Kathmandu, March 15:

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) formed by the 61 general assembly of the UN yesterday began its consideration of the financing of special political missions, including requests for $91.5 million for a mission in Nepal.

Underscoring the need for special political missions to realise their mandates and fully achieve their goals, Germany’s representative on behalf of the European Union, Thomas Thomma, said that the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) should strive to accomplish its mandate in an efficient manner, stated the UN News Centre.

Dennis Thatchaichawalit, Chief of Service, Programme Planning and Budget Division, noted that the Council had welcomed an assessment mission to Nepal, together with advanced deployment of 35 monitors and 25 electoral personnel.

The Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) in 2006 had agreed to provide a fund of $9.6 million for interim activities in Nepal. The staffing requirements for UNMIN would comprise 927 positions, including 280 international and 389 national staff and 258 UN volunteers.

Nepal’s Permanent Representatives for the United Nations, Madhu Raman Acharya, said that his delegation was generally satisfied with most of the recommendations contained in the reports by the Secretary-General and the Advisory Committee on the UNMIN.