STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS BY MR MARK SEAH, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 140: IMPROVING THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE UN, AT THE MAIN PART OF THE 77TH SESSION OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK, 21 OCTOBER 2022

Mr Chair,

1 I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on agenda item 140: Improving the Financial Situation of the UN. ASEAN aligns itself with the statement delivered by Pakistan on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2 ASEAN thanks the Secretary-General and his team for their updates on the financial situation of the organisation. The recent briefings by the Secretariat on this issue clearly indicate that the financial challenges of the organisation are due to late payment of assessed contributions. ASEAN reiterates the urgent need for all member states to abide by their legal and financial obligations to pay their assessments in full, on time, and without conditions. We recognise that some member states face genuine difficulties in paying their assessed contributions due to factors beyond their control. We commend member states who, despite these difficulties, endeavour to meet their obligations to the UN.

3 Earlier this year, we were heartened by the Secretariat’s update that we had started 2022 in a better financial position.  To further assist the financial situation of the organisation and help address some structural problems affecting the liquidity situation, the Fifth Committee expended a great deal of effort in June this year to approve, among other measures, the increase of the Working Capital Fund by an additional $100 million using a part of the credits returnable to member states in 2023. But we are disappointed to learn that despite the momentum from these positive developments, the Secretariat had to borrow $150 million from the Working Capital Fund this September as some payments to the regular budget remained outstanding. Failure to fulfil our financial obligations and to do so on time affects mandate delivery and undermines the effectiveness of the organisation.

4  For peacekeeping operations, we note from the briefings that the quarterly aggregate cash balance of active missions remains on a downward trend. Measures such as advanced assessments and the continuation of cash-pooling have helped the financial situation, including in the payment of dues owed to troops and police contributing countries. But as with the regular budget, the root cause of liquidity problems can only be addressed if member states fulfil their financial obligations to the UN and do so on time. 

5 In the final quarter of this year, the number of member states that have paid in full for the regular budget now stands at 134. By the time this quarter ends, we hope to surpass the number of 153 member states that did so by the end of last year. We further note from USG Catherine Pollard’s briefing that the number of member states that have paid all assessed contributions in full as of mid-October now stands at 40, six fewer than the same time last year.

6 At a time when multilateralism is sorely needed to address global challenges, let us redouble efforts to ensure that the United Nations has predictable and adequate resources to carry out the work that we ourselves have charted for the organisation. ASEAN remains strongly committed to fulfilling our financial obligations to the organisation, so that it may implement the mandates that we set out for it. We hope that all member states will do likewise.  

7 Thank you.

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