Statement by Ms. YOSHIDA Aya, Minister, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly: Thematic Debate On "Strengthening the accountability, transparency and institutional memory of the OPGA"
2025/1/23
(As delivered)
I would like to express my gratitude to H.E. Ms. Mathu Joyini of South Africa and H.E. Mr. Cornel Feruță of Romania for convening this thematic debate. I would also like to extend our gratitude to H.E. Mr. Philémon Yang, the President of the General Assembly, as well as Mr. Ivor Fung, Chef de Cabinet, and Mr. Movses Abelian, Under-Secretary-General of DGACM, for providing us with informative and substantive briefings and interactions.
Co-facilitators,
This Thematic Debate of the Ad-Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly provides Member States with an opportunity to further reflect on operational aspects of the activity of the Office of the President of General Assembly, with a view to enhancing its efficiency, consolidating the institutional memory, and strengthening the capacity of the Office to support the activity of the General Assembly.
With increasingly challenging international circumstances, the expectations for the UN’s convening power in promoting multilateralism have all the more increased. We must work further for a better functioning of General Assembly, the most inclusive body in the United Nations. To that end, the Revitalization of the General Assembly plays a crucial part. It is for these reasons that Japan sees the importance of the activities of the OPGA, and is committed to supporting its work in various forms.
The OPGA serves as the foundation of the functionality of the General Assembly and its President. OPGA’s work cuts across various forums and committees within the UN system, therefore, OPGA needs strong standing. On enhancing the function of the OPGA, echoing resolution 77/335, Japan commends and strongly encourages to continue the good practices by the OPGA of handover reports and transition workshops. Furthermore, Japan considers that supporting the OPGA with adequate human resources would be beneficial in strengthening the institutional memory of the Office, and is determined to continue to play our part.
Recalling our commitment to increasing efforts to revitalize the work of the general assembly made in the Pact of the Future, the revitalization of the General Assembly remains the priority and is timely for all Member States to this date. Japan is determined to constructively engage in productive discussions and negotiations for an action-oriented resolution in order to strengthen the areas of accountability, transparency and institutional aspects of the General Assembly, which will be discussed in this forum. To that end, we sincerely hope to see the essence of our statement, which stresses seamless transition between the incumbent and the incoming PGAs and strengthening the institutional memory of the Office, to be reflected in the resolution of the session.
I thank you, co-Chair.
Co-facilitators,
This Thematic Debate of the Ad-Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly provides Member States with an opportunity to further reflect on operational aspects of the activity of the Office of the President of General Assembly, with a view to enhancing its efficiency, consolidating the institutional memory, and strengthening the capacity of the Office to support the activity of the General Assembly.
With increasingly challenging international circumstances, the expectations for the UN’s convening power in promoting multilateralism have all the more increased. We must work further for a better functioning of General Assembly, the most inclusive body in the United Nations. To that end, the Revitalization of the General Assembly plays a crucial part. It is for these reasons that Japan sees the importance of the activities of the OPGA, and is committed to supporting its work in various forms.
The OPGA serves as the foundation of the functionality of the General Assembly and its President. OPGA’s work cuts across various forums and committees within the UN system, therefore, OPGA needs strong standing. On enhancing the function of the OPGA, echoing resolution 77/335, Japan commends and strongly encourages to continue the good practices by the OPGA of handover reports and transition workshops. Furthermore, Japan considers that supporting the OPGA with adequate human resources would be beneficial in strengthening the institutional memory of the Office, and is determined to continue to play our part.
Recalling our commitment to increasing efforts to revitalize the work of the general assembly made in the Pact of the Future, the revitalization of the General Assembly remains the priority and is timely for all Member States to this date. Japan is determined to constructively engage in productive discussions and negotiations for an action-oriented resolution in order to strengthen the areas of accountability, transparency and institutional aspects of the General Assembly, which will be discussed in this forum. To that end, we sincerely hope to see the essence of our statement, which stresses seamless transition between the incumbent and the incoming PGAs and strengthening the institutional memory of the Office, to be reflected in the resolution of the session.
I thank you, co-Chair.