A/RES/53/226 Page 3 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to expedite the process of improving the working conditions of the local staff in the Force, taking into account the difficulties arising from the relocation of Force headquarters from Damascus to Camp Faouar, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session; 8. Further requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to employ local staff for the Force against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Force; 9. Decides, as an ad hoc arrangement, to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force the amount of 35,351,308 dollars gross (34,618,408 dollars net) for the maintenance of the Force for the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000, inclusive of the amount of 1,758,908 dollars for the support account for peacekeeping operations and the amount of 344,900 dollars for the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, to be apportioned among Member States at the monthly rate of 2,945,942 dollars gross (2,884,867 dollars net), in accordance with the composition of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of General Assembly resolution 43/232 of 1 March 1989, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolutions 44/192 B of 21 December 1989, 45/269 of 27 August 1991, 46/198 A of 20 December 1991, 47/218 A of 23 December 1992, 49/249 A of 20 July 1995, 49/249 B of 14 September 1995, 50/224 of 11 April 1996, 51/218 A to C of 18 December 1996 and 52/230 of 31 March 1998 and its decisions 48/472 A of 23 December 1993 and 50/451 B of 23 December 1995, and taking into account the scale of assessments for the years 1999 and 2000, as set out in its resolution 52/215 A of 22 December 1997, subject to the decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Force beyond 30 June 1999; 10. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 9 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 732,900 dollars approved for the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000; 11. Decides further that, for Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Force, there shall be set off against the apportionment, as provided for in paragraph 9 above, their respective share in the unencumbered balance of 1,085,300 dollars gross (887,600 dollars net) in respect of the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998; 12. Decides that, for Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Force, their share of the unencumbered balance of 1,085,300 dollars gross (887,600 dollars net) in respect of the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 shall be set off against their outstanding obligations; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to credit back to Member States in a phased manner not to exceed three years, beginning with 5.6 million dollars during the current session of the General Assembly, according to the procedures contained in paragraphs 9 to 12 above, the net surplus balance of 13,622,162 dollars held in the suspense account for the Force; 14. Invites voluntary contributions to the Force in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; /...