GA/AB/3990
Sixty-fifth General Assembly
Fifth Committee
37th Meeting (AM)
Secretariat officials today laid out their financing proposals for the 2011/12 period for four peacekeeping operations — the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS), the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and support for African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) — to the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today at its second resumed session.
Several delegates expressed their support for MINUSTAH and the need to ensure it had adequate resources to carry out its mandate of maintaining political stability and establish the rule of law nearly 18 months after the January 2010 earthquake had devastated the Caribbean country and a day before a new President, Michel Martelly, assumed office.
Chile, speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, said it was opposed to any arbitrary reduction in the resources allotted to MINUSTAH and the United Nations had to focus on security, as that contributed to the country’s social and economic development. Canada’s delegate, speaking also on behalf of Australia and New Zealand, emphasized that any decision to decrease mandated troops and police forces should be made cautiously and any withdrawal should be staggered in consultation with the Haitian Government.
Haiti’s delegate thanked the United Nations for its support of the electoral process, but remained worried about unfilled administrative posts in the Mission. Haiti backed the Secretary-General’s proposal to maintain funding for projects that combated violence in communities.
The Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) introduced the related ACABQ reports on the four peacekeeping missions. The Advisory Committee, in its report on financing of MINUSTAH, was recommending a $17 million reduction in the proposed 2011/12 budget of $810.3 million.
Jun Yamazaki, Assistant Secretary-General and Controller, introduced the Secretary-General’s reports that detailed budget numbers for the four peacekeeping missions. He said the proposed 2011/12 budget for MINUSTAH of $810.3 million represented a decline of $43.5 million, or 5.1 per cent, over 2010/11. The main factors behind the decreased budget were the use of a higher delayed deployment factor for military contingents and formed police personnel, and excluding provisions of support for the Office of the Special Envoy.
Carman Lapointe, Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services, introduced her Office’s programme evaluation of the performance and achievement of results made by UNMIS. She said the national elections had exposed weaknesses in the Mission’s cooperation with the United Nations country team. It was imperative that the successor mission to UNMIS initiate a more effective partnership with the United Nations country team and other relevant stakeholders.
Also speaking today were representatives of Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Norway and Barbados.
The Fifth Committee will reconvene at 10 a.m. Thursday, 19 May, to discuss improving the financial situation of the United Nations.