Statement by Ms. ABO Ai, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, Second Resumed Session of the Fifth Committee of the 78th U.N. General Assembly

Mr. Chair,

My delegation would like to express our sincere appreciation to Your Excellency for your able leadership in guiding the Committee’s work. We are similarly grateful to all the members of the Bureau and the Secretariat, including the Fifth Committee Secretariat and FOFD led by Director Mr. Kelvin Ong, for their hard work and valuable support throughout the session.
 
Mr. Chair,
 
Japan welcomes that the Committee agreed to provide adequate and necessary funding to the Peacekeeping budget, which will enable missions to continue to deliver on their mandates effectively and efficiently. We are pleased that during the budget negotiations, despite significant divergence in positions and challenging aspects, we were able to overcome these difficulties, bridge gaps, and find solutions to make consensus possible, by understanding each other’s views and interests and negotiating in good faith.
 
At the same time, it was regrettable that we could not adopt a cross-cutting resolution for the second consecutive year. We strongly hope that next year the Committee will fulfill its responsibility to provide guidance to the Secretariat on policy issues. Regarding the Resident Coordinator System, we look forward to discussing it during the Main Session.
 
Mr. Chair,
 
We are proud that we could conclude the session in mid-June, as Japan stated in our opening remarks. This was only possible thanks to your firm leadership, the Secretariat’s tremendous efforts to submit reports earlier, the ACABQ’s timely work in presenting all the reports at the start of the session, and the commitment and efforts of all negotiators. Japan continues to advocate for setting realistic closing dates from the beginning of sessions: mid-December for the Main Session and mid-June for the Second Resumed Session. It will help structure our work efficiently and minimize unnecessary difficulties for the Secretariat and missions.
 
Mr. Chair,

On a personal note, since this is my last session as a Fifth Committee delegate, allow me to take this opportunity to thank all the delegates for the days and nights we spent together to find solutions to make consensus possible. I have learned a lot from you and am proud to have been a part of this important Committee.
 
In closing, let us once again express our heartfelt appreciation and congratulations to Your Excellency and your team, Hussein, for your outstanding work and tireless efforts throughout the 78th Session.
 
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you everyone.