STATEMENT BY H.E. BURHAN GAFOOR, AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 110: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION, 3 OCTOBER 2017

Thank you Mr President,

1                 At the outset, I would like to extend our appreciation to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the report of the Work of the Organization, as contained in A/72/1, which is his first report since he assumed office as Secretary-General. 

2                 My delegation welcomes the report, which not only provides a sobering reminder of the multiple challenges facing the United Nations, but also highlights the important role that the United Nations is playing to address them.   There are many crises yet to be resolved, but the world would be worse off if not for the work of the United Nations.  As we heard from many Leaders during the General Debate, we need the United Nations more today than ever.  A universal, rules-based multilateral system is essential to solve the complex problems confronting the world.  No nation can solve trans-boundary problems alone.  The United Nations plays a critical role, as a platform for cooperation, based on the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and international law.

Mr President,

3                 My delegation is of the view that the figures and diagrams are a welcome addition in this year’s report of the Secretary-General.  These are very useful, and contribute significantly to highlighting the progress achieved over the past year.  For example, the improvement in the percentage of women heads or deputy heads of mission is clearly depicted in Figure IX, along with the significant way we have left to go before gender parity is achieved. 

4                 We also greatly appreciate the summary of the Secretary-General’s key initiatives in 2017, which appears right after the introduction in the report.  This list clearly demonstrates that Secretary-General has settled down immediately to tackle the multiple challenges head-on, and has taken steps to make the United Nations fit-for-purpose, and has outlined a clear vision on how the United Nations can do better.  We look forward to further updates on initiatives that have been instituted in 2017. 

Mr President,

5                 We would like to make three points with regard to the report of the Secretary-General. 

6                 First, we support the Secretary-General’s commitment to reform the United Nations to make it more effective, nimble and accountable, in order to improve delivery of the United Nations’ mandate, and to make a real impact to people on the ground.  We welcome in particular the Secretary-General’s drive to make the United Nations more transparent and accountable to the membership.  We share his view that the Organization must become more transparent and be able to much more visibly and meaningfully demonstrate a clearer link between resources and results.   In this regard, we see the annual report by the Secretary-General as an important mechanism of transparency and accountability.  We would therefore like to see the annual report improved further to focus on results, specifically on what the United Nations is doing to make a difference to people on the ground.   It would help if the report could include as an annex, a one-page outline of some of key statistics and figures on how the United Nations is making a positive impact globally over the past year.   This annex could then be used to positively profile the work of the organization.

7                 My second point is that, just as the report begins with a snapshot of the Secretary-General’s main initiatives, we would suggest that the report concludes with a concise list of the Secretary-General’s priorities and objectives for the upcoming year.  We understand that the list of priorities may change during the course of the year with the vagaries of international crises and developments.  However, a list of priorities for the upcoming year will be useful to allow Member States to better understand the key platforms in the Secretary-General’s agenda for the year, and more importantly, to allow us to objectively assess progress over the year.  For example, we welcome the Secretary-General’s commitment to achieving gender parity at the senior leadership by 2021, which is listed as one of the main initiatives of the Secretary-General for 2017.  The listing of such an explicit commitment not only communicates the Secretary-General’s priorities and goals in a clear and measurable manner, but also reflects a willingness on his part to be accountable to Member States for his actions and for his priorities.  It shows that the Secretary-General is willing to lead from the top to transform the Organization to be more focused on delivery and results rather than just process.

8                 My third and last point is that it is evident throughout the report that the Secretary-General places a lot of importance on effective partnerships between the United Nations and regional or sub-regional organizations, which often have a valuable understanding of the particular context and circumstances of the region.  In Southeast Asia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plays a critical role in securing regional peace as well as fostering regional economic integration.  We are pleased that the United Nations concluded a new plan of action with ASEAN in 2016.  The partnership must be strengthened, and we look forward to the Secretary-General’s visit to Manila for the upcoming ASEAN Summits in November 2017.  On Singapore’s part, as the incoming ASEAN Chair for 2018, Singapore is looking forward to working with the United Nations and the Secretary-General to explore new ways to enhance the partnership with ASEAN.   It is our hope, in this regard, that the annual report of the Secretary-General will devote greater attention next year to the partnerships that the United Nations has with different regional organizations around the world.  Ultimately it is important that the Secretary-General and the United Nations lay out a clear plan and pathway to build partnerships with regional and sub-regional organizations around the world in order to address the key global challenges of our times.

Mr President,

9                 In conclusion, Singapore strongly supports the work of the United Nations, which has made a significant difference in the lives of people all around the world.  We need to safeguard and strengthen our multilateral, rules-based system so that even the smallest country can survive and thrive as an independent, sovereign nation.  In this regard, the work of the United Nations and in particular the work of the Secretary-General is absolutely critical.  Singapore reiterates its support for the Secretary-General, and we look forward to continue working constructively with him, so that collectively, as the United Nations, we can construct a better future for our people.  

10               I thank you, Mr President.

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