A/51/PV.101 General Assembly

It is my sad duty to inform members of the passing of one of our colleagues, His Excellency Mr. Benny Kimberg, the Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations since 1995. Ambassador Kimberg had a long and distinguished career as a diplomat who was well respected both at home and abroad for his admirable qualities and devotion to his country and to the ideals of the United Nations. On behalf of the General Assembly, and on my own behalf, I should like to convey our heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Denmark and to the bereaved family. I now invite representatives to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of His Excellency Mr. Benny Kimberg.

I now give the floor to the representative of Gambia, who will speak on behalf of the Group of African States. 97-85673 (E) *97-5673*

In my capacity as Chairman of the Group of African States, I would, on behalf of the African Group, like to pay tribute to the memory of the late Benny Kimberg, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations, who sadly passed away on 8 June 1997. We will all remember Ambassador Kimberg for many years to come, not simply because he was one of us, but more so for what he personified, both as a man and as a diplomat. He was an astute diplomat and consummate negotiator, showing keen interest characterized by boundless enthusiasm and energy in dealing with issues of global concern. His sterling leadership qualities were quite apparent in his role as Chairman of the Humanitarian Liaison Working Group and in his participation in many other international forums. The late Ambassador Kimberg’s long and meritorious service to his country in the field of diplomacy earned him the admiration, love and respect of friends and colleagues. In many ways, he epitomized the indefatigable spirit and sincere commitment of the international community to the pursuit and attainment of international peace, security and development, as well as the universal promotion and preservation of human rights and fundamental freedoms. As we mourn the passing away of our dear friend and colleague, let us, in dedication to his cherished memory, keep alive his share of our collective commitment to the realization of the objectives and mandates for which the United Nations was founded. May his soul rest in perfect and everlasting peace.

I now give the floor to the representative of Papua New Guinea, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Asian States.

On behalf of the States members of the Asian Group, I wish to express our deepest regret and sorrow at the untimely passing away of Ambassador Benny Kimberg, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations. The late Ambassador Kimberg had an impressive record of service to his country, serving in varying capacities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and abroad. His service to his Government extended a little over 33 years. He was a sincere and dedicated man, committed to his duty and service to his country, his people and his fellow men, serving as Ambassador of his country to the United Nations. His loss is indeed a loss to his country and to his people. We will remember him as a friend and as a colleague. At this moment of sadness we offer our condolences to the Government and the people of Denmark, to his family members and relatives, to his close friends and to the staff of the Mission of Denmark, which he led as Permanent Representative. We offer our prayers to the Almighty to comfort the bereaved, and we beseech the good Lord to console the soul of the late Benny Kimberg.

I give the floor to the representative of Ukraine, His Excellency Mr. Anatoli M. Zlenko, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.

On behalf of the States members of the Eastern European Group, I would like to express our most sincere condolences to the people and the Government of Denmark in connection with the untimely death of Ambassador Benny Kimberg, Permanent He will be remembered by the United Nations diplomatic community for his tireless efforts aimed at promoting the high purposes and values of our Organization. It was a great privilege to have known and worked with Ambassador Kimberg. His loss will be felt by many for a long time to come. We also convey our deepest sympathy to the relatives of the deceased. May he rest in peace.

I give the floor to the representative of Saint Lucia, Ms. Sonia R. Leonce, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States.

I have the sad duty on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group of expressing deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late Ambassador Benny Kimberg, and to the Government and the people of Denmark. While we mourn his death, we cannot but stop a moment to celebrate his accomplishments. Ambassador Kimberg was a diplomat par excellence. His experience was varied. He served in Europe, Asia and North America. His performance was excellent, and his steady rise, from officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to First Secretary at his Mission in New York, all the way to Permanent Representative, is testimony to that fact. His contribution to his people and his country, and to the international community, was outstanding. The confidence vested in him by his Government and by the international community through the responsibilities delegated to him is strong evidence of that fact. He accomplished all of this in a great hurry, with a sense of purpose, before retirement age. He took his mission on Earth seriously, and executed it thoroughly and with distinction. And while he rests from the exhaustion of his terrestrial sojourn, he has left behind a new standard of excellence in international affairs for all living diplomats to emulate. May we who are left behind to finish the work he began and who still have time on our side approach our missions with the same commitment, reliability and efficiency that Ambassador May we be comforted by our fond memories of his sterling contribution, and may his soul rest in peace.

I give the floor to the representative of Ireland, His Excellency Mr. John H.F. Campbell, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Western European and Other States.

On behalf of the Group of Western European and Other States, I wish to offer profound condolences on the tragic death of Benny Kimberg, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations. Benny Kimberg took up his appointment at the United Nations in the summer of 1995. Before that he had had a distinguished career in the Danish Foreign Ministry, serving at the United Nations in New York, in Moscow and Washington, and as Under-Secretary for Political Affairs in Copenhagen, before becoming Ambassador in Tokyo and Paris. I first worked with Benny in the mid-1970s, in the early days of European political cooperation. Subsequently we met again in Paris where we were both Ambassadors to France. All who knew Benny cherished his friendship and his deep insight into international affairs. He was a warm and approachable colleague, whose advice and observations were given with generosity and humour, even extending to the particular affection he had for his dog, his beloved companion, who accompanied him from Paris to New York. A convinced European, he set the European ideal squarely in a framework of international cooperation. His knowledge of the United Nations was extensive and his determination to advance the aims of the Organization in many practical ways was evident to all who knew him. He had only recently assumed the chairmanship of the Humanitarian Liaison Working Group, to whose activity he promised to bring all the experience and commitment associated with his country’s role in humanitarian affairs. Benny Kimberg had only a comparatively short time in the knowledge of his fatal illness. He was determined to fight that illness to the end. As it happened, he lost that fight. But we who remember Benny will always treasure the memory of his friendship. He spoke directly and To his family and relatives, to the Danish Government, which has lost a distinguished public servant and a lover of Denmark, and to all the staff of the Permanent Mission of Denmark, who held him in special affection, we extend our very sincere sympathy.

I give the floor to the representative of the United States, His Excellency Mr. Edward W. Gnehm, Jr., who will speak on behalf of the host country.

It was with great sadness that my delegation and my Government learned of the death of the Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations, Ambassador Benny Kimberg, on 8 June. On behalf of the host country to the United Nations, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the family of Ambassador Kimberg, to our colleagues at the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations, and to the Foreign Ministry, the Government and the people of Denmark. Ambassador Kimberg was not only a valued colleague here in New York and a good friend to many of us — to all of us — here at the United Nations, but also one of his country’s most distinguished diplomats. His service included senior postings at the Danish Foreign Ministry, in Moscow, as well as in Tokyo and Paris, as some of his friends have already said. He was a familiar and welcome presence in the United States, having served both in Washington and, twice, here in New York. Ambassador Kimberg represented well the activist, engaged role played by Denmark on the entire range of foreign policy questions, notably on European policy and security issues, and also here at the United Nations. A respected and exemplary envoy, Ambassador Kimberg will be greatly missed by the diplomatic community. We at the United States Mission join this Assembly in paying tribute to his memory and to the lasting legacy of strong international partnership that he helped to create.

I give the floor to the representative of Denmark, His Excellency Mr. Theis Truelsen.

I thank the members of the General Assembly for the very moving tribute they have paid to the memory of Mr. Benny Kimberg. I am deeply touched by the words that have been spoken here, The Danish foreign service has lost — much, much too early — a great servant. The international community has lost an outstanding supporter, and my comments apply to the United Nations in particular. He always stood up for the United Nations; he did not accept the comments of critics, but argued with them right from the beginning. I will never forget his intellectual capacity, creativity, dedication and straightforwardness, his very unsnobbish character, and, last but not least, his extremely well developed sense of humour. We at the Mission will never forget 13 March this year when we were told that Benny had pancreatic cancer. He believed the whole way through that they would find a cure, and all of us tried to support him as much as we could. But we certainly also noted all the efforts of his colleagues and friends, who, with talks, letters and flowers, kept his spirits up during the two and a half months he had after it was discovered. I should like to take this opportunity to thank you all for that support. In the light of what has been said here today, I am sure that we are all going to miss Benny greatly. Let me conclude by saying, “au revoir, Benny”.

In a letter contained in document A/51/780/Add.7, the Secretary-General informs me that, since the issuance of his communications contained in documents A/51/780 and addenda 1 to 6 dated 21 and 30 January, 4, 12 and 21 March, 18 April and 20 May 1997, Nicaragua and Vanuatu have made the necessary payments to reduce their arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter. May I take it that the General Assembly duly takes note of this information? Reports of the Fifth Committee I request the Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee, Mr. Ihor Humenny of Ukraine, to introduce the reports in one intervention. Mr. Humenny (Ukraine), Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee: I have the honour to present today to the General Assembly the reports of the Fifth Committee on the agenda items dealt with during the second part of its resumed fifty-first session, held at Headquarters from 12 May to 6 June 1997. Concerning agenda item 116, entitled “Programme budget for the biennium 1996-1997”, Part III of the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/750/Add.2. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft decision A/C.5/51/L.76, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. Regarding agenda item 120, entitled “Human resources management”, the report of the Committee is contained in document A/51/643/Add.3. In paragraph 6, the Committee recommends a draft decision on the status of redeployed staff members, which recommends that the General Assembly take note of the information provided in document A/C.5/51/CRP.7. This draft decision introduced orally by the Vice-Chairman and was adopted by the Committee without a vote. With regard to agenda item 123 (a), entitled “Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East: United Nations Disengagement Observer Force”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/724/Add.1. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.78, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. With regard to agenda item 123 (b), entitled “Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/725/Add.1. In paragraph 10 of that report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.71, which was amended and put to vote in the Committee Concerning agenda item 125 (a) entitled “Financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 687 (1991): United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/726/Add.1. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.74, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. Concerning agenda item 126, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara”, Part II of the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/502/Add.1. In paragraph 7 of the report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.59, which was orally revised and adopted by the Committee without a vote. Concerning agenda item 129, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Protection Force, the United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia, the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force and the United Nations Peace Forces headquarters”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/639/Add.2. In paragraph 7 of the report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.60, which was revised by the Controller and adopted by the Committee without a vote. Concerning agenda item 132, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/921. In paragraph 6 of the report the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.77, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. Concerning agenda item 133, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia”, Part II of the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/503/Add.1. In paragraph 6 of that report the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.61, which was orally revised and adopted by the Committee without a vote. Concerning agenda item 134, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Mission in Haiti”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/637/Add.1. In Concerning agenda item 135, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/504/Add.2. In paragraph 6 of that report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.63, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. Concerning agenda item 136, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/918. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft decision A/C.5/51/L.64, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. Concerning agenda item 137, entitled “Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/743/Add.1. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.79, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. Concerning agenda item 138, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/920. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.65, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. Concerning agenda item 139, entitled “Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/744/Add.1. In paragraph 6 of that report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.80, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. Concerning agenda item 154, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/711/Add.1. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.66, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. Concerning agenda item 155, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/712/Add.1. In paragraph 6 of that report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.69, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. With regard to agenda item 157, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Support Mission in Haiti”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/638/Add.2. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.67, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. I wish to mention also that the Committee has examined, during this part of its resumed session, item 141, “Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services”, as well as the question of gratis personnel provided by Governments and other entities and the strengthening of external oversight mechanisms, under agenda item 112, “Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations”, and decided to resume its work on those issues in September, since the Committee was not in a position to agree on consensus resolutions on them. Finally, concerning agenda 112, entitled “Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/51/922. In the report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of one draft resolution and two draft decisions. Draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.70 concerns

If there is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, I shall take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the reports of the Fifth Committee that are before it today.

Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote or position. The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Fifth Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. May I remind members that under paragraph 7 of decision 34/401 the Assembly agreed that “When the same draft resolution is considered in a Main Committee and in plenary meeting, a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote only once, i.e., either in the Committee or in plenary meeting unless that delegation’s vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee.” May I also remind delegations that, also in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes. Before we begin to take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the Fifth Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Committee, unless notified otherwise. This means that where the Committee took a recorded or separate vote, we will do the same. I hope also that we may proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the Fifth Committee. Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations Report of the Fifth Committee (A/51/922)

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 10 of its report and on the two draft decisions recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 11 of the same document. We turn first to the draft resolution contained in paragraph 10, entitled “Procurement reform”. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

We turn now to the two draft decisions recommended for adoption by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 11 of document A/51/922. Draft decision I, entitled “Reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services”, was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

Draft decision II, entitled “Management in the United Nations”, was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 112.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of Part III of its report. The draft decision, entitled “Informatics in the United Nations”, was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes to do the same?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 116.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of Part IV of its report. The draft decision, entitled “Status of redeployed staff members”, was adopted by the Fifth Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 120.

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 123 (a). (b) United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (continued) Report of the Fifth Committee (Part II) (A/51/725/Add.1)

The Assembly will now consider the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 10 of Part II of its report. I give the floor now to the representative of Israel, who wishes to make a statement in explanation of vote before the vote.

This draft resolution, adopted by the Fifth Committee under agenda item 123 (b), is fundamentally flawed. The singling out of one country to bear the costs of the damages to a United Nations peacekeeping force attributable to a military incident is utterly unprecedented and contrary to the practice of reimbursing expenditures related to peacekeeping operations. The Fifth Committee is mandated to deal solely with non-political, budgetary and administrative issues. It has never been charged to assign political blame or responsibility for expenditures to individual Member States, but rather to act on the premise of collective responsibility and consensus. Member States are normally assessed for their payments to peacekeeping operations on the basis of their proportional share of the scale of assessments according to a determined group system. The unacceptable precedent that would be set by this draft resolution could well undermine the established method of financing peacekeeping operations, and if allowed to stand, its repercussions could play havoc with future peacekeeping operations everywhere. “Subsequent to the incident at Qana, it was determined that it would no longer be operationally acceptable for a battalion headquarters to be located within a town that had since grown in population to encompass a headquarters position originally sited on the outskirts of the town. For this reason, it has been decided to relocate the Fijian battalion.” (A/51/535/Add.1, para. 13) Attributing the need to relocate the headquarters to the incident itself is, therefore, totally untrue. The headquarters had to be relocated in any event because of demographic pressures for which, absurdly, Israel is also held responsible by the draft resolution. The tragic events that took place at Qana on 18 April 1996 were brought on by a series of violent Hezbollah attacks against northern Israel. In the absence of any Lebanese effort or action to prevent them, Israel was left with no option but a military one. The responsibility for those events lies squarely on the shoulders of the terrorist elements who are prepared to wage their fanatic war against Israel and the peace process to the last drop of Lebanese blood. Such responsibility lies equally with the Lebanese governmental authorities who only justify, encourage and support such acts, and in doing so conveniently look the other way as others turn their country into a terrorist haven. Any damage caused to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as a result of military operations conducted in self-defence is, therefore, the direct consequence of terrorist aggression and Lebanese collusion. Both United Nations and Israeli investigations confirmed separately the activity of terrorist elements close to the UNIFIL battalion headquarters at the time. It was that activity which elicited the artillery response that is blamed for this damage. The terrorists and their patterns should be held fully accountable for such misdeeds. Israel rejects in both letter and spirit the draft resolution contained in A/51/725/Add.1. Israel is bound by no legal or moral obligation to assume responsibility for reimbursing the

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 10 of Part II of its report. The draft resolution is entitled “Financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”. A separate vote has been requested on operative paragraph 8 of the draft resolution. Is there any objection to that request? There is none. I shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 8. A recorded vote has been requested.

I now put to the vote the draft resolution contained in paragraph 10 of document A/51/725/Add.1 as a whole. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegation of Botswana and El Salvador informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]

I call now on those delegations wishing to speak in explanation of vote after the voting.

I wish first of all to say on behalf of the delegation of Lebanon that the Assembly’s adoption of today’s resolution on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is recognition of the fact that Israel is responsible for the costs and losses caused by the bombardment of the Qana headquarters. This resolution marks a victory not just for Lebanon, but for the credibility of the United Nations, international law, the status of international forces and international peace and security, all matters that are the responsibility of the Organization. When Lebanon proposed that Israel be made to bear the costs of the damage resulting from its bombing of the international headquarters at Qana, its goal was to strengthen the credibility of international forces and to show how vital it is for Lebanon to reaffirm the importance it attaches to UNIFIL, in particular because it represents the rule of international law. Everyone clearly understands the strategic importance of Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and the role of UNIFIL as the force established by the Security Council to implement that resolution. The Force is no mere safety-valve for southern Lebanon; it is there to safeguard international peace and security in the region. I wish today to pay tribute, on behalf of the Government of Lebanon, to the active pioneering role played by UNIFIL. On this matter, Lebanon holds an unswerving position of principle based on the need to hold all parties responsible for their own acts with a view to deterring other parties from perpetrating similar acts and at The Lebanese delegation also thanks the Group of 77 and China for having embraced the position of the Arab Group and Lebanon on this item. My delegation believes that the views of the international community have now been heard through the voice of the General Assembly, the body that adopts binding financial resolutions and determines whether countries are to bear the costs of their acts. By this resolution, the General Assembly has affirmed that a Member State cannot refuse to pay the bill for acts it has committed, and that such a Member State must itself bear the costs arising from its acts. My delegation believes that there must be an end to Israel’s continued occupation of parts of southern Lebanon, its failure to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and the suffering it has caused the international forces and the local population. But we consider that the suffering will continue so long as Israel maintains its position: stubbornly to turn its back on the views of the international community and on the rule of international law.

My delegation would like to recall its position on the financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (A/51/724/Add.1) and of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (A/51/725/Add.1): that the expenses of these two missions should be borne by the aggressor and occupying party.

The delegation of Ukraine voted in favour of the resolution just adopted by the General Assembly. We did so based on the fact that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) plays an important role in the process of building peace in the Middle East, which has always been supported by Ukraine. At the same time, we cannot but express our deep regret that the draft resolution on the financing of UNIFIL was adopted both in the Fifth Committee and in plenary meeting by a vote. This does not correspond to the current practice of taking budgetary decisions by consensus, in accordance with resolution 41/213. In this regard, we are strongly concerned that the resolution on the financing of UNIFIL, adopted by a vote, could be substantially devalued; this in turn could negatively affect the practical implementation of the mandate of a very important peacekeeping operation.

The United States has worked in good faith over the past few weeks to find compromise language on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that would have allowed the Fifth Committee to arrive at a consensus text that was consistent with the report of the Secretary-General, that did not set an undesirable precedent or raise issues of the legality of the Committee’s action and, most important, that did not politicize the technical task assigned to the Fifth Committee: deciding on the financing of UNIFIL, an operation which is implementing a difficult and important mandate. We deeply regret that the author of the draft resolution did not seriously consider the possibilities for compromise.

My delegation welcomes the adoption by the General Assembly of the draft resolution contained in document A/51/725/Add.1. I should like to thank all the countries that supported the resolution, in particular the Group of 77 and China. They have taken a stance in support of justice and law. The adoption of the resolution reflects the conviction of the international community that the aggressor should not be rewarded for its aggression. This resolution again expresses the international community’s condemnation of Israel’s aggression and reaffirms that Israel must bear the costs of its terrorist aggression against the United Nations headquarters in Qana, Lebanon, last year. That act of aggression, which is unparalleled and exceeded all limits, amounted to a systematic terrorist attack on a United Nations position in the territory of a third State — Lebanon — which is a State Member of the United Nations and a sovereign State. The principle of collective responsibility cannot apply when it comes to financing. No United Nations position in the territory of a sovereign third State has ever before been the target of an attack by another country. Israel cannot be permitted to commit such an attack and then call on Member States to cover the costs arising from it. The costs resulting from that act of aggression amount to $1,773,618, and must be borne in full by Israel, in accordance with the resolution, as Israel is the party responsible for the aggression. Indeed, Israel should be responsible for the bulk of the financing of the Force itself, because it is the occupation of Lebanese territory by Israel that lies at the origin of the existence of this Force. The human, financial and moral losses caused by Israel’s attack and the Qana massacre exceed the figures and calculations. The effects of this aggression continue and will continue until Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa is terminated, in accordance with Security Council resolution 425 (1978), and until Israel withdraws from all the Arab territories.

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 123.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of Part II of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission”, without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 125.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 7 of Part II of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 126.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 7 of Part III of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

We have concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 129. Financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus Report of the Fifth Committee (A/51/921)

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 132.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of Part II of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 133.

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 134.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of part III of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 135.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft decision without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of part II of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 137.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 138. Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 Report of the Fifth Committee (Part II) (A/51/744/Add.1)

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of part II of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 139.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of part II of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 153. Financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium Report of the Fifth Committee (Part II) (A/51/711/Add.1)

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of part II of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 154.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of part II of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 155.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of part III of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 157.

Before adjourning this meeting, I should like to inform members that the next plenary meeting of the General Assembly will take place next week on Tuesday, 17 June 1997, at 10 a.m. in Conference Room 1 to take up the sixth report of the General Committee; sub-item (a) of agenda item 97, “Implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development”; under agenda item 110, the question of the appointment of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and the reports of the Fifth Committee on sub-item (a) of agenda item 140, “Financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations”.