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Statement by Mr. Hiroshi Onuma

First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

 

Agenda item 133: Programme Budget biennium 2014-2015

Second Performance Report

 

Fifth Committee

Main Part of the Seventieth Session

of the United Nations General Assembly

16 December 2015

 

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

            At the outset, I would like to thank Ms. Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, Assistant Secretary-General and Controller, and Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), for introducing their respective reports on the second performance report of the programme budget for the biennium 2014-2015. I wish to briefly outline my delegation’s views on this issue.

 

            My delegation notes that the projected expenditure for the biennium 2014-2015 is estimated at $5.8083 billion dollars, representing a decrease of $23.6 million dollars compared to the revised appropriation of $5.8319 billion dollars, owing to changes in exchange rates, inflation rates and so forth.

 

            However, my delegation has some questions and comments on the second performance report and would like to discuss it in the informal meeting, in particular on the following three issues:

 

            First, my delegation would like to receive a more detailed explanation from the Secretariat regarding the projected increased expenditures for both post and non-post resource requirements, including the categories of general operating expenses and improvement of premises.

 

            Second, my delegation would like to know how the Secretariat has implemented the relevant resolutions on air travel, including Part IV of General Assembly Resolution 69/274 A, and why the savings and efficiencies that have been achieved thereby were not as much as expected.

 

            Third, my delegation strongly requests the Secretary-General not to allow any last minute, unnecessary spending by any departments or offices.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

            I would like to assure you that my delegation will participate actively and constructively in the consultations on this agenda item under your able guidance.

 

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.