A/78/PV.95 General Assembly

The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Fourth Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. If there is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, I shall therefore take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the report of the Committee (A/78/422/ Add.1) before the Assembly today.

Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote or position. I would like to remind members that in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, “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.” I would also like to remind members that 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 report of the Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we will proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Committee, unless the Secretariat is notified otherwise in advance. The General Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in its report. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 51?

The General Assembly will now consider the reports of the Fifth Committee on agenda items 131, 132, 139, 146 to 151, 153 to 155, 156 (a) and (b) and 157 to 160. I request the Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee, Mr. Laurens Thomas Den Hartog of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, to introduce the report of the Committee in one intervention. Mr. Den Hartog (Kingdom of the Netherlands), Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee: For the last time, I have the honour to present to the General Assembly the reports of the Fifth Committee, containing recommendations on issues that it considered during the second part of the resumed seventy-eighth session of the General Assembly. The Fifth Committee met from 6 May to 21 June, holding six plenary meetings and numerous informal consultations, as well as many informal informal consultations. In accordance with resolution 49/233, of 23 December 1994, the second part of the resumed session of the Fifth Committee is devoted primarily to the consideration of administrative and budgetary aspects of United Nations peacekeeping operations and associated issues. The Committee considered the financing of 14 peacekeeping operations, the report of the Board of Auditors on peacekeeping operations, the question of seconded active-duty military and police personnel, as well as other items related to administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of peacekeeping operations. Under agenda item 131, “Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors”, in paragraph 6 of its report contained in document A/78/644/Add.1, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution adopted by the Committee without a vote. Under agenda item 139, “Human resources management”, in paragraph 6 of its report contained in document A/78/825/Add.1, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution entitled “Seconded active-duty military and police personnel”, adopted by the Committee without a vote. Under agenda item 146, “Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations”, in paragraph 13 of its report contained in document A/78/920, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of four draft resolutions — draft resolution I, entitled “Support account for peacekeeping operations”, draft resolution II, entitled “Financing of the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda”, draft resolution III, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy”, and draft resolution IV, entitled “Closed peacekeeping missions”. All four draft resolutions 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 the following draft resolutions were adopted by the Committee without a vote. The reports of the Fifth Committee are presented under agenda item 147, “Financing of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei”, as contained in document A/78/921; agenda item 148, “Financing of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic”, as contained in document A/78/922; agenda item 149, “Financing of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire”, as contained in document A/78/923; agenda item 150, “Financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus”, as contained in document A/78/924; agenda item 151, “Financing of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”, as contained in document A/78/925; agenda item 153, “Financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo”, as contained in document A/78/926; item 154, “Financing of the United Nations Mission in Liberia”, as contained in document A/78/927; item 155, “Financing of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali”, as contained in document A/78/647/Add.1; item 156 (a), “Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East: United Nations Disengagement Observer Force”, as contained in document A/78/928; item 157, “Financing of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan”, as contained in document A/78/930; item 158, “Financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara”, as contained in document A/78/931; item 159, “Financing of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur”, as contained in document A/78/932; and item 160, “Financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 1863 (2009)”, as contained in A/78/933. With regard to sub-item (b) of agenda item 156, entitled “United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/78/929. In considering the draft resolution submitted under this sub-item, the Committee decided to retain preambular paragraph 4 and operative paragraphs 4, 5 and 13 by a recorded vote. The Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the draft resolution contained in paragraph 12 of its report, which it adopted as a whole by a recorded vote. Finally, under agenda item 132, 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/78/664/Add.2, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of one draft decision, entitled “Questions deferred for future consideration”, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. I would like to thank all the delegations for their cooperation in conducting the negotiations. I would particularly like to thank the Chair of the Fifth Committee, Ambassador Osama Mahmoud Abdelkhalek Mahmoud, ably supported by Mr. Hussein Roshdy, for the dedicated way in which he guided us through our difficult work. I would also like to thank the members of the Bureau of the seventy-eighth session and the Vice-Chairs, Mr. Mohammed Khalifa Alnasr, Ms. Amalia Irina Pufulescu and Ms. Kimberly Louis; it has been truly a gratifying experience working with them. I would also like to thank the secretariat of the Fifth Committee led by Mr. Lionel Berridge, as well as the other secretariat colleagues who have supported us in our work during this session. I would like to take this last opportunity for a final message. I have a message for first-year newcomers and those who ones leave the Committee. The Fifth Committee is an arena that is sometimes hard to explain to outsiders. As I said during the main session, it is especially when you are new that you might wonder where you will end up and how you will enjoy the experience. However, as time passes, you will start to understand and see a very important silver lining  — colleagues can become friends. For those who just arrived, you might have found one. For those who are leaving, you regrettably have to say goodbye. Friendship is a powerful, unifying force that can also be found in the Fifth Committee. I hope you will all have a restful summer.

Before proceeding further, I would like to emphasize that as the Committee concluded its work on 24 June, the Committee’s reports are available in English only. It is my understanding that they will be issued in all official languages as soon as possible. I thank members for their understanding. The position of the delegations regarding the recommendations of the Committee have been made clear in the Committee and will be reflected in the relevant official records. Therefore, 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 Committee before the Assembly today.

Statements will therefore be limited to explanation of vote or position. I would like to remind members that, in accordance with decision 34/40, a delegation should as far as possible explain its vote only once, that is, either in the Committee or in the plenary meeting, unless that delegation’s vote in the plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee, and that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. When there are multiple proposals under an agenda item, statements in explanation of vote before the vote on any or all of them should be made in one intervention, followed by actions on all of them, one by one. Therefore, there will be an opportunity after action is taken for statements in explanation of vote or position on any or all of them in one intervention. Before we begin to take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the Committee, I would like to advise representatives that we will proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Committee, unless the Secretariat is notified otherwise in advance. This means that where recorded votes were taken, we will do the same. I also hope that we will proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the Committee. The results of the votes will be uploaded to the e-deleGATE portal, under “Plenary e-Place”. Furthermore, any corrections to the voting intention of the delegation after the voting has concluded should be made directly to the Secretariat at the end of the meeting and submitted to the e-deleGATE portal. I count on your cooperation in avoiding any interruptions to our proceedings in that regard.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.57. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted the draft resolution 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 131.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.52. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled “Seconded active-duty military and police personnel”. The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Assembly has thus concluded the stage of its consideration of agenda item 139.

The Assembly has before it four draft resolutions recommended by the Committee in paragraph 13 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolutions, one by one. The Assembly will first take a decision on draft resolution I, entitled “Support account for peacekeeping operations”, the text of which, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.53. The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution II, entitled “Financing of the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda”, the text of which, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.54. The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution III, 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.5/78/L.55. The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution IV, entitled “Closed peacekeeping missions”, the text of which, for the time being, is considered in document A/C.5/78/L.56. The Committee adopted the draft resolution 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 146.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document is A/C.5/78/L.43. The Assembly will now take decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted the draft resolution 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 147.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.44. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted the draft resolution 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 148.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.38. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted the draft resolution 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 149.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.45. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted the draft resolution 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 150.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in a document A/C.5/78/L.46. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted the draft resolution 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 151.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.47. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted the draft resolution 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 153.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in a document A/C.5/78/L.39. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted the draft resolution 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 Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.42. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted the draft resolution 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 155.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.48. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force”. The Committee adopted the draft resolution 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 sub-item (a) of agenda item 156.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 12 of its report (A/78/929). The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.40/Rev.1. I now give the floor to the representative of Israel.

The process of approving the budget of peacekeeping operations should not be done based on an unjustified biased approach against Israel, year after year. That biased approach has no place in the Fifth Committee and certainly does not make its work here more responsible and credible. Israel’s position on this issue is well known, has not changed and will completely and utterly reject the false attempt to thwart the way the Committee is operating. The fourth preambular paragraph and operative paragraphs 4, 5 and 13 introduced in draft resolution A/C.5/78/L.40/Rev.1 are nothing more than an attempt to insert a political agenda into an otherwise non-political discussion on the United Nations peacekeeping mission budget. Therefore, my delegation requests the deletion of the fourth preambular paragraph and operative paragraphs 4, 5 and 13 from the draft resolution, and we urge Member States to join Israel in supporting that deletion. If a recorded vote on our proposal for that amendment is requested, I call on all Member States to vote in favour of the deletion of those paragraphs. I also request that, should the amendment not be adopted, the resolution as a whole be put to a vote.

The representative of Israel has proposed an oral amendment to the draft resolution. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution entitled “United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”. In accordance with rule 90 of the rules of procedure, the Assembly shall first take a decision on the oral amendment proposed by the representative of Israel. A recorded vote has been requested.

As the oral amendment proposed by the representative of Israel is not adopted, we shall proceed to take a decision on draft resolution A/C.5/78/L.40/Rev.1, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”, recommended in the report of the Committee. A recorded vote has been requested.

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration on sub-item (b) of agenda item 156.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.49. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted the draft resolution 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 157.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.50. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The 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 158.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.41. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted the draft resolution 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 159.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.51. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Assembly has thus concluded the stage of its consideration of agenda item 160.

The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Committee in paragraph 5 of its report. The text of the draft decision, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/78/L.58. We will now take a decision on the draft decision, entitled “Questions deferred for future consideration”. The Committee adopted the draft decision 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 132. The Assembly has also concluded its consideration of the reports of the Fifth Committee before it today.