H.E. Mr. Kiyotaka Akasaka
Ambassador
At the Meeting of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee
(Fourth Committee) on Item 87, "Questions Relating to Information"
13 November 2000
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset, let me express our appreciation to Your Excellency for your able leadership to steer smoothly the current session of the Fourth Committee.
I would also like to thank Mr. Kensaku Hogen, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, for his excellent presentation of the report of the Secretary-General on questions relating to information.
Japan fully shares the views expressed by the distinguished delegate of the Netherlands.
Japan considers it essential that the United Nations make the best use of information technology as it grapples with the wide range of problems that the world is facing. Japan would like to commend the efforts that the Department of Public Information has made in providing Internet support for the communication and dissemination of information on the activities of the United Nations.
It is also commendable that, during the course of the Millennium Summit, the Department has engaged, in close collaboration with Member States as well as partners in civil society, in extremely effective activities in the area of public relations and cultural events, despite very limited resources. My delegation would like to pay a high tribute to Under-Secretary-General Hogen for his leadership in carrying out these difficult tasks.
Mr. Chairman,
The report of the Secretary-General we have received is a good one. It rightly shares that "concerted outreach through new information technologies to non-governmental organizations beyond United Nations Headquarters and through the United Nations information centers has significantly enhances" the opportunity to participate in UN activities. Those efforts should be further encouraged because they facilitate more effective use of the information already made available by the UN.
Japan, as the largest contributor to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), fully shares the views of DPI on the necessity of further coordination with the resident coordinators and UN information centers (UNICs) in enhancing outreach. It is therefore requested that the secretariat update us on the progress made so far toward this end.
Japan is also keen to see the UN develop a stronger partnership with the media through appropriate and timely dissemination of updated information. The Television Forum to take place next week is a worthy initiative in this area. The most influential media institution in Japan, Nihon Hoso Kyokai (NHK), the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, which generously provided the high-definition video screen for the Millennium Summit and for the Millennium General Assembly, will co-host the event. Japan looks forward to seeing expanded cooperation among world media organs and between world media and the United Nations in covering the United Nations activities.
As for the DPI programme for enhancing radio broadcasting capacity, this activity is particularly important for people in developing countries, considering the nature of their limited access to media. We hope that this programme will be continued within the resources allocated in the current biennial budget and that it will produce tangible results in many countries.
Mr. Chairman,
Let me briefly touch upon the issue of Secretariat reform in response to the recommendations of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations in the field of public information. Indeed, Japan strongly supports the efforts of the Secretary-General to improve UN peacekeeping operations. However, we note that the number of these operation rises and falls, while the demand for the Organization's public information services tends to be stable. Therefore, due account should be taken of the structure of the institutions providing public information services so that they can operate as effectively and efficiently as possible.
In concluding my statement, Mr. Chairman, I should like to express again our deep appreciation to the dedicated people working in the Department of Public Information, and promise that the Government of Japan will continue to provide them with its utmost support.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. |
