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Statement by H.E. Ambassador Hiroshi Minami
Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
At the Conclusion of the Main Part of the Seventy-first Session
Of the Fifth Committee
23 December 2016
Madame Chair,
At the conclusion of the session, my delegation would like to welcome the successful adoption of the resolutions before Christmas. Let me take this opportunity to make a few remarks on the work of this session.
First, I would like to stress the importance of the leadership exercised by the Chair and its impact on the negotiations. My delegation believes that the indomitable resolve clearly expressed by you, Madam Chair, never to extend the deadline beyond 23 December, exerted a sound pressure on the expert level negotiations, which undoubtedly contributed to our successful conclusion of the session.
Second, I would like to commend the huge efforts and commitment made by the negotiators. Their diligent work based on mutual trust and mutual understanding have been the enabler of the successful conclusion by consensus of those important resolutions during this session, including on human resources management, before the appointment of the new Secretary-General.
Third, I must touch upon the severe impact of the late submission of relevant documents to the Committee. My delegation would like to emphasize that the issue of the late submission constitutes an external challenge to us the Member States as it seriously narrows the margin of our efforts and incentives to reach consensus by the deadline.
Madame Chair,
This challenge may entail something which is, to some extent, beyond our control. However, my delegation is of the view that this is essentially a matter of management of the Committee, which is trusted to us the Member States. Japan believes that now is the time for us to consider seriously what we can do, and should do, to protect and enhance the sound environment for our negotiations. We should conduct review with a view to enhancing the working method of the Committee, including by, for example, setting a deadline for the submission of the Secretary-General’s report of a time-binding nature, around the middle of the session.
Finally, Madame Chair, I wish you, the bureau members, representatives of the Secretariat and dear colleagues, a Merry Christmas and a peaceful new year.
I thank you, Madame Chair.
