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 134: PROPOSED PROGRAMME BUDGET 2024 – SPECIAL POLITICAL MISSIONS, AT THE MAIN PART OF THE 78TH SESSION OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK, 4 OCTOBER 2023

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 of Special Political Missions. I would also like to convey our best wishes as you lead this Committee, and assure you of our full support.

2 I thank Ms Maria Costa, Director of the Finance Division of the Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget, for introducing the reports of the Secretary-General on estimates in respect of Special Political Missions. We also thank Mr Jakub Chmielewski, Vice-Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), for introducing the ACABQ’s report on the same.

Mr Chair,

3 ASEAN is a strong supporter of the vital role played by Special Political Missions in maintaining international peace and security, particularly amid the current global backdrop of war and tension. The expansion in number, scope, and size of Special Political Missions reflects their importance. We should therefore ensure that these missions are given adequate resources to effectively fulfil their mandates.

4 For this reason, ASEAN has consistently supported the recommendations of the ACABQ and the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations to reform the funding and backstopping arrangements for Special Political Missions. The current financing arrangements have made it difficult for Special Political Missions to function effectively and keep up with the new and complex challenges of today.

5 ASEAN urges the Committee to implement the funding and backstopping arrangements proposed by the ACABQ in its report A/66/7/Add.21, which remain relevant today. This includes the creation of a separate account aligned with the peacekeeping operations budget cycle. The regular budget cycle is unsuitable given that most backstopping support for Special Political Missions are drawn from UN Secretariat departments funded by the peacekeeping budget. Tagging to the peacekeeping budget cycle could also protect Special Political Missions from liquidity issues that constantly plague the regular budget.

6 Further, the vast majority of Special Political Missions draw their mandates from the Security Council. This includes large field-based missions that are reminiscent of peacekeeping operations. The General Assembly has reaffirmed that 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”.[1] Those with larger influence over peace operations, and this includes Special Political Missions, should shoulder a larger responsibility for their funding. We therefore see every reason for Special Political Missions to be funded through the peacekeeping operations budget, and no reason why Special Political Missions should continue to be funded through the regular budget.

7 ASEAN remains committed as always to the effective functioning of Special Political Missions. We are grateful to our colleagues working in challenging environments in such missions around the world, and look forward to having a constructive discussion on how we can better support their work in these missions. Thank you.

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