STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS BY MS DIANA LEE, COUNSELLOR, PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 138: IMPROVING THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE FIFTH COMMITTEE, MAIN PART OF THE 73RD SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON 23 OCTOBER 2018

Thank you, Madam Chair. 

1                 I have the honour to speak on behalf of the 10 Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), on agenda item 138: Improving the financial situation of the United Nations.

2                 ASEAN thanks Ms Jan Beagle, Under-Secretary-General for Management, for her detailed presentation on the financial situation of the Organisation on 16 October 2018. We are also grateful to the Office of Contributions for updated information on the assessments of Member States, and their continued support to Member States.

3                 ASEAN aligns ourselves with the statement made by Egypt on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

Madam Chair,

4                 ASEAN is encouraged that more Member States are paying their regular budget and peacekeeping assessments in full this year, as compared to last year. ASEAN is cognizant of the difficulties that some Member States face in fulfilling their financial obligations, and this is added reason to commend these Member States for their efforts to pay their assessed contributions in spite of difficulties at home. We take this opportunity as well to express our appreciation to the Secretariat for progress in addressing outstanding payments owed to troop- and police-contributing countries, who put themselves in harm’s way for the cause of maintaining peace and security. 

Madam Chair,

5                 In order for the United Nations to function effectively, it is critical that the Organisation receives sufficient resources to fulfil the mandates given by Member States. Our Charter obligations create a pact between the Secretariat and Member States. As Member States, we come together to create mandates. Having created these mandates, we must then give the Secretary-General sufficient resources to implement them. The Secretariat has a responsibility to manage our resources efficiently and effectively. But Member States also have a responsibility to provide the Secretary-General with the resources to do the job we have given him.

6                 In this regard, ASEAN is disappointed that although more Member States are paying their assessments, we continue to find ourselves in a precarious financial situation. In fact, despite more Member States exerting efforts to pay their assessments, uncertainty in cashflow for the UN has grown. As reported by the Under-Secretary-General, deficits have become larger and occur earlier in the year. This year, we were confronted with a situation whereby the reserves from the Working Capital Fund and the Special Account were depleted, forcing the Secretariat to cover the shortfall by borrowing from closed peacekeeping operations. This is neither good budgetary practice, nor sustainable.

Madam Chair,

7                 ASEAN has studied the information provided by the Secretariat. It is clear that the UN’s financial uncertainty emanates from the non-payment of assessed contributions, and in some cases, the wilful, deliberate, and unilateral withholding of contributions, which has pushed the United Nations into its current predicament. Over half of all monies owed to the United Nations was owed by one Member State. As of the cut-off date of 30 September 2018, three permanent members of the Security Council had outstanding payments for peacekeeping assessments, including for missions where these same permanent members are penholders. We note the updated information on the latest payments made, including by major contributors, and we encourage them to continue this positive demonstration of their commitment to the cause of multilateralism and multilateral institutions. ASEAN reminds our colleagues that special responsibilities for peace and security are accompanied by financial responsibilities. It is the responsibility of all of us to honour our financial commitments to the United Nations, in full, on time, and without conditions.     

Madam Chair,

8                 In recent years, the share of assessed contributions borne by ASEAN countries has continued to rise. Even so, the 10 Member States of ASEAN remain committed to fulfilling our financial obligations to the Organisation. Assessed contributions are Charter obligations. Such obligations, solemnly entered into by Member States, must be upheld. Championing the cause of multilateralism must go beyond empty political statements, and must be backed by concrete action.

Madam Chair,

9                 ASEAN calls on all Member States to uphold our legal and political responsibilities to provide the Secretary-General with the resources he needs to implement mandates and bring reform to life. Only then can we ensure that the Organisation is adequately equipped to address the challenges it faces in a timely and effective manner. For our part, ASEAN reiterates our readiness to engage in constructive and inclusive deliberations so that we can find a sustainable and just resolution to the matter at hand.

I thank you, Madam Chair. 

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