UN SCALE OF ASSESSMENT: ARTICLE 19, MULTIYEAR

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001902 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA SUBJECT: UN SCALE OF ASSESSMENT: ARTICLE 19, MULTIYEAR PAYMENT PLANS, PEACEKEEPING SCALE AND YUGOSLAV ARREARS REF: USUN NEW YORK 01845 This cable contains a guidance request. Please see paragraph ¶7. ¶1. Summary. Beginning the week of October 9, in addition to the consideration of exemptions to Article 19 (reftel),the Fifth Committee is expected to consider the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly SIPDIS resolutions 55/235 and 55/236 (A/61/139) relating to the composition of the peacekeeping scale of assessment; multiyear payment plans (A/61/68); and unpaid assessed contributions of the former Yugoslavia (A/60/140 and corr. 1, A/58/189, and A/56/767). It is expected that the Committee will take quick and early action with respect to exemptions from Article 19 to allow those countries to vote during the main 61st GA and will also likely move through consideration of the other items swiftly. End summary. -------------- -------------- Updated composition of the peacekeeping scale of assessment -------------- -------------- ¶2. The report of the updated composition of the peacekeeping scale of assessment details increases and decreases in assessment levels, in accordance with their GNI for the base period 1999-2004, for the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda (decrease),Argentina (decrease),Czech Republic (increase),Hungary (increase),Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (decrease),Malta (increase),Mexico (increase),Oman (increase),Palau (decrease),Republic of Korea (increase), Slovenia (increase),Timor-Leste (decrease),Trinidad and Tobago (increase),Uruguay (decrease). In addition, Serbia and Montenegro would be added to level I. Further to these adjustments in rate levels, the SG received a request from the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN for a decrease in level in keeping with its capacity to pay. The request was reflected in the updated composition of levels. It is recommended that the GA take note of the report, endorse the updated composition for 2007-2009, and decide that both Serbia and Montenegro should be assigned to level I in 2006. -------------- Multi-year payment plans -------------- ¶3. The SG's report on multi-year payment plans updates, as of 31 December 2005, the status of payment plans for Georgia, Iraq, Niger, Republic of Moldova, Sao Tome and Principe, and Tajikistan. In the course of 2005 both Iraq and the Republic of Moldova made sufficient payments to no longer fall under the provisions of Article 19. Tajikistan has also made considerable progress in reducing its arrears, however it still falls under Article 19. It is recommended that the GA take note of the report and encourage Member States with significant arrears in contributions to consider submitting multi-year payment plans. -------------- -------------- Unpaid assessed contributions of the former Yugoslavia -------------- -------------- ¶4. This fall the Fifth Committee will once again consider the reports of the SG on the unpaid assessed contributions of the former Yugoslavia (A/60/140 and Corr.1, A/58/189, and A/56/767). The Committee has deferred the question in recent years because the five successor states (Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Macedonia; Slovenia; and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia which has since become the independent states of Serbia and Montenegro) have not reached agreement with the United Nations on the exact date of the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. ¶5. The total outstanding assessed contributions of the former Yugoslavia amounts to $16,135,838 as at July 2005. The SG's report concludes that options for resolving the matter include: 1) complete write-off of unpaid assessments, 2) payment by the successor states of arrears arising before the dissolution of Yugoslavia with a write off of the remaining arrears, or 3) payment by the successor states of arrears arising before the dissolution of Yugoslavia with payment of the balance by Serbia and Montenegro. ¶6. On September 29 at the organizational meeting of the Fifth Committee, Slovenia delivered a statement on behalf of the successor states to indicate that they are intent on resolving the matter at the main 61st GA. However, the successor states still do not concur with the recommendations of the SG and will submit their own paper as an official document for consideration by the Committee, inclusive of a proposed solution to the question of arrears. ¶7. Request for guidance. Unless otherwise instructed, USUN will concur with the recommendations of the SG regarding the updated composition of the peacekeeping scale of assessment and multiyear payment plans. USUN will report back on the proposal to be made by the successor states to the former Yugoslavia and will seek further guidance once the proposal is made. BOLTON