A/RES/53/29 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, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Observer Mission, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Observer Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under Security Council resolution 1181 (1998), 1. 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; 2. Urges all Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone in full and on time; 3. Endorses the observations and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;2 4. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Observer Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 5. 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 Observer Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Observer Mission; 6. Decides to appropriate the amount of 22 million United States dollars gross (21,279,800 dollars net) for the establishment and operation of the Observer Mission for the period from 13 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, inclusive of the cost of deploying military and civilian personnel in the amount of 783,700 dollars gross (768,100 dollars net) for the period from 17 April to 12 July 1998 and of the amount of 10,624,200 dollars gross (10,409,500 dollars net) previously authorized by the Advisory Committee for the period from 13 July to 13 November 1998, and requests the Secretary-General to establish a special account for the Observer Mission; 7. Decides also, as an ad hoc arrangement, to apportion the amount of 12,926,600 dollars gross (12,610,300 dollars net) among Member States for the period from 13 July 1998 to 13 January 1999 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 1998 and 1999, as set out in its resolution 52/215 A of 22 December 1997; /...