Statement by Ms. WAKABAYASHI Sato Adviser, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, on Agenda item 138: Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the UN, Main Part of the 78th Session of the Fifth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly

Mr. Chair,

I would first like to thank the members of the Committee on Contributions and the representatives of the Secretariat for presenting their respective reports.

Mr. Chair,

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, as they enable the Organization to function effectively and properly. My delegation is firmly of the view that we should respect and maintain the basic principle that each Member State of the United Nations should pay its assessed contribution according to its capacity to pay.

In addition, taking fully into account the changing global economy, we have to improve methodology for determining assessments so that they 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.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.