United Nations: U.S. Participation in Peacekeeping Operations
NSIAD-92-247
Published: Sep 09, 1992. Publicly Released: Sep 09, 1992.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of State's management of U.S. interests in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations, focusing on the: (1) processes for establishing, financing, and implementing UN peacekeeping missions; (2) effectiveness of State's oversight of U.S. interests in these operations; and (3) Department of Defense's (DOD) role in supporting UN peacekeeping activities.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of State | The Secretary of State should instruct the U.S. Representative to the UN to seek support for examining the adequacy of the processes and resources used by General Assembly committees in reviewing peacekeeping budgets. |
The U.N. Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, at its summer session, requested the Secretary General to improve on the reports and presentations on financing peacekeeping operations and to provide more evaluations and analysis in terms of the major items of expenditure. The United States will be taking additional actions to encourage UN to make modifications in its peacekeeping budget procedures.
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| Department of State | The Secretary of State should instruct the U.S. Representative to the UN to seek support for requiring that the Secretary General periodically report to member countries on the status of principal internal audit findings and recommendations regarding peacekeeping operations. |
On July 29, 1994, the UN General Assembly approved the appointment of an Under Secretary General for Internal Oversight Service (IOS). GAO analysis of the IOS mandate indicated that the Office, if properly implemented, would allow the operational independence to perform functions substantially similar to those performed by the Offices of Inspector General established under the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended.
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| Department of State | The Secretary of State should instruct the U.S. Representative to the UN to seek support for re-examining the basis for, and equity of, the special UN assessment scale for peacekeeping operations. |
Public Law 103-236--the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995--reduces the U.S. share of peacekeeping costs to 25 percent beginning in fiscal year 1996. After consultation with Congress, the Administration produced Presidential Decision Directive 25 that, according to an unclassified summary, "orders that GAO work to reduce the peacekeeping assessment percentage from the current 31.7 percent to 25 percent by January 1, 1996..."
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| Department of State | The Secretary of State should incorporate field-level monitoring into State's management of U.S. interests in UN peacekeeping activities to identify opportunities and, where appropriate, recommend improvements to the economy and efficiency of peacekeeping operations. |
Effective July 8, 1993, State established an Office of Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Operations responsible for managing U.S. policy with regard to UN peace and security operations. The Office has a staff of 12 and has visited most of the ongoing peacekeeping operations.
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| Department of State | When conducting field-level monitoring of peacekeeping activities involving DOD personnel or resources, State should consult with DOD to afford its officials an opportunity to participate in this monitoring. |
Military advisors are assigned to State's new peacekeeping efforts.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should account for and report DOD peacekeeping assistance to ensure that the United States receives recognition for its peacekeeping contributions, including personnel costs, per diem transportation, and other related costs. |
According to DOD, it has implemented actions to account for and report DOD peacekeeping assistance. The Army has been designated the executive agency with overall responsibility to carry out the actions.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should update policies and procedures for providing DOD logistics support to UN peacekeeping forces and ensure that: (1) reimbursable costs are properly billed and controlled; and (2) required financial activity reports are prepared and distributed. |
DOD has updated some procedures for providing logistical support to U.N. peacekeeping as part of its implementation of presidential decision directive 25--the U.S. policy to reform peacekeeping. However, GAO's 1995-1997 reports addressed these issues in more detail and the findings are now being considered by the House and Senate in proposed legislation.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretaries of State and Defense should resolve peacekeeping reimbursement issues so that the United States can respond more quickly to UN airlift requests. | According to an unclassified summary of PPD 25, "When U.S. military personnel, goods or services are used for UN peace operations, DOD will receive direct and full reimbursement; reimbursement can only be waived in exceptional circumstances, and only by the President." Furthermore, according to P.L. 103-236, "It is the sense of the Senate that beginning October 1, 1995, funds made available to the Department of Defense (including funds for "Operations and Maintenance") shall be available for...the unreimbursable incremental costs associated with the participation of United States Armed Forces in any UN peacekeeping operation...only to the extent that Congress has authorized,...
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| Department of State | The Secretaries of State and Defense should resolve peacekeeping reimbursement issues so that the United States can respond more quickly to UN airlift requests. | According to an unclassified summary of PPD 25, "When U.S. military personnel, goods or services are used for UN peace operations, DOD will receive direct and full reimbursement; reimbursement can only be waived in exceptional circumstances, and only by the President." Furthermore, according to P.L. 103-236, "It is the sense of the Senate that beginning October 1, 1995, funds made available to the Department of Defense (including funds for "Operations and Maintenance") shall be available for...the unreimbursable incremental costs associated with the participation of United States Armed Forces in any UN peacekeeping operation...only to the extent that Congress has authorized,...
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