(As delivered)
Statement by Mr. Sho Ono,
Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
Agenda Item 134:
Proposed programme budget: biennium 2014-2015 on the Capital master plan
Main Part of the Sixty-eighth Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset, my delegation would like to thank Mr. Michael Adlerstein, Assistant Secretary-General, Executive Director of the Capital master plan (CMP) project, Mr. Hugh O'Farrell, Director of External Audit (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and Chair of the Audit Operations Committee, Board of Auditors, Mr. Chandru Ramanathan, Deputy Controller, and Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, for introducing their respective reports on CMP. I wish to briefly outline my delegation’s views on this issue.
First of all, Japan welcomes the three major signs of progress achieved since last year; namely, (1) the successful completion and occupancy of the Secretariat Building, (2) the completion and occupancy of the Conference Building, and (3) the commencement of the renovation of the General Assembly Building. Japan is encouraged by the Secretary General’s assurances that the renovation of the General Assembly Building is projected to be completed in time for the General Debate of 2014. Japan highly values the frequent briefings held for the Member States by Mr. Takasu, Under-Secretary-General for Management and Mr. Adlerstein, in response to the request in last year’s General Assembly resolution on the CMP.
Second, Japan welcomes the Secretary General’s efforts to present updated information, options and financial implications pertaining to the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and South Annex Buildings. My delegation will thoroughly examine options on the treatment of these two buildings in the context of the Secretary General’s forthcoming proposals regarding the long-term accommodation needs of the United Nations Headquarters. While the Secretary General’s funding proposal on the project short-fall, which is reported to amount to $159.4 million, seems to remain a practical and the sole option for the Member States to adopt, my delegation will actively engage in the discussions on these proposals.
Third, Japan is of the view that it is imperative for the Secretary General to make his utmost efforts to further contain associated costs. In light of this, since the associated costs cannot, as the ACABQ pointed out, be fully ascertained at this stage, this committee would be better positioned to consider their financing at the first resumed session next year.
Finally Mr. Chairman, I would like to assure you that my delegation will participate actively in the consultations on this agenda item under your able guidance.
Thank you
