平和構築委員会（PBC）年次報告書及び議長選出に関する大使級会合における志野大使ステートメント

 
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
 
Let me extend my sincere appreciation to Ambassador Ivan Šimonović and his Croatian team, it is a bit strange to see you not on the podium, and the Vice Chairs from Germany and Bangladesh and their team for their leadership over the past year. Their commitment has been instrumental in our collective achievements.
 
Today, we warmly welcome the new Chair, Sérgio França Danese, the Permanent Representative of Brazil. We also extend a warm welcome to Croatia and Kenya as the new Vice Chairs. I look forward to working closely with all of you this year.
 
Mr. Chair,
 
At the Security Council Arria-formula Open Debate last week, Japan invited participants to share their ideas on how to implement a comprehensive approach for sustaining peace with a longer-term vision.  During the debate, many countries reiterated the need for coherent cooperation among UN entities and beyond, including by maximizing the role of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC).
 
Allow me to highlight three points drawn from the debate, which Japan considers important.
 
First, the PBC can help promote and support ownership by the conflict-affected country by bringing together and convening a diverse set of actors. Any country can request to have a PBC meeting to promote its own priorities including measures for conflict prevention. Indeed, the importance of ownership in conflict prevention was echoed by many countries in the debate. Such processes can play a vital role in assisting the country to further identify and tackle underlying causes of conflict as well as seek sustainable ways toward peacebuilding with wide international support.
 
Secondly, the PBC can be a platform to promote close partnerships with and mobilize financing from both IFIs and the private sector for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. The Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) has an important role in complementing such efforts through funding various projects aimed at addressing root causes. In this context, Japan has recently decided to extend a further contribution to the PBF of 3.7 million US dollars.
 
Lastly, we should continue our efforts to optimize the collaboration between the Security Council and the PBC.  Substantial and clear advice by the PBC in a timely manner will enrich discussions and subsequent outcomes at the Council. We should also strive to include a variety of voices in the Commission’s advice to reflect and take advantage of the diverse opinions, experiences and discussions among PBC members. The informal dialogues held last year among all the members of both the PBC and the Security Council were a good initiative, and should be continued. We commend the leadership of Croatia as the PBC Chair and of Brazil as the informal coordinator between the PBC and the Council last year. Japan is ready to succeed Brazil in the informal coordinator role this year, and we hope for your support.
 
We are looking forward to reviewing the PBC’s working methods as needed in order to bring these ideas into action.
 
In conclusion, Japan reaffirms its commitment to supporting and actively engaging in the PBC's work.
 
I thank you, Mr. Chair.