(Please check against delivery)

 

 

Statement by Mr. Hajime Kishimori
Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

 

Agenda item 136: Improving the financial situation of the United Nations

Main Part of the Seventieth Session

of Fifth Committee of the General Assembly

22 October 2015

 

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

            At the outset, I would like to thank Mr. Yukio Takasu, Under-Secretary-General for Management, for providing an update on the financial situation of the United Nations. I wish to briefly comment on that matter in the following statement.

 

            Notwithstanding the fact that Japan's budget cycle is different from that of the United Nations, my delegation is especially proud to note that, as Mr. Takasu mentioned in his presentation last week, Japan has paid in full all its assessments that are due and payable for the Regular Budget, the Peacekeeping Operations, the International Tribunals and the Capital Master Plan. We make these payments in a timely manner because we recognize that it is the responsibility of Member States under the Charter of the U.N. to pay their assessments. Japan has once again discharged its commitment to contribute to international peace and prosperity, in spite of our long-standing domestic financial difficulties and recent trends in currency exchange rates.

 

            My delegation notes with appreciation the Secretariat's great efforts to utilize resources in an efficient and effective manner. As described by the Under-Secretary-General, we expect the Secretariat to closely monitor the cash position of the Regular Budget and to keep the General Assembly appropriately informed.

Mr. Chairman,

 

            My delegation would like to reiterate its request that the Secretariat continue to utilize the resources contributed by the Member States in the most efficient and effective way when implementing mandates. In so doing, the Secretariat can and should also draw on the continuing efforts and experiences of the Member States in their own countries.

 

            Finally, the General Assembly should try to aim for reasonable and practical solutions when discussing various budget proposals.

 

            For our part, Mr. Chairman, I assure you of my delegation’s willingness to participate in the negotiations of this committee positively and constructively toward achieving consensus on all agenda items by the scheduled deadline.

 

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.