(As delivered)
Statement by H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Minami
Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
At the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly
7 April 2016
Thank you, Co-Chairs,
First of all, let me extend my appreciation to the co-chairs for convening today’s meeting. I would also like to thank Mr. Lykketoft, President of the General Assembly (PGA), Mr. Christensen, Chef de Cabinet of PGA, Mr. Mulet, Chef de Cabinet of the Executive Office of Secretary-General, and Ms. Pollard, Under-Secretary-General for Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, for their comprehensive and useful briefings.
Co-Chairs,
All of us must be reminded once again of the unprecedented and serious allegations relating to the President of the 68th session of the General Assembly.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to ensure the transparency, efficiency and accountability of the work of the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA).
From my country’s point of view, our two main priorities are:
(1) to increase the transparency of the flow of funds into and out of the OPGA; and
(2) to ensure the appropriate qualifications of the President, both professionally and ethically.
Co-Chairs,
My delegation would like to associate itself with the statement delivered by Permanent Representative of Panama on behalf of the Ethics Group. In particular, we would like to stress the need for establishing an Oath of Office and a Code of Conduct for future Presidents of the General Assembly.
I would also like to note that the report of the Secretary-General’s Task Force (A/70/783) provides a solid basis for our discussions as to the content of a Code of Conduct.
Co-Chairs,
Financial disclosure is the most important element.
This is a prerequisite to allowing us to understand the overall picture of funding in relation to the President of the General Assembly and OPGA.
Therefore, a Code of Conduct should clearly request that each and every President of the General Assembly provide financial disclosure upon assumption and completion of their duties.
In addition, this financial disclosure should be robust and comprehensive. In this regard, my delegation fully supports paragraph 35 of the report of the Secretary-General’s task force, which states: “The Task Force therefore recommends that details of the contributions channelled outside the Trust Fund, including the source, purpose and amount, be disclosed to the General Assembly in an appropriate manner.”
Co-Chairs,
With a view to securing the ethics and transparency of the activities of PGAs, a Code of Conduct should also specify other core principles, such as the prevention of corruption or conflicts of interest, as well as information sharing with the General Assembly and Member States on the human resources of the OPGA, such as the sources of the funds and the countries or organizations of origin.
With respect to addressing the lack of institutional memory, it is also imperative for the President and OPGA, in collaboration with relevant offices of the Secretariat, to make sure that information on the activities of the President and OPGA will be published and archived in a proper way, such as via the PGA’s website. It is also important that this information is transferred to the incoming President so as to ensure continuity and the improvement of the institutional memory of the OPGA.
I understand that there are many calls for the increase of financial and human resources for OPGA. However, my delegation believes that Member States should consider the necessary activities of OPGA first, and then Member States should consider the size of resources of OPGA for the activities.
Co-Chairs,
PGA Lykketoft once clearly stated: “Corruption has no place at the United Nations or anywhere else.” It is in the interest of all Member States to achieve a tangible outcome in terms of the transparency of OPGA.
Japan will make the best efforts to contribute to restoring confidence in the U.N. system as a whole.
I thank you, Co-Chairs.
