STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS,

Thank you very much, Mr Chair.

1               Let me begin by saying how pleased I am to see a good friend and my brother, the Permanent Representative of Nigeria, chairing this very important Committee. Indeed, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. ASEAN aligns itself with the statement just delivered by the Permanent Representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2               We congratulate you, Chair, and the members of the Bureau on your election. You can all count on ASEAN’s full support and cooperation as we begin the work of the Fifth Committee at the 81^st session of the General Assembly. We also thank the previous Chair and members of the Bureau, as well as members of the Secretariat, including our dear Controller who has joined us this morning, for their hard work.

Mr Chair,

3               The multilateral system, anchored by the United Nations (UN) and founded on the principles of the UN Charter and international law, is fundamental to all countries, large and small. Everything that we do in the Fifth Committee must be aimed at strengthening the UN and supporting its work across its three pillars. We also need a UN that is effective, responsive, and one that is able to deliver for our people.

4               The UN is going through a period of renewal and transition. The good news is that our organisation has already undertaken significant reforms over the past year. This work must continue this year and beyond. In a few months’ time, a new Secretary-General will be at the helm. This is an opportunity to build on these efforts and accelerate the momentum for reform and renewal. At the same time, we must ensure that the Organisation is well equipped to implement the decisions we adopt and deal with the many challenges ahead.

5               The Fifth Committee has an important role to play in these reform efforts, because a strong multilateral system must rest on equally strong financial foundations. In this regard, we wish to make the following points.

6               First, the payment of assessed contributions is a Charter obligation. In an organisation founded on the rule of law, the payment of assessed contributions must also be subject to the rule of law. When assessed contributions are not paid in full and on time, this Organisation will not be able to do what we have mandated it to do. We cannot create mandates without providing the resources needed to implement them. It is therefore the responsibility of all Member States to fulfil their financial obligations in full, on time, and without conditions.

7               Second, we must spend wisely. Every dollar entrusted to the UN comes from its Member States. We have a responsibility to ensure that these resources are well spent. This requires us to examine existing systems and practices and find ways to make them more efficient and cost effective. We must cut down on duplication, waste, and inefficiency. We have a collective responsibility to ensure that the resources of the UN are directed towards making an impact on the ground.

8               ASEAN supports efforts under the UN80 initiative to streamline processes, reduce duplication, and improve efficiency. Financial prudence is not about cutting for the sake of cutting. It is about making better use of limited resources, with a clear focus on implementation, mandate delivery, and impact on the ground.

9               It also means getting our financial rules right. Earlier this year, the UN faced the prospect of returning credits arising from resources that had never been received, and therefore could never have been spent. ASEAN therefore welcomes the agreement reached by the Fifth Committee in June on a revised methodology for the return of credits.

10           Third, we must focus on delivery and impact. This means we have to streamline bureaucracy, reduce layers, and improve coherence and coordination. The purpose of the UN budget is not to sustain structures for their own sake. It is to deliver the mandates that Member States have agreed. Reform should reduce unnecessary administrative burdens and direct resources to where they can have the greatest impact.

Mr Chair,

11           We have a substantial agenda before us. ASEAN will engage constructively in our deliberations on the programme budget, the UN Common System, Special Political Missions, construction and property management, and the subvention to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.

12           As we begin our work, we must keep in mind that this Committee’s responsibility goes beyond numbers. A budget is ultimately a statement of what we expect the UN to do – and whether we are prepared to give it the means to do so. Our task is not simply to spend more, or to spend less. It is to spend better. Our goal is to build a UN that is efficient, financially sustainable, and fit for purpose. Above all, our goal is to build a UN that delivers.

13           ASEAN stands ready to work with all delegations towards this, and has no doubt, Chair, that under your leadership, the work of this Committee will be productive and successful.

14           Thank you.

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