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Statement by Mr. Mondo Yamamoto

Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

 

Agenda Item 138: Scale of assessments for the apportionment

of the expenses of the United Nations

 Main Part of the Sixty-sixth Session

of the United Nations General Assembly

3 October 2011

 

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

I wish to express my appreciation to Mr. Bernardo Greiver, the Chairman of the Committee on Contributions, for introducing his report, and also Mr. Chandramouli Ramanathan, Director Accounts Division, for presenting the Secretary-General’s report on the multi-year payment plan.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

            As the second largest financial contributor to the United Nations, Japan attaches great importance to the scale of assessments.  Japan has paid its dues faithfully, despite the fact that we are faced with economic and financial difficulties at home.

 

My delegation is 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.” 

 

Taking fully into account the changing world economic situation, we have to find a methodology that would better reflect each Member State’s real and current capacity to pay in a more equitable way, based on the most current, comprehensive and comparable data available.

 

              In line with the resolution 64/248, we Member States should start reviewing all elements of the methodology of the scale of assessments during this session, based on the report of the Committee on Contributions.  My delegation will actively and constructively participate in the coming round of negotiations.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

            As for the application of Article 19 of the Charter, my delegation endorses the recommendations of the Committee on Contributions regarding the exemptions to its application.

 

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.