A/RES/51/234 Page 2 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, Expressing its appreciation for the substantial voluntary contributions made to the Observation Mission by the Government of Kuwait and the contributions of other Governments, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Observation 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 Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission as at 15 May 1997, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 9,455,734 United States dollars, representing 4 per cent of the total assessed contributions from the inception of the Mission to the period ending 30 April 1997, notes that some 32 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 its continued appreciation of the decision of the Government of Kuwait to defray two thirds of the cost of the Observation Mission, effective 1 November 1993; 3. Expresses concern about the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursement of troop contributors, which bear burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full; 5. Urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Observation Mission in full and on time; 6. Endorses the observations and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions2 and in the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services;3 7. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Observation Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 8. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission the amount of 51,487,500 dollars gross (49,599,300 dollars net) for the maintenance of the Observation Mission for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, inclusive of an amount of 1,952,100 dollars for the support account for peacekeeping operations, a two-thirds share of this amount, equivalent to 33,066,200 dollars, to be funded through voluntary contributions from the Government of Kuwait, subject to the review by the Security Council with regard to the question of termination or continuation of the Mission; /...