A/RES/54/237 A-C
Page 3
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 50/207 B of 11 April 1996, 52/215 B of 22 December 1997 and 53/36 B to D
of 18 December 1998,
Having considered the relevant parts of the report of the Committee on Contributions on its fifty-ninth
session,3
Reaffirming the obligation of all Member States to bear the expenses of the United Nations, as
apportioned by the General Assembly, in conformity with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the
United Nations,
Reaffirming also the fundamental principle that the expenses of the Organization should be apportioned
among Member States broadly according to their capacity to pay, as specified in rule 160 of the rules of
procedure of the General Assembly,
1. Urges all Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without imposing
conditions, to prevent financial difficulties for the United Nations;
2. Reaffirms its role in accordance with the provisions of Article 19 of the Charter of the United
Nations and the advisory role of the Committee on Contributions in accordance with rule 160 of the rules
of procedure of the General Assembly;
3. Urges all Member States in arrears requesting exemption under Article 19 of the Charter to provide
the fullest possible supporting information, including information on economic aggregates, government
revenues and expenditure, foreign exchange resources, indebtedness, difficulties in meeting domestic or
international financial obligations and any other information that might support the claim that failure to make
necessary payments had been attributable to conditions beyond the control of the Member States;
4. Decides that requests for exemption under Article 19 of the Charter must be submitted by Member
States to the President of the General Assembly at least two weeks before the session of the Committee, so
as to ensure a complete review of the requests.
88th plenary meeting
23 December 1999
3
Ibid., sects. A and B.