UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 55th SESSION

Fifth Committee - Item 134: Financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor

Statement by Mr Henry Fox, Representative of Australia, on behalf of the Delegations of Canada, New Zealand and Australia

17 November 2000

Mr Chairman

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the delegations of Canada, New Zealand and Australia on Item 134, Financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor.

We wish to thank Mr Jean Pierre Halbwachs, the Controller, for introducing the report of the Secretary-General containing the revised budget for UNTAET for the year to 30 June 2001 (A/55/443) and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for its report (A/55/531).

The revised budget was prepared following the comprehensive review of UNTAET’s structure by the Secretary-General and taking into account recommendations made by the ACABQ in its March report (A/54/804) and subsequently endorsed by this Committee.

The Secretary-General has requested a revised budget of $592 million (gross). The ACABQ has identified possible savings in a number of areas and has suggested the budget be adjusted by roughly 5%. It recommends approval of a budget of $563 million (gross) with assessment of $363 million, taking into account the $200 million already assessed, and the return to member states of the unencumbered balance of $48 million for the period ending 30 June 2000. Our delegations can support these recommendations.

The ACABQ in a number of areas in its report suggests that attention begin to be directed to planning for the post-UNTAET period. In paragraph 45 the ACABQ sets out its views on priorities including the establishment of a viable judiciary and the training and installation of a local police force. Furthermore it stresses that planning and phased implementation of these and other sectors, in terms of a timetable agreed upon among all the parties for handing over responsibility to an independent East Timor, needs urgent attention. Our delegations, while welcoming the progress already made in these areas, agree that they should be accorded priority within the assessed UNTAET budget. We also welcome the increasing focus being given by the ACABQ to issues concerning the nature of UN involvement following East Timor independence at the end of 2001.

Mr Chairman in a number of areas the ACABQ requested information be provided to the Fifth Committee. We look forward to receiving this information in informal consultations.

Mr Chairman the range and depth of need in East Timor is extensive. The international community is however responding to these needs with energy – through development assistance, humanitarian assistance, and contributions of personnel. In the area of peacekeeping alone, apart from our three governments, a large number of member states, drawn from all regions, are participating in this important work. There is participation from Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand.

Mr Chairman, in our May statement we noted that only 37% of assessments had been paid. We are pleased to note that, at 31 October, 72% of assessments including a major assessment have been paid. While this is extremely satisfying, an amount of $149 million remains outstanding and we would urge all delegations yet to do so to pay their outstanding assessments.