STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS BY MS. CELINE TEO, DELEGATE OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 139: PROPOSED PROGRAMME BUDGET 2025 – SPECIAL POLITICAL MISSIONS, AT THE MAIN PART OF THE 79TH SESSION OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK, 9 OCTOBER 2024

Mdm 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 Mr Chandru Ramanathan, Assistant Secretary-General and Controller, for introducing the report of the Secretary-General on estimates in respect of Special Political Missions (A/79/6 (Sect 3)).

Mdm Chair,

3 ASEAN fully supports the critical role played by Special Political Missions in sustaining long-term peace and security, especially as global tensions are on the rise. The expansion in the number, scope, and size of Special Political Missions demonstrate the importance of these missions in responding to current security challenges. Given the uncertain and complex state of the world today, it is essential that this Committee provides Special Political Missions with adequate resources to ensure their effectiveness in fulfilling their mandates.

4 ASEAN therefore reiterates our support for 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. We maintain our view that the existing financing arrangements have made it challenging for Special Political Missions to respond optimally amidst an increasingly complex security landscape. It is particularly disappointing that this Committee has yet to act on these recommendations for more than ten years.

5 In this regard, ASEAN strongly calls on the Committee to implement the funding and backstopping recommendations proposed by the ACABQ in its report of 13 December 2011. The recommendations are still relevant today. This includes the establishment of a separate account aligned with the budget cycle for peacekeeping operations. The regular budget cycle does not suit Special Political Missions because most backstopping support for these missions are drawn from UN Secretariat departments funded by the peacekeeping operations budget. Furthermore, by aligning with the peacekeeping operations budget cycle, Special Political Missions would be shielded from the constant liquidity issues which affect the regular budget.

Mdm Chair,

6 As we have observed previously, the latest authorising mandates of a vast majority of Special Political Missions are created through the decision of the Security Council, in which the Permanent Members bear special responsibilities. The General Assembly has repeatedly reaffirmed in resolutions 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] It follows that those who have greater influence over peace and security operations should bear more responsibility for Special Political Missions and their funding. ASEAN therefore reiterates our support for Special Political Missions to be funded through the peacekeeping operations scale, rather than the regular budget, to ensure the stability and effectiveness of their peacebuilding activities.

7 ASEAN reaffirms our continued commitment to the effective functioning of Special Political Missions. We are also grateful for our colleagues working in challenging environments in the various Special Political Missions around the world. We look forward to a productive discussion on how we can improve the effectiveness of the financing arrangement for these missions. Thank you.

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^[1]          A/RES/1874 (S-IV).