(As delivered)

 

Statement by H.E. Ambassador Hiroshi Minami

Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations

 

At the conclusion of the main part of the Seventieth Session of the Fifth Committee

of the United Nations General Assembly

23 December 2015

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

       I would first like to express my sincere appreciation to you for your strong leadership and guidance that led us to the successful conclusion of this session. I also thank the colleagues from the Secretariat, Mr. Yukio Takasu, Under-Secretary-General for Management, Ms. Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, Assistant Secretary-General/Controller and especially Ms. Sharon Van Buerle, Secretary of the Fifth Committee for the tireless efforts for the committee, without which we would never have achieved this result.

 

       I recall that I stressed the need to finish this session before Christmas in my opening statement in October. I am very pleased to come back to this room and speak before the committee on the day before Christmas Eve. This year, the United Nations made a number of remarkable achievements from the Sendai conference on disaster risk reduction, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda conference on Financing for Development (FFD), the 2030 Agenda and COP21 in Paris. I believe the work of the Fifth Committee is the latest in a series of successes in the Multi-lateral diplomacy at the United Nations. For the Fifth Committee experts, it is the first time in three years to spend Christmas with their families and they really deserve it. Even though they faced a lot of challenges, they kept working together based on the mutual trust until they reached consensus. I hope this working spirit will continue in the years to come.;

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

       The committee has just adopted the resolutions on scales of assessment, regular budget, common system, construction issues and management reform initiatives, by consensus. Especially, on common system, this is the first reform in 25 years, and we are pleased with this outcome. On the regular budget, we are also satisfied with the outcome of the negotiation, but we have slight concerns with the process to consider the estimated amount for the implementation of 2030 Agenda and Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA). Next year we should have more structured process for the consideration of these items.

 

       The committee provides fundamentals for the Organization’s delivery of mandate. And this is why the sound management of the work of the Fifth Committee is imperative to the functioning of the United Nations. In this regard, I am pleased that the committee has successfully completed its work on time with win-win results.

 

       Finally, Mr. Chairman, I wish you, the bureau members, representatives of the Secretariat and dear colleagues, especially the experts of my team, a Merry Christmas. I hope to see you coming back with refreshed faces next year.

 

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.