1. On March 7, the Government of Japan decided to provide 110,000 US dollars to the Trust Fund for Updating the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council, to assist in the publication of the Repertoire, a compilation of the practices of the Council.

2. The establishment of the Trust Fund was an initiative of the Secretary-General to eliminate the backlog in the publication of the Repertoire. The Fund was established in 2000 after the General Assembly endorsed the Secretary-General’s proposal.

3. Japan, as chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions of the Security Council since January of this year, has been making efforts to improve the working methods and increase the transparency and accountability of the Council. Increasing transparency, inclusiveness and legitimacy in the work of the Council will contribute to gaining the support and understanding of all of the Member States for its decisions, and will enhance the effectiveness of the Council. Japan believes that compiling the practices of the Council into one publication is of great importance in improving transparency and development of the working methods of the Security Council. The Japanese Government hopes that this contribution will help to facilitate the publication of the Repertoire.

*For inquiries, contact Mr. Hiroshi Tajima, Counsellor, at 212-521-1567 or Ms. Madoka Saji, Adviser, at 212-521-1541 at Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations.