SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS: REQUEST FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002167

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS: REQUEST FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON
THE UNPAID CONTRIBUTIONS OF FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

REF: USUN 01902


1. SUMMARY: Ambassador Wallace met November 14 with Croatian
Permanent Representative Amb. Mirjana Mladineo on a proposal
of the successor states of the Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia (SFRY) to resolve the issue of unpaid assessed
contributions of the former Yugoslavia. Amb. Mladineo noted
that the successor states disputed the Secretariat's report
(A/60/140) that calculated the assessed arrears for the
successor states as being $16,135,838, rather than $784,545
which Mladineo claimed as the actual amount owed. She
underscored the distinction between the debts of the former
Yugoslavia that occurred prior to and then following the
dissolution of the SFRY. The successor states do not believe
they should be responsible for the assessed contributions
after the disbanding of the SFRY. Mladineo mentioned her
successor state colleagues were also demarching other Member
States, with a particular emphasis on working the EU to find
an acceptable position. END SUMMARY


2. Amb. Mladineo presented Amb. Wallace with a detailed
version of the successor state proposal. A summary section
from the proposal follows below. The entire document will be
e-mailed to IO/MPR.

SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSAL OF THE SUCCESSOR STATES OF THE
SOCIALIST FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA FOR THE RESOLUTION
OF THE ISSUE OF UNPAID ASSESSED CONTRIBUTIONS OF FORMER
YUGOSLAVIA:

The successor states of the Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia urge the UN member states to resolve the issue of
unpaid assessed contributions based on the common position of
the successor states according to the principles of general
international law and today known facts that are:

-During 1991-1992, the Socialist Fender Republic of
Yugoslavia, which was a founding member of the United Nations
in 1945, underwent a process of dissolution and ceased to
exist (SC/Res/777/92 and UNGA/RES/47/1/1992,

-It is known that on the following dates the successor states
proclaimed their independence or proclaimed their new state:
that is, for Slovenia: 25 June 1991; Macedonia: 17 September
1991; Croatia 8 October 1991; Bosnia and Herzegovina: 6 March
1992; Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro):
27 April 1992.

-After the extensive review of all pertaining financial
documentation to the account of SFRY the accurate unpaid
assessed contributions amount to $784,545.

-Each of the successor states commit itself to remit the
equitable proportion of the amount of the outstanding
contributions of the SFRY in accordance with the proportions
set forth and agreed in the Agreement on Succession Issues
(Vienna, 29 June 2001).

-Outstanding amount that exceeds the amount that could be
considered outstanding by the successor states should be
reversed in the books and records of the UN.

-The above resolution of the issue of unpaid assessed
contributions of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
would represent the final solution of the issue.


3. ACTION REQUEST: The Fifth Committee is expected to debate
a resolution on this topic this Fall. USUN requests guidance
on how to proceed given the large disparity in the amount
between the Secretariat's report (A/60/140) that notes the
successor states should be assessed $16,135,838 and the
successor states view that they only owe $784,545. END REQUEST
BOLTON