Statement by H.E. Ambassador UMETSU Shigeru, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Conclusion of the Main Part of the 79th Session of the Fifth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly
2024/12/24
(Check against delivery)
Madame Chair,
At the conclusion of the session, on behalf of my delegation, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you, Madame Chair and your team, and all the bureau members for your leadership and guidance.
May I also take this opportunity to express our special thanks to the Secretariat for their patience and tireless efforts in supporting the Fifth Committee. I would also like to thank all the facilitators for their tremendous contribution in guiding and expediting the negotiations.
Thanks to your outstanding leadership, Madame Chair, we achieved in concluding this session before Christmas as you planned, in order to provide sufficient time for the United Nations to prepare for the upcoming year of 2025.
Madame Chair,
The United Nations is faced with multiple and serious challenges as well as crises around the world, and we pay our heartfelt respect to all the UN staff for their commitment and dedication towards peace and prosperity. At the same time, with the overall UN budget reaching 3.6 billion US dollars, we sincerely hope that the necessary resources to run the organization are used in an effective and efficient manner, in order to implement and deliver its mandates.
The Fifth Committee finally achieved in providing assessed contribution to the Resident Coordinator system at this session. While it is a temporary measure, we believe that such sufficient resources will enable the RC system to function efficiently and effectively. We also wish that with an effective RC system in place, the efficiencies gain and the overlaps avoided are actually reflected in reducing the overall UN budget.
We regret that despite the long-established practice of achieving agreement by consensus in the Fifth Committee, there were multiple cases of having to vote in order to reach a conclusion. I ask all members of the Fifth Committee to respect and uphold the spirit of consensus.
Madame Chair,
We may celebrate our achievements today, but we shall also humbly learn from the lessons of this year and welcome the new year with stronger commitment and renewed efforts to ensure that the United Nations continues to remain vibrant and innovative.
Finally, I wish you Madame Chair, the bureau members, the Secretariat and all member states, a Happy New Year.
At the conclusion of the session, on behalf of my delegation, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you, Madame Chair and your team, and all the bureau members for your leadership and guidance.
May I also take this opportunity to express our special thanks to the Secretariat for their patience and tireless efforts in supporting the Fifth Committee. I would also like to thank all the facilitators for their tremendous contribution in guiding and expediting the negotiations.
Thanks to your outstanding leadership, Madame Chair, we achieved in concluding this session before Christmas as you planned, in order to provide sufficient time for the United Nations to prepare for the upcoming year of 2025.
Madame Chair,
The United Nations is faced with multiple and serious challenges as well as crises around the world, and we pay our heartfelt respect to all the UN staff for their commitment and dedication towards peace and prosperity. At the same time, with the overall UN budget reaching 3.6 billion US dollars, we sincerely hope that the necessary resources to run the organization are used in an effective and efficient manner, in order to implement and deliver its mandates.
The Fifth Committee finally achieved in providing assessed contribution to the Resident Coordinator system at this session. While it is a temporary measure, we believe that such sufficient resources will enable the RC system to function efficiently and effectively. We also wish that with an effective RC system in place, the efficiencies gain and the overlaps avoided are actually reflected in reducing the overall UN budget.
We regret that despite the long-established practice of achieving agreement by consensus in the Fifth Committee, there were multiple cases of having to vote in order to reach a conclusion. I ask all members of the Fifth Committee to respect and uphold the spirit of consensus.
Madame Chair,
We may celebrate our achievements today, but we shall also humbly learn from the lessons of this year and welcome the new year with stronger commitment and renewed efforts to ensure that the United Nations continues to remain vibrant and innovative.
Finally, I wish you Madame Chair, the bureau members, the Secretariat and all member states, a Happy New Year.