STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS BY H.E. MR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 138: PROPOSED PROGRAMME BUDGET 2023 – SPECIAL POLITICAL MISSIONS, AT THE MAIN PART OF THE 77TH SESSION OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK, 14 OCTOBER 2022

Thank you, Mr Chair.

1 I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on this agenda item on special political missions.

2 ASEAN thanks Assistant Secretary-General and Controller Mr Chandra Ramanathan, for introducing the report of the Secretary-General on estimates in respect of special political missions (A/77/6 (Sect.3)/Add.1), and Mr Abdallah Bachar Bong, Chair of the ACABQ, for introducing the ACABQ’s report on this issue.  ASEAN also thanks our colleagues working in challenging environments in the various special political missions around the world

Mr Chair,

3 ASEAN supports the crucial role played by special political missions in responding to global security challenges. Given the uncertain state of the world today, special political missions remain a nimble and effective way to help maintain international peace and security.  It is therefore important that this Committee provides special political missions with adequate resources to fulfil their mandates. 

4 The effectiveness of special political missions continues to be undermined by the current sub-optimal funding modality. ASEAN is disappointed that this Committee has continued to ignore the recommendations of the ACABQ and the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations to reform existing arrangements.  If we are serious about allowing special political missions to operate optimally and effectively – which they must, to keep up with the challenges of today’s political, economic, and social landscape – we need to provide them with the resources they require to succeed.

5 In this regard, ASEAN strongly urges the Committee to implement the funding and backstopping recommendations proposed by the ACABQ in its report of 13 December 2011, which remain relevant today.  This includes the creation of a separate account aligned with the budgetary cycle for peacekeeping operations, which would create a buffer between the funding of special political missions and persistent liquidity issues experienced by the regular budget.  The regular budget cycle does not suit special political missions, given that the mandates of these missions are created and extended during off-cycle months, and most backstopping support for these missions are drawn from UN Secretariat departments funded by the peacekeeping budget.  There should also be better coordination between special political missions, peacekeeping operations, and other peacebuilding activities.

Mr Chair,

6 We have pointed out time and again that the vast majority of special political missions are created through the mandate of the United Nations Security Council, including large field-based missions that are similar to peacekeeping operations. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to ask those with greater influence over decision-making to establish special political missions, the Permanent Members specifically, to shoulder greater responsibility for the funding of special political missions. As the General Assembly has repeatedly reaffirmed in resolutions, “the special responsibilities of the Permanent Members in the Security Council for the maintenance of peace and security should be borne in mind in connection with their contributions to the financing of peace and security operations.”

Mr Chair,

7 To conclude, ASEAN remains committed to improving the effectiveness of special political missions.  We look forward to productive discussions on enhancing the effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of funding for these missions.  Thank you. 

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