Original Source: http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/press_releases/20071222_387.html

USUN PRESS RELEASE #   387(07)
December 22, 2007 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Office of Press and Public Diplomacy 
United States Mission to the United Nations 
140 East 45th Street 
New York, N.Y. 10017

Explanation of vote by Ambassador Mark Wallace, United States Ambassador for management reform, on Agenda item 128: Questions relating to the proposed program budget for the biennium 2008-2009, in the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly 


Thank you Mr.Chairman,
Thank you all for the incredible work during session. My country also expresses sincere thanks to the extraordinary work of the fifth committee coordinator for this item Mr. Alejandro Torres of Argentina. Finally I thank all of the delegates who worked hard and who did a fine job in identifying real cuts to this initial 2008-2009 UN budget. Although this statement is ostensibly on the UN budget, we believe the most accurate characterization of the resolution before us is an initial budget. Why is that? From the outset of our consideration of this matter my country joined with the broader UN membership to express our concern over the piece meal and ad hoc approach presented by the 2008-2009 UN budget. Moreover, we joined in proposals by the broader UN membership that emphasized that some 75% of the UN budget is comprised of staff costs.
Today we adopt in essence an initial appropriation of $4.2 billion. We applaud all those delegations that worked hard to get this initial appropriation down to a manageable level. However, we know that there are significant and many budget items deferred and we know that other budget add-ons are in the pipe-line. Accordingly, we are concerned that the final 2008-2009 budget for the biennium will be significantly higher than this initial budget. We appreciate the commitments expressed by the PGA, the Secretary-General and many Member States to vigorously adhere to the principle of real and credible fiscal discipline in the adoption of the final budget. We will work constructively to that end.
Finally Mr. Chairman, we could not support this budget resolution because this budget today contains funding to what we refer colloquially to as the Durban 2 Conference. Our political sentiments have been clearly expressed on this revisiting of an event that was noxious to my country and a disgrace in the International Community. Unfortunately, the objectionable political agenda that seeks to revisit Durban has seeped into the fifth committee. This committee is a body of technical experts. We do not pursue policy agenda's here. Unfortunately the budgetary matter on Durban 2 - the purported PBI - is fundamentally and fatally flawed. These technical flaws - unprecedented in the history of this committee - did not dissuade the political advocates from pursuing the misguided agenda of Durban 2 without regard to the rules, policies, procedures and practices of the committee. We are disappointed in this abuse of the work of the fifth committee for these r! easons.
With our dear and well founded concerns on the piecemeal nature of the budget, concerns on the potential growth in the final 2008-2009 biennium budget and the straw that broke the camel's back - the PBI on Durban 2 - we cannot support this budget. Again I truly thank the many delegates and members of the Secretariat that worked constructively but in vain to an acceptable outcome.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.