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Statement by Mr. Shigetoshi Nagao
Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
Agenda item 132: Program Budget 2014-2015: Umoja/ERP
Main Part of the Sixty-Ninth Session,
Fifth Committee of the General Assembly
6 November 2014
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset, I would like to thank Mr. Yukio Takasu, Under-Secretary-General for Management; Mr. Steven Townley, Director of External Audit (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and Chair of the Audit Operations Committee of the Board of Auditors; and Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, for introducing their respective reports on the Umoja/ERP.
My delegation welcomes the substantial progress achieved since the release of the fifth progress report of the Secretary-General, including the deployment of Umoja Foundation at 14 Peacekeeping Operations and 14 Special Political Missions and the pilot integration of Umoja Foundation and Extension 1 at MINUSTAH. Japan is also pleased to note the Secretary-General's commitment to completing the design, building and deployment of Umoja Foundation and Extension 1 by December 2015, as set forth in the approved timeline.
On the other hand, my delegation is concerned by the serious challenges which the Organization faces, as well as by the new delays in the project timetable and the increased funding requirements reported by the Secretary-General. Organizational readiness continues to be among the most significant risks, and the continued commitment of senior managers is the key to the successful implementation of this project. Japan reiterates the necessity of preventing further delays and cost escalations, and looks toward the leadership and initiative of the Secretary-General in this regard.
Finally, my delegation considers it very important for the investments to be returned. In this context, Japan is of the view that the Secretary-General should accelerate the development of benefits realization plans for both qualitative and quantitative benefits.
My delegation is looking forward to discussing this important agenda item under your able guidance.
I thank you.
