A/71/PV.89 General Assembly

The General Assembly will now consider the reports of the Fifth Committee on agenda items 132, 149 to 154, 156 to 159, sub-items (a) and (b) of agenda item 160, 162 to 164, and 133. I request the Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee, Ms. Diana Lee of Singapore, to introduce in one intervention the reports of the Fifth Committee before the Assembly. Ms. Lee (Singapore), Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee: I have the honour to present to the General Assembly the reports of the Fifth Committee containing recommendations on issues that required action during the second part of the resumed seventy-first session of the General Assembly. In the course of the second part of the resumed session, which took place between 1 May and 29 June, the Fifth Committee held 11 plenary meetings and numerous rounds of informal and informal informal consultations, some of them running late into the night, into the early morning and on weekends. In accordance with resolution 49/233 A, of 23 December 1994, the second part of the resumed session of the Fifth Committee was devoted primarily to considering the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping missions and associated peacekeeping issues. The Committee considered the financing of 14 peacekeeping missions, as well as other items related to peacekeeping and to the programme budget for the biennium 2016-2017. The reports of the Committee on agenda item 115, entitled “Appointments to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other appointments”, as contained in document (A/71/590/Add.3), and item 134, entitled “Programme budget for the biennium 2016-2017”, as contained in document A/71/716, have already been considered by the Assembly at its 81st, 84th and 87th plenary meetings, held on 11 May, 1 June and 15 June, respectively. Let me now present the additional reports of the Fifth Committee containing recommendations on issues that require action by the General Assembly. On agenda item 132, entitled “Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors”, in paragraph 6 of its report contained in document A/71/702/Add.1, the Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt a draft resolution that was adopted by the Committee without a vote. On agenda item 149, entitled “Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations”, in paragraph 14 of its report contained in document A/71/708/Add.1, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following five draft resolutions: draft resolution I, entitled “Financing of the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda”; draft resolution II, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy”; draft resolution III, entitled “Support account for peacekeeping operations”; draft resolution IV, entitled “Triennial review of the rates and standards for reimbursement to Member States for contingent-owned equipment”; and draft resolution V, entitled “Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse”, which were adopted by the Committee without a vote. With regard to the draft resolutions on the financing of peacekeeping operations, I should like to inform the General Assembly that, with the exception of sub-item (b) of agenda item 160, entitled “Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”, the Committee adopted all of the draft resolutions without a vote. The reports of the Fifth Committee are presented under the following agenda items: item 150, “Financing of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei”, as contained in document A/71/945; item 151, “Financing of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic”, as contained in document A/71/946; item 152, “Financing of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire”, as contained in document A/71/715/ Add.1; item 153, “Financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus”, as contained in document A/71/947; item 154, “Financing of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”, as contained in document A/71/948; item 156, “Financing of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti”, as contained in document A/71/949; item 157, “Financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo”, as contained in document A/71/950; item 158, “Financing of the United Nations Mission in Liberia”, as contained in document A/71/951; item 159, “Financing of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali”, as contained in document A/71/952; sub-item (a) of agenda item 160, “Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East: United Nations Disengagement Observer Force”, as contained in document A/71/953; item 161, “Financing of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan”, as contained in document A/71/955; item 162, “Financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara”, as contained in document A/71/956; item 163, “Financing of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur”, as contained in document A/71/957; and item 164, “Financing of the activities arising from the Security Council resolution 1863 (2009)”, as contained in document A/71/958. With regard to sub-item (b) of agenda item 160, 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/71/954. The Committee considered the draft resolution, as orally amended, and decided to retain the fourth preambular paragraph and the existing operative paragraphs 4, 5 and 13 by a single recorded vote. In paragraph 12 of that report, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the draft resolution, as orally amended, as a whole, which the Committee also adopted by a recorded vote. Under agenda item 133, entitled “Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations”, in paragraph 5 of its report contained in document A/71/717/Add.2, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the draft decision relating to questions deferred for future consideration. The Committee adopted the draft decision without a vote. This is the last time that I am taking the floor as Rapporteur. I therefore ask the Assembly’s indulgence in order to make a few personal remarks. It has been a difficult session for the Fifth Committee, and I commend those who fought hard. I recognize those who led the groups with distinction and left no one behind, even when the road was darkest, as well as those who did not forget their friends. I acknowledge my friend who was given a very difficult task but who conducted herself with integrity and always showed respect for those around her. To the Chair of the Fifth Committee, Ambassador Inga Rhonda King of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, I wish to express thanks for her calm, impartial and steady leadership. I have valued the opportunity to work with her. I am also deeply grateful to Ms. Sharon Van Buerle and her team in the Fifth Committee secretariat. They moved heaven and earth to get us where we are today and provide adult supervision to the Committee and its Bureau. They are the rock on which we stand. With respect to my fellow members on the Bureau, we had many hours of what I believe in diplomatic parlance are called frank and robust discussions. I value the friendships we have built and I now look forward to having such discussions on the floor. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank not only the conference officers, interpreters and sound engineers who service the Fifth Committee, but also the unseen members of the Secretariat — the people who handle our papers and field countless hours of questions from us and who work late into the evening and the early hours of the morning to answer those questions, put together Excel spreadsheets, produce documents, provide information and do all manner of other things to enable our work. Their work in a cubicle somewhere may feel thankless at times, but it makes the work in the field possible. I thank them. Finally, I offer thanks to my colleagues and friends in the Fifth Committee. There have been many jokes made about the Committee — survival of the fittest, consensus by attrition, and United Nations security staff walking past one at 2 a.m. saying “I assume you guys are with the Fifth”. But we are here because we are defending our countries and our groups. We are here because we care. I hope our friends who are leaving us after this session will take these memories with them. And with respect to those of us who remain, I look forward to getting back into the trenches with them this fall.

I thank the Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee. Before proceeding further, I would like to emphasize to delegations that, as the Fifth Committee concluded its work only yesterday, the relevant reports before the Assembly today are available in English only. It is my understanding that they will be issued in all the official languages as soon as possible. I thank members for their understanding. 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 the Assembly today.

Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote. The positions of delegations on 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 General 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 further remind delegations that, also in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. 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 the Secretariat is notified to the contrary in advance. That means that, where recorded votes were taken, we will do the same. I also hope that we may proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the Fifth Committee.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. For the time being, the text of the draft resolution is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.30. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 132.

The Assembly has before it five draft resolutions recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 14 of its report. We will now take a decision on draft resolutions I through V one by one. Draft resolution I is entitled “Financing of the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda”, the text of which, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.47. The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

Draft resolution II is entitled “Financing of the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy”, the text of which, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.48. The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution II without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

Draft resolution III is entitled “Support account for peacekeeping operations”, the text of which, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.49. The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution III without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

Draft resolution IV is entitled “Triennial review of the rates and standards for reimbursement to Member States for contingent-owned equipment”, the text of which, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.50. The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution IV without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

Draft resolution V is entitled “Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse”, the text of which, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.51. The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution V without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 149.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. For the time being, the text of the draft resolution is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.33. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 150.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. For the time being, the text of the draft resolution is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.38. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 151.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. For the time being, the text of the draft resolution is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.41. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 152.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. For the time being, the text of the draft resolution is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.39. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted itwithout a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 153.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. For the time being, the text of the draft resolution is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.42. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 154.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. For the time being, the text of the draft resolution is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.40. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 156.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. For the time being, the text of the draft resolution is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.34. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 157.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. For the time being, the text of the draft resolution is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.43. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it 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 158.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. For the time being, the text of the draft resolution is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.44. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it 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 159.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. For the time being, the text of the draft resolution is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.46. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force”. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

I now give the floor to the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic, who wishes to speak in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted.

The delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic joined the consensus on the adoption of resolution 71/306, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force”. Also, our delegation will vote in favour of the draft resolution recommended in document A/71/954 and currently contained in document A/C.5/71/L.31, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”. Our position is based on our consistent support for the principle that the responsibility for financing those two forces should be borne by Israel, the aggressor and occupying Power, which caused their establishment in the first place. Our position is in line with the basic principles contained in resolution 1874 (S-IV), of 27 June 1963, and with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 160.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 12 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.31, as orally revised. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”. A recorded vote has been requested. A single, separate vote has been requested on the fourth preambular paragraph and operative paragraphs 4, 5 and 13.

I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution as a whole. In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zimbabwe Against: Canada, Israel, United States of America

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 160.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.35. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 161.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.45. We shall now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it 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 162.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.36. We shall now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it 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 163.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/71/L.37. We shall now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 164.

The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended in paragraph 5 of the same report. The text of the draft decision is contained for the time being in document A/C.5/71/L.52. The Assembly will now take action on the draft decision, entitled “Questions deferred for future consideration”. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 133. On behalf of the General Assembly, I would like to thank Her Excellency Ms. Inga Rhonda King, Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations and Chair of the Fifth Committee, the members of the Bureau and representatives for a job well done. I also want to express my appreciation for the words shared by the Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee and for everyone’s hard work during the course of the month. Participants have developed an interesting vocabulary for describing their work and maintaining high spirits. Their performance in the Fifth Committee was exemplary, and I thank them all on behalf of the General Assembly. The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of all the reports of the Fifth Committee before it for this meeting.