Reaffirms that the proposed programme budget outline shall contain an indication of (a) a preliminary estimate of resources to accommodate the proposed programme of activities during the biennium; (b) priorities, reflecting general trends of a broad sectoral nature; (c) real growth, positive or negative, compared with the previous budget; and (d) the size of the contingency fund expressed as a percentage of the overall level of resources; invites the Secretary-General to prepare his proposed programme budget for the biennium 1996-1997 on the basis of the total preliminary estimate provided by the Advisory Committee of US$2,574,000,000 at the initial 1994-1995 rates, recosted to $2,548,400,000 revised 1994-1995 rates and taking into account also actual expenditure data as available for 1994; notes that the preliminary estimate includes a provision to reinforce backstopping of peace-keeping operations, and requests the Secretary-General, in preparing his proposed programme budget for the biennium 1996-1997, to base his request on such decisions as the General Assembly may take on the question of criteria for sharing the costs of backstopping peace-keeping operations; decides that the contingency fund shall be set at the level of 0.75 per cent of the preliminary estimate at 1996-1997 rates, namely, at $20.6 million.

Adopted without vote, 95th meeting

2 p.

Adopted at the 95th plenary meeting, 23 Dec. 1995.