Source: http://www.un.int/usa/06_098.htm http://www.un.int/usa/06_098.htm
Date: April 28, 2006

United States Mission to the United Nations
USUN PRESS RELEASE # 98 (06) 
April 28, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Explanation of Vote by Ambassador Bolton on the Resolution Proposed by the G-77 and China, in the Fifth Committee, April 28, 2006
Thank you Mr. Chairman.   
First, I would like to say, on behalf of the United States, that even though we disagreed with the L37 text, that we respect the position take by the G-77 and China.  We respect the tenacity with which they argued for their position.  We respect the good faith in which they conducted negotiations in an effort to reach consensus.  And we respect the fact that they stuck to their position; it is an honorable thing to do.  
Mr. Chairman, during the course of our discussions this week, a number of countries drafted a letter to the President of the General Assembly, Ambassador Eliasson.  And I would like to read that letter dated April 27:
Excellency, 
We wish to bring to your attention an urgent problem that has arisen in the context of management and reform.  You are well aware of the background to our negotiation on the Secretary General’s report:  “Investing in the United Nations for a stronger organization worldwide” and the difficult path they have pursued.   You know the depth of the feeling of the issues and the many efforts that have been made to find agreement.  
There is now a resolution tabled by the Group of 77 and China in the 5th Committee, which the Group of 77 and China believes could be the basis for consensus.  We have to underline that this draft resolution is not acceptable to us.  By convention, those who propose resolutions in the 5th Committee do so when they believe conditions for adoption without dispute have been established, that is not the case now.  
We stand ready to work for true consensus on a mutually agreeable text.  We are prepared to conclude our discussions in the 5th Committee by reporting back to you that we were unable to reach a consensus.  Forcing a decision on a non-consensual resolution would trigger a vote; this would leave us no alternative but to vote against the Group of 77 and China Draft Resolution.  
We are concerned that a vote under these circumstances could entail considerable disadvantages for the United Nations, for this proposal and for the budget process.  Therefore, we hope that you could continue to assist us in taking this forward in a way which permits us to find consensus on this important issue.  
 
The letter, Mr. Chairman, was signed by the representatives of the following governments: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.   
Mr. Chairman, absent top to bottom management reform, the United Nations will continue to be ill-equipped to meet the current demands that we as member states place upon the organization.  The United States is committed to pursuing necessary management reforms to ensure that the United Nations remains an effective, efficient, transparent, and accountable organization.  As such, the United States is joined by many other states in voting ‘no’ against the Resolution tabled by the Group of 77 and China.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.