs Officer for MINUSTAH; Policy 
 
 
 
Coordinator for the Peacekeeping Best Practices Section; 
Secretariat Services Officer for the Fifth Committee; 
 
SIPDIS 
Information Officer and Finance Analysts in support of 
African Peacekeeping Capacity; Chief of the Integrated 
Training Service (to be evaluated in the 2007-2008 budget); 
Chief of the Transport and Movement Service (to be offset 
through abolition of another post in the section); 
Environmental Engineer (to be rejustified in the 2007-2008 
budget). 
 
-- The Committee did not approve an additional Security 
Coordinator Officer post, but requested that it be 
rejustified in the 2007-2008 budget. 
 
-- Approval of $27 million in GTA and non-post resources to 
meet critical functions in the following areas: African 
Peacekeeping Capacity; Office of Internal Oversight Services; 
Procurement Service; Headquarters Committee on Contracts; 
procurement-related functions in the Office of Legal Affairs 
and DPKO; Conduct and Discipline. 
 
-- The Committee reduced the provision for consultancy by 
$154,200. 
 
¶6. Following strong justification by the Secretariat, there 
was general agreement among delegations on the need to 
provide the posts and functions listed above, however, 
negotiations were derailed over the provisioning of GTA to 
meet critical needs in the area of conduct and discipline. 
Comment: The Committee deliberated whether to provide GTA to 
fill the functions needed in the Conduct and Discipline Unit, 
given that the actual posts were unable to be approved at 
this stage due to the late issuance of the SG's policy report 
on conduct and discipline. The GA is expected to consider the 
report at the 61st GA, at which time it will consider the 
approval of posts at headquarters and in individual missions. 
End comment. 
 
¶7. USdel took the firm position that the full amount of GTA 
must be provided to meet the critical functions of the nine 
headquarters posts requested by the SG to address conduct and 
discipline.  However, this was consistently blocked by the 
Nigerian delegate, who argued that GTA be provided at the 
2005-2006 maintenance level.  In effect, this would have 
limited the UN's ability to address the continuing problem 
and rising number of cases related to conduct and discipline. 
 While the Nigerian delegate refused to negotiate directly 
with USdel and would only negotiate through the Egyptian 
delegate, it was widely believed that her position was 
predicated on her concern that a Nigerian national (the 
current P-5 head of the unit) would not/not be appointed to 
the proposed D-1 level of head of the unit. As such, her 
position was to block any new provision to meet the necessary 
functions of the unit.  Following days of unwavering 
positions from USdel and the Nigerian delegate, an agreement 
was reached to provide the full amount of GTA without 
referring to the number and level of posts for which the GTA 
would be provided.  In a twist of irony, the agreement -- 
which was largely brokered by the Egyptian delegate -- 
provides considerable flexibility for the SG to apply the GTA 
funds as he chooses.  Before agreeing to this approach, USdel 
received strong and clear assurances from DPKO 
Assistant-Secretary-General Jane Holl Lute that the functions 
corresponding to the nine posts sought by the SG for Conduct 
and Discipline would receive priority attention, would be 
advertised as soon as the GA adopted the resolution in 
plenary, and would be filled at the levels specified in the 
SG's proposed budget. 
 
----------------------------- 
UN Logistics Base in Brindisi 
----------------------------- 
 
¶8. The Committee reiterated its request that information on 
the possible expansion of the base -- including a concept of 
operations, financial and legal implications and any expected 
benefits -- be submitted to the GA for its consideration at 
the 61st session.  Also requested for the 61st session, was 
detailed information on the efficiency and effectiveness of 
all DPKO training programs to be implemented through the 
newly-formed Integrated Training Service at UNLB and a 
preliminary assessment of the regional aviation safety office 
pilot project. 
 
---------------------------- 
Peacekeeping Mission Budgets 
---------------------------- 
 
¶9. By and large, the Committee concurred with the conclusions 
and recommendations of the ACABQ with respect to individual 
peacekeeping mission budgets for 2006-2007.  Absent GA 
consideration of the SG's policy report on conduct and 
 
 
 
discipline functions, the Committee was not in a position to 
endorse the creation of conduct and discipline posts in 
individual missions (as recommended by ACABQ for some 
missions) but did provide the equivalent level of GTA to 
ensure that the functions are filled until the GA considers 
the policy report at its 61st session.  Listed below are 
mission-specific departures from or additions to the 
recommendations of the ACABQ. 
 
¶10. UNOCI (Cote d'Ivoire):  While approving the resources 
sought for quick-impact projects (QIPs), the Committee 
requested the SG to ensure that QIPs are implemented in 
compliance with the original intent of such projects and 
relevant GA resolutions, and to ensure their full 
implementation in the 2006-2007 financial period. 
 
¶11. UNFICYP (Cyprus): The Committee requested the SG, in view 
of the recent amendment of the concept of operations and 
force level of the Force, to conduct a review of the number 
and grade levels of support staff, including the possibility 
of utilizing UN Volunteers, and to report thereon in the 
context of the proposed budget for 2007-2008. 
 
¶12. MONUC (Congo):  The Committee emphasized the importance 
of ensuring coordination and collaboration of efforts with 
the agencies and programs and requested the SG to report to 
the GA on measures taken, including on the progress made on 
the development of an integrated workplan and coordination 
network referred to in paragraph 54 of the report of the 
ACABQ (A/60/669). It also requested the SG to ensure that the 
recommendations of the consultant's report on the 
comprehensive review of staffing and structure of the Mission 
be fully analyzed by the Mission itself and that its results 
be reflected in the budget for 2007-2008.  With respect to 
QIPs, the Committee approved the proposed resources and 
requested the SG to ensure that they were implemented in 
compliance with the original intent of QIPs, and that they be 
fully implemented in the 2006-2007 financial period.  It also 
recommended that the SG review the administrative support 
structure for QIPs with a view to minimizing overhead costs 
(comment:  MONUC and UNMIL are the only two missions that 
have posts specifically for the implementation of QIPs). 
 
¶13. MINUSTAH (Haiti):  In light of the delayed implementation 
of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) 
program in Haiti and the continuing need for clarification on 
the mission's role in DDR activities, the Committee requested 
the SG to ensure that future budget submissions include clear 
information regarding mandated DDR activities, clear 
justification for post and non-post resource requirements and 
their projected impact on delivery of DDR, and information on 
collaboration with all relevant UN entities present in the 
field and acting in this area.  The Committee also called for 
the SG to review the use of consultants for DDR in light of 
the number of dedicated staff in the DDR section, as well as 
to ensure the coordination and collaboration of efforts with 
agencies, funds and programs, with clear definition in future 
budget submissions of their respective roles and 
responsibilities.  As was the case in other missions with 
QIPs funding, the SG was requested to ensure that QIPs in 
MINUSTAH are in compliance with the original intent of the 
projects and that they be fully implemented in 2006-2007. 
The Committee also engaged in a lengthy discussion of the 
proposed off-site, in-theater secondary disaster recovery and 
business continuity center.  At present, MINUSTAH has 
established its off-site location in Santo Domingo in the 
same building as INSTRAW. Comment:  It was likely that only 
because of the co-location with INSTRAW -- a program which 
has long been a contentious issue for Member States -- that 
the Committee even became aware of the facility and entered 
into a policy debate on backup facilities.  End comment.  As 
a result of this discussion, the Committee noted that full 
information for the need to establish such a facility for 
MINUSTAH has yet to be provided and, as such, comprehensive 
and detailed information should be provided in the context of 
the 2007-2008 budget.  Similar language was included in the 
cross-cutting resolution since the budgeting for back-up 
facilities is applicable to nearly all missions.  Finally, 
the Committee requested the SG to ensure that future budget 
submissions include full justification of the rationale for 
the number of interpreters required for the efficient 
functioning of the mission to meet its mandate, and to 
rejustify the need for administrative posts in support of 
interpreters. 
 
¶14. UNMIL (Liberia): As it did with other large missions, the 
Committee emphasized the importance of ensuring coordination 
and collaboration of efforts with the agencies and programs 
and implementation of a unified workplan, and requested the 
SG to report back on measures taken and progress made, and to 
provide clear descriptions of respective roles and 
responsibilities in future budget submissions.  Here too, the 
 
 
 
Committee agreed to the provision for QIPs and called for 
their implementation in 2006-2007 in compliance with the 
original intent of the activity; it also requested the SG to 
review the administrative overhead costs associated with QIPs 
with a view to minimizing them.  Finally, in light of 
expenditure patterns, the Committee reduced the operational 
costs by $1,000,000. 
 
¶15. UNAMSIL (Sierra Leone):  The Committee adopted a short, 
procedural resolution with regard to UNAMSIL, which is now a 
closed mission. However, USdel was successful in getting 
language included in which the Committee noted with concern 
the cases of fraud and presumptive fraud identified by the 
Mission (and reported by the Board of Auditors), and 
requested the SG to report to the GA at its 61st session on 
these matters, including on investigations and actions taken 
in proven cases, and efforts to recover any lost funds. 
 
¶16. UNMIS (Sudan):  Despite its large size and considerable 
logistical challenges, USdel and others were once again 
pleased with efforts made by the mission to find alternative 
modes of transport in lieu of air transport, as well as the 
mission's commendable efforts to integrate its work with 
other relevant actors in the country.  As such, the Committee 
noted with appreciation the strong coordination between UNMIS 
and the UN country team, and requested the SG to share the 
mission's experiences and lessons learned with other complex 
peacekeeping missions with a view to increasing their 
coordination and reducing potential duplication of activities 
with other entities.  It further requested the SG to continue 
to provide the latest available information on specific 
management efficiencies achieved and future plans in this 
regard.  With regard to staffing, the Committee requested the 
SG to intensify his efforts to reduce the vacancy rate and to 
continue his efforts to recruit local staff, where 
appropriate. Following additional justification from the 
Secretariat, the Committee decided to establish a Planning 
 
SIPDIS 
Officer post in the Strategic Planning Unit, while 
emphasizing the critical need to coordinate and collaborate 
with partners in the field.  It also requested that clear 
information be included in future budgets regarding the 
provision of mine detection and clearing services.  USdel 
successfully included language noting the considerable 
reliance on air assets and, bearing in mind the expected 
lifetime of the mission, requesting the SG to utilize (and 
where possible) increase the available road, rail and inland 
waterway transport modes and to report back on any 
efficiencies achieved in this regard.  USdel also got 
language agreed requesting the SG to increase the utilization 
of information and communication technology tools wherever it 
is possible and creates more efficiencies.  Again, the 
Committee agreed to the provision of QIPs, while calling for 
their implementation in line with the original intent of 
QIPs.  Finally, the Committee requested further refinement in 
the presentation of DDR requirements in future budgets, with 
clear delineation of the responsibility of the mission as 
compared with the responsibility of other actors. 
 
¶17. MINURSO (Western Sahara):  The Committee requested the SG 
to report in the next performance report any savings or 
efficiencies resulting from the military operational audit 
conducted in June 2005. 
 
¶18. UNIFIL (Lebanon):  As has been the case since 1996, the 
Committee voted on the draft resolution submitted by South 
Africa on behalf of the G-77.  While the Group's text 
contained the same objectionable paragraphs in years past 
(preambular 4 and operatives 4, 5, and 17), this year's draft 
included language negotiated by the Committee noting with 
great concern the report fuel and rations fraud, recognizing 
that the investigation by the OIOS is still ongoing, and 
requesting the SG to report in the next budget on the status 
of recovery of the financial loss, if any, to the mission. 
Prior to the adoption of the resolution in the Fifth 
Committee, the United States and Israel requested a recorded 
vote on preambular paragraph 4 and operative paragraphs 4,5, 
and 17, as well as a recorded vote on the resolution as a 
whole. In the Fifth Committee, the result of the paragraph 
vote was 93 yes; 5 no (Australia, Canada, Israel, Palau, US); 
49 abstain.  On the resolution as a whole, the outcome was 
144 yes; 3 no (Israel, Palau, US); 1 abstain (Australia).  In 
the GA plenary, the outcome of the vote on the paragraphs was 
as follows: 99 yes; 6 no (Australia, Canada, Israel, Palau, 
Papua New Guinea, US); 49 abstain.  On the resolution as a 
whole the outcome was: 150 yes, 3 no (Israel, Palau, US); 1 
abstain (Australia).  USdel delivered the following 
explanation of vote, after the vote in the Fifth Committee: 
 
Thank you Mr. Chairman, 
 
The United States strongly supports UNIFIL, which is 
implementing an important mandate.  However, the use of 
E 
 
 
 
General Assembly funding resolutions to pursue claims against 
a Member States procedurally is not correct.  This is the 
reason why we have opposed the General Assembly resolution on 
this item in previous years, since they required Israel to 
pay for costs stemming from the Q'ana incident of 1996. 
These resolutions were not consensus resolutions. 
 
Since shortly after the UN's inception, the procedure which 
has been followed is that the Secretary-General presents and 
pursues the settlement of the Organization's claims against a 
state or states.  Using a funding resolution to legislate a 
settlement is inappropriate.  It also politicizes the work of 
the GA's Fifth Committee, and should be avoided both now and 
in the future. 
 
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
 
End explanation of vote. 
 
---------- 
Next Steps 
---------- 
 
¶19.  The Fifth Committee is expected to revert to the 
consideration of peacekeeping issues at the main 61st 
session.  Among the items to be considered are the 2006-2007 
budget for ONUB (Burundi), possible revised budgets for 
MINUSTAH, UNMEE, UNOCI and UNMIS, and a range of policy 
reports including the SG's reports on conduct and discipline, 
DDR, and the methodology for troop reimbursements. 
BOLTON