Statement by H.E. Ambassador UMETSU Shigeru, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, Main Part of the 79th Session of the Fifth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, Agenda item 143: Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the UN, Agenda item 154: Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the UN PKOs

Madame Chair,
 
I would first like to thank Ambassador Bernardo Greiver del Hoyo, Chair of the Committee on Contributions, and Mr. Chandramouli Ramanathan, Assistant Secretary-General and Controller, for introducing their respective reports.
 
Madame Chair,
 
For decades, Japan has shouldered and will continue to shoulder a significant rate of assessment. As one of the major financial contributors to the United Nations, Japan attaches great importance to the scale of assessments. Assessed contributions are the backbone of the United Nations, without which the Organization cannot deliver its mandate effectively and properly.
 
According to Article 17 of the UN Charter, all Member States share the responsibility to financially support the United Nations. We should respect and maintain the basic principle that each Member State should pay its assessed contribution according to its capacity to pay. Japan is proud to have continuously fulfilled our responsibility by paying all its assessments in full and as soon as possible.

Madame Chair,
 
We appreciate the efforts of the members of the Committee on Contributions to present the latest report of the Committee, in its attempt to reflect the recent changes in the economic realities of each Member State. The methodology, by fully taking into account the changing global economy, should better reflect each Member State’s real capacity to pay in a more equitable manner, based on the most current, comprehensive, and comparable data available.
 
Madame Chair,
 
I would also like to reiterate our longstanding position that the scale of assessments for UN peacekeeping operations should take into consideration the special responsibilities of the permanent members of the Security Council. This general principle underlying the financing of the PKOs should be borne in mind in connection with their contributions to the financing of peace and security operations.
 
Finally, with regard to the application of Article 19 of the UN Charter, my delegation sees the recommendations of the Committee on Contributions as appropriate. We endorse the exemption and encourage Member States with significant arrears to consider submitting and updating multi-year payment plans as recommended by the Committee.
 
I thank you, Madame Chair.