Statement by Mr. Hiroshi Onuma

First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

On agenda item 134: Air Travel

First-Resumed Part of the Sixty-sixth Session

United Nations General Assembly

15 March 2012

 

 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

 

At the outset, I would like to thank Mr. Warren Sach, Assistant-Secretary-General of Central Support Services and Officer-in-Charge Department of Management, and Mr. Collen Kelapile, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). 

 

     My delegation commends the efforts of the Secretariat for the effective and efficient utilization of resources for air travel in the United Nations.  My delegation believes that the proposed measures constitute an important step forward in the right direction.

 

My delegation welcomes the introduction of the Secretary General’s report (A/66/676) under this familiar agenda item as well as the report of ACABQ (A/66/739)

 

     While welcoming the Secretary General’s proposal for modifying conditions for granting the business class trip, my delegation would like to consider whether further steps can be taken in this regard.  As for a formal programme that manages frequent flyer miles (FFM) for official travel, my delegation notes the Secretary General’s extensive study on this matter, but would like to seek further clarification on the feasibility of such a programme.

 

Japan is ready to engage constructively in discussions on this agenda, referring to our experiences in this regard.

 

 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.