UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 54th SESSION

Fifth Committee – First Resumed Session

Item 169 and Item 143: Financing of UNAMET and UNTAET

Statement by Mr Henry Fox, First Secretary on behalf of the CANZ Group of Countries

29 March 2000

Madam Chairman

have the honour to speak on behalf of the delegations of Canada, New Zealand and my own delegation Australia, on items 169 and 173 concerning the financing of the current and previous United Nations Missions in East Timor.

We wish to thank the representative of the Secretariat for introducing the two reports of the Secretary-General, and Ambassador Mselle for introducing the two reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions.

In his Report, the Secretary-General has requested a budget for the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor amounting to $377 million (net), inclusive of the $200 million already appropriated, for the period 1 December 1999 to 30 June 2000. As we have stated previously, our three delegations strongly support this important Mission and we welcome the Secretary-General's Report.

In the Report, on page 48, para 13, it is stated that "It is assumed that the Government of Australia will continue to provide rent-free office space in Darwin". This rent-free accommodation is being provided by the Government of the Northern Territory, and not the Government of Australia. The Secretariat should not assume this accommodation will continue to be provided rent-free and thus should build in contingency arrangements into this and future UNTAET budgets for this purpose. We would welcome comment from the Secretariat on this issue.

The ACABQ in its report has reviewed the relevant aspects of the implementation of the mission and has raised a number of concerns including about performance data and estimates. These and other concerns have led the Advisory Committee to recommend a somewhat lower budget at $350 million.

In relation to the lack of data, our delegations take the view that given the newness and start-up phase of this Mission, this is not surprising. However we encourage UNTAET to continue to focus properly on its requirements with a view to refining them further for this Committee and the ACABQ in the next report.

We note the ACABQ's recommendations in paragraphs 43 and 44 of the Report in relation to the handling of the budget for UNTAET for the twelve months from July 2000 to June 2001. As we understand it, this would not preclude the Secretariat from bringing forward a progress report in May to seek resources for the six month period July to December 2000, if this proves necessary. We would be grateful if Chairman Mselle could confirm this understanding.

Our delegations support the recommendations of the ACABQ for the funding of UNTAET to 30 June 2000.

UNTAET has been entrusted by the international community with the responsibility of providing a transitional administration for East Timor. In doing so, UNTAET is also laying the foundations for an independent administration by the people of East Timor. Like the ACABQ, our delegations attach great importance to the training and employment by UNTAET of local staff, recognising that the success and viability of a future administration depend on this important
function. We urge UNTAET to give priority to the employment and training of East Timorese people.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General observed in his recent update to the Security Council on the situation in East Timor that there were continuing law enforcement concerns. We thus support the suggestion made by the ACABQ that top priority be accorded by the Secretariat and by Member States to the quick and full deployment of civilian police.

We are pleased to note the broad support UNTAET has attracted from the international community. In terms of the military component alone thirty-two countries have contributed personnel. Countries from all regions of the world are represented. As well as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the United States of America and Uruguay have contributed. We welcome this truly international commitment.

The international donor community has also responded generously to East Timor's needs. However we note with concern that of the $200 million appropriated by the General Assembly in December, only 65% had been received by 21 March 2000. We urge all member states to pay their assessed contributions to this and other missions as soon as possible to enable UNTAET to continue to carry-out its important work. We also urge countries to ensure that pledges made to the UNTAET Voluntary Trust Fund for East Timor are made in full and promptly.

Madam Chairman, the Secretary-General has also requested an additional appropriation of $26 million for the earlier East Timor mission, UNAMET on the basis of performance information for the period to 30 November 1999. Along with the ACABQ, our three delegations support this request, which will enable the closing of the books for this mission.

Before closing our delegations would like to express our appreciation to UNTAET for the tasks it has already accomplished in implementing its challenging mandate. We are aware these were achieved under very difficult circumstances and that much more remains to be done. This Mission has our continuing, strong support.