A/RES/53/18 Page 2 Recalling its previous decisions regarding the fact that, in order to meet the expenditures caused by the Mission, a different procedure is required from that applied to meet expenditures of the regular budget of the United Nations, Taking into account the fact that the economically more developed countries are in a position to make relatively larger contributions and that the economically less developed countries have a relatively limited capacity to contribute towards such an operation, Bearing in mind the special responsibilities of the States permanent members of the Security Council, as indicated in General Assembly resolution 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, in the financing of such operations, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Mission, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara as at 15 October 1998, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 69,886,177 United States dollars, representing 21 per cent of the total assessed contributions from the inception of the Mission to the period ending 21 September 1998, notes that some 17 per cent of the Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States concerned, in particular those in arrears, to ensure the payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses concern about the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursement of troop contributors, which bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 3. in full; Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions 4. Urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Mission in full and on time; 5. Takes note of the observations and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;2 6. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to employ locally recruited staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; 8. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara the additional amount of 37,250,460 dollars gross (34,445,260 dollars net) for the operation of the Mission for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, taking into account the /...