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Statement by Mr. Shigetoshi Nagao
Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

Agenda Item 136: Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses
of the United Nations
Main Part of the Sixty-Ninth Session of the United Nations General Assembly
7 October 2014

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

          I wish to express my appreciation to Mr. Bernardo Greiver, the Chairman of the Committee on Contributions, for introducing the committee's report, and also Mr. Lionelito Berridge, Chief of Contributions and Policy Coordination Service, for presenting the Secretary-General's report on the multi-year payment plans.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

            As the second largest financial contributor to the United Nations, Japan attaches great importance to the scale of assessments.  Japan has paid its dues faithfully, despite the fact that we are faced with economic and financial difficulties at home.

 

          My delegation is of the view that we should respect and maintain the basic principle that each Member State of the United Nations should pay its assessed contribution according to its "capacity to pay." 

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

          Taking fully into account the changing world economic situation, we have to find a methodology that would better reflect each Member State's real and current capacity to pay in a more equitable way, based on the most current, comprehensive and comparable data available.  My delegation would like to actively participate in the coming negotiation process so that we may reach a consensus on how to maintain the future sustainability of the Organization.

 

          As for the application of Article 19 of the Charter, my delegation endorses the recommendations of the Committee on Contributions regarding the exemptions to its application, while encouraging those Member States in arrears under Article 19 of the Charter of the UN to consider submitting multi-year payment plans.

 

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.