(As delivered)
Statement by Mr. Noboru Sekiguchi,
Minister, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
On Agenda Item 24: Operational Activities for Development
Second Committee of the 69th Session of the General Assembly
29 October 2014
Madam Chair,
At the outset, I would like to join other delegations in offering my deepest condolences to Zambia on the pasted-away of its honorable President Michael Sata. Then, now I would like to thank the Secretary-General and his team for preparing their reports under Agenda Item 24: Operational Activities for Development.
(Quadrennial comprehensive policy review)
It has been almost two years since GA resolution 67/226 on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) was adopted. Japan attaches great importance to the QCPR, as it is the primary means of evaluating the effectiveness of the entire UN system's operational activities for development. Over the past two years, we have observed significant progress in response to the QCPR.
Japan appreciates the effort by the UN development system to develop a new, single, coherent and comprehensive monitoring and reporting framework on the QCPR with its full ownership. We also welcome those UN entities who have aligned the timing and content of their strategic plans with the QCPR, and we hope that those UN entities who have not yet done so will soon follow suit.
We are also grateful to see progress toward the simplification and harmonization of business practices among UN entities, including the establishment of a pilot "One UN service center" in Brazil, the conclusions of inter-agency framework agreements regarding the provision of support services at the country level, and a proposal on the common definition of operating costs and a common system of cost control.
Madam Chair,
The QCPR also talks about the issue of funding, and we all are aware of the importance of increasing financial contributions to the UN's operational activities. While Japan fully appreciates the importance of core resources, we wish to point out that the debate on the balance between core and non-core resources should not lead to the tragic consequence of a decrease in the total amount of resources. The effective use of non-core resources, as an important complement to core resources, should be properly considered in the discussion of the issue of funding to operational activities. Japan would also appreciate efforts by UN entities in utilizing both core and non-core resources effectively and efficiently, in accordance with their strategic plans, to deliver greater impact on developing countries.
Madam Chair,
The issues that the QCPR addresses are crucial for the UN development system to be able to contribute to achieving internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs. They should also be consistent with the forthcoming Post-2015 Development Agenda, which is to be adopted in September 2015.
(South-South and triangular cooperation)
Madam Chair,
We all are also aware that a renewed global partnership is essential for the Post-2015 Development Agenda. In this regard, this year has been a remarkable one for South-South and triangular cooperation, as the 18th High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation, as well as the PGA High-Level event on South-South Cooperation both took place in May, here at the UN.
Japan has always been a supporter of South-South and triangular cooperation. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Japan's Official Development Assistance. 60 years ago, Japan was indeed still a developing country; but even then we started providing cooperative assistance to other developing countries, which would now be called South-South cooperation. Japan is also a pioneer in fostering triangular cooperation, with 40 years of experience.
Let me give you an example. In several countries in Latin America, the idea of "Koban", or direct community policing, which had originated in Japan, has been achieving impressive results. In the State of São Paulo in Brazil, 70% decrease in the homicide rate has been achieved in 12 years from 1999 to 2011. With Japanese financial support, Brazil has hosted a number of seminars and training courses for police officials from 5 Central American countries, namely El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, to introduce "Koban" policing.
From our experience, we know that South-South and triangular cooperation benefits developing countries not only through the transfer of technology and knowledge, but also by supporting their accumulation of experiences in implementation and developing their capacities as development partners.
In order to achieve the Post-2015 Development Agenda, all Member States must work together toward the common goal of sustainable development; Japan, as a country once of the so-called South and now of the so-called North, would like to point out that it is not necessarily useful to spend too much time discussing who is North and who is South. The UN development system itself is a very important player in development, but it can also serve as a catalyst to bring together all stakeholders including Member States, other institutions, the private sector, and civil society and philanthropic organizations.
I thank you.
