EU Presidency Statement - Closed Peacekeeping Mission

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and the EFTA countries Norway and Lichtenstein, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

We wish to thank Ms. Catherine Pollard, Director of the Peacekeeping Financing Division, for her introduction to the Secretary-General's report contained in document A/58/778 on the updated financial position of closed peacekeeping missions as at 30 June 2003 and Mr. Vladimir Kuznetsov, Chairman of ACABQ, for his introduction to the ACABQ report A/58/799 on this item.

We are pleased that the Secretary-General proposes the crediting of $84,446,000 to Member States by 30 June 2004 in accordance with resolution 58/288. We also note that the Secretary-General proposes the remaining cash available, which totals $94,238,000, be retained until 31 October 2004 to supplement the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund in order to finance the initial requirements of the new peacekeeping operations.

As we stated clearly at the first resumed session, allowing the Secretariat to retain member states' money from closed missions is simply another form of subsidy. This is an unacceptable state of affairs. However, the European Union recognizes the critical importance of ensuring adequate funding is available to the new peacekeeping operations in the beginning stages of their operation. Therefore, we can accept the retention of the $94,238,000 until no later than 31 October 2004 at which time this amount will have to be returned to Member States.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

| Top |