(As delivered)

Statement by Mr. Katsuhiko Imada

Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

Agenda Item 136: Improving the Financial Situation of the United Nations

Second Resumed Session of the Fifth Committee

11 May 2017

 

 

Madam Vice-Chair,

 

          At the outset, I would like to thank Mr. Yukio Takasu, Under-Secretary-General for Management, for the work he has done during his appointment, and for providing last week a comprehensive overview of the financial situation of the United Nations, as well as today's additional information. I wish to briefly outline Japan’s views on this issue.

 

          First of all, it is the responsibility of the Member States to pay their assessments in full and on time. For its part, Japan has faithfully fulfilled its obligation. My delegation is especially proud to note that Japan has paid all of its assessments that are due and payable in full. Japan has once again discharged its commitment to contribute to international peace and prosperity in spite of our long-standing domestic financial difficulties.

 

          At the same time, the capacity of the Member States to pay is not unlimited. All concerned parties must be aware of this, and my delegation would like to stress that when resource requirements are elaborated and deliberated, it is important to set realistic levels of resources that are both necessary and sufficient for the implementation of the given mandates.

 

          Thirdly, my delegation would like to reiterate its request for unremitting efforts by the Secretariat to ensure that the UN’s assessed budget is utilized in the most efficient, effective and accountable manner, taking into account that this cost is ultimately borne by the taxpayers of the Member States.

 

Madam Vice-Chair,

 

          Stricter adherence to the budgetary discipline is required. In this regard I would like to conclude by reiterating once again my delegation's basic positions; that assessed contributions should only be used for adequate purposes; that the resource requirements proposed by the Secretariat need to reflect the intentions of the intergovernmental bodies in a correct and precise manner; and that the Fifth Committee is the body entrusted with the responsibility over administrative and budgetary matters.

 

I thank you, Madam Vice-Chair.