Special arrangements for settlement of arrears: bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: report by the Director-General

SEVENTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY A72/60 Rev.1 Agenda item 15.4 23 May 2019 Special arrangements for settlement of arrears Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Report by the Director-General 1. In accordance with Article 7 of the Constitution and resolutions WHA8.13 (1955) and WHA41.7 (1988), Member States that have been in arrears for more than two years at the time of the Health Assembly are subject to a resolution of the Health Assembly to the effect that their voting privileges will be suspended as from the opening of the next Health Assembly unless the arrears have been reduced to a level below the amount that would justify invoking Article 7. 2. In accordance with resolution WHA54.6 (2001), Member States with arrears of assessed contributions payable to the Organization to an extent that would justify invoking the provisions of Article 7 may request these arrears to be rescheduled over an extended period. 3. In return for a commitment to pay such arrears over an agreed extended period, voting rights of the Member States concerned can be restored, on condition that the Member States respect the payment schedule and make full payment of the current year’s assessment. 4. Pursuant to resolution WHA54.6, any such request should be received no later than 31 March. The Director-General would review such requests with the Member States concerned and submit proposals to reschedule payment of arrears to the Administration, Budget and Finance Committee of the Executive Board1 at its meeting immediately before the Health Assembly, with a view to the Committee making appropriate recommendations to the Health Assembly for consideration. 5. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela submitted a request on rescheduling of payment of its arrears over an extended period on 6 May 2019, requesting that this proposal be considered notwithstanding the above-mentioned deadline and procedure. 1 Since 2005, the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board. A72/60 Rev.1 2 ACTION BY THE HEALTH ASSEMBLY 6. The Health Assembly may wish to consider the following draft resolution: The Seventy-second World Health Assembly, Having considered the request of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in respect of its outstanding contributions up to and including 2019 of US$ 13 219 535; considering also the request of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to reschedule payment of this balance over the period 2019–2038; Noting that this request did not comply fully with the requirements of resolution WHA54.6 as to timing and procedure, 1. DECIDES to restore the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela’s voting privileges at the Seventy-second World Health Assembly on the following conditions: The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall pay its outstanding arrears of assessed contributions, totalling US$ 13 219 535 over 20 years from 2019–2038, as set out below, in addition to payment of its annual assessment for the current year; Year US$ 2019 660 977 2020 660 977 2021 660 977 2022 660 977 2023 660 977 2024 660 977 2025 660 977 2026 660 977 2027 660 977 2028 660 977 2029 660 977 2030 660 977 2031 660 977 2032 660 977 2033 660 977 2034 660 977 2035 660 977 2036 660 977 2037 660 977 2038 660 972 Total 13 219 535 A72/60 Rev.1 3 2. FURTHER DECIDES that, in accordance with Article 7 of the Constitution, voting privileges shall be automatically suspended if the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela does not meet the requirements laid down in paragraph 1 above; 3. REQUESTS the Director-General to report to future Health Assemblies as appropriate on the prevailing situation; 4. FURTHER REQUESTS the Director-General to communicate this resolution to the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. = = =