Permanent Missionof Japanto the United Nations
8 6 6 U n i t c d N a t i o n s P l a z a , N e w Y o r k1 N 0Y .7 h o n e : ( 2 12 2 34 1 0 0 . w w w . u n . i n t i j a p a n / ,0. 1P 21 JAPAN

['ress Release

(checkagainstdelivery) Statement Ambassador by Kenzo Oshima ManagementReform Fifth Committee,June 19.2006 Mr. Chairman, Japanis strongly committed to strengthen United Nations through serious the reforms aiming at enhanced transparency, accountabilityand a more effective and efficient administrationof its human and financial resources. Our leaders at the World Summit last Septemberagreed on the need to achieve these objectivesand it is incumbentupon us to implement them in a processthat is consistent and within a reasonable timeframe. My delegation welcomes the report of the Secretary-Generalentitled "Investing in the United Nations" and wishes to thank Mr. Warren Sach, Controller, and Mr. Saha, Chairman of the ACABe, for introducing their detailed reports to the Committee. The Fifth Committee bears a crucial responsibility in this regard and must make an utmost effort to deliver concrete results in the short term, before June 30, and in the mid- to longer-term. Issues of managementreform to which my delegation attachesparticular importanceand a high priority include, (a) reform in the procurement area,(b) modernizing the information and communication technology (ICT) architecture, and (c) limited discretion to the Secretary-General the in redeployment resources posts. of and we regard to the procurement reform, we look forward to the Secretary-General's detailed report that is expectedlater this month, and we look forward to a serious discussion this importantitem as soonas possible. on On the ICT systemsmodernization,which is an essentialtool for efficient resourcemanagement the Organization,we recognizethe needfor a senior of

manageras the focal point of all ICT activities throughoutthe Secretariat. To this end, we support the proposal to establishthe post of Chief Information TechnologyOfficer to lead planning and implementationof new ICT system. The personshouldhave strongprofessional experience and managerial ability. Mr. Chairman, Today my delegation would like to focus on the issue of discretionary authority of the Secretary-General budget implementation,accompanied in by increasedaccountability.This is a matter that my delegation,along with other delegations, has arguedfor over the last severalmonths as an important pillar in the overall Secretariatmanagement reform. The General Assembly in its "recognized the need resolution 60/246 for limited discretion in budgetary implementation for the Secretary-General within defined parametersto be agreedby the GeneralAssembly along with clear accountabilitymechanisms to the Assemblyfor its use." Member Statesrecognizedthe need for some discretionaryauthority for the Secretary-General over budget. The question is over to what extent, under what conditions,and with what accountability. The authority currently granted to the Secretary-General under General Assembly resolution 581270and 601246is redeploymentof up to 50 posts, which was necessary meet the to emergingneedof the Organization. This authority, however, is not being fully utilized, largely due to a lack of funding to support it. Instead, its implementation is in effect left to bureaucraticwheeling and dealing among program managersin which they are expectedto give up voluntarily the posts they control. We all know from experience that, in reality, such an arrangementis, even with the best of intentions,unlikely to producethe desiredoutcome.And somepractical ways will need to be found to addressthe gapsfor effective implementationof the discretionaryauthority of the Secretary-General. In his detailedreport, the Secretary-General presented proposalsthat include: (a) transfersbetweenbudgetsectionswithin parts of the budget,by ,rp to l\Vo, within a budget period; and (b) redeployment, reclassification and conversion

of posts to be authorizedby up to I}Vo of posts within and between three broadcategories posts. of While appreciatingthe desirethat promptedthoseproposals,in our view they appearto be ratherambitiousand broad in scopeto be generallyacceptable. At this juncture, we believe a more discreetand modestapproachis more likely to lead to a consensus agreement, a formula strikesa right balancebetween if the Secretary-General's aspiration to be more managerially responsibleand Member States'call for more accountabilityto the GeneralAssembly. Guided by this consideration,my delegationwould like to make a concrete proposal along the following lines: first, the Secretary-General should be given a modestdiscretionin budget implementationto utilize the savingsthat derive from vacancy rate gaps between projected vacancy rates and actual vacancyrates;second" resources the savingsthat the SG is authorizedto the in utilize would be within a ceiling of up to 1- 2Voof post costs;third, the SG can use theseresourcesto meet the emerging priority needsof the Organization, such as filling temporary posts and providing general temporary assistance and related operationalcosts, in order to attain the mandatedprograms and activities; forth, this flexibility would be exercisedwith prior concurrenceof ACABQ, which acts on behalf of the General Assembly, and Secretary-General report on the utilization of this authority to the General will Assembly in the context of the performancereports; fifth and finally, this limited discretionwould be grantedon an experimental basis. My delegation hopes that this proposal will be consideredfavorably in the Committee, and we look forward to a constructivedialogue and negotiations among Member Statesso that we will be able to reachagreement a specific on measureto provide the Secretary-General with limited discretionin budgetary implementationaccompanied a clear mechanism accountability. by for Mr. Chairman, I would like now to briefly touch upon another aspect contained in the Secretary-General's report included in paragraph Il2 (b) to (i) of A1601846/Add.3 in other related proposals, regard to the consolidation and in

of peacekeepingaccounts. My delegation has serious doubts about the proposed consolidation. We also have concern that that consolidation of peacekeepingaccounts could also have negative effect on some Member States'obligation to pay their arrears. While the consolidationof peacekeeping accountscould have somebeneficial effect, up to a certain degree,in terms of timely reimbursement troop- and to police-contributing countries, my delegation would hasten to add that the more fundamentaland underlying causeof delayed reimbursementto TCCs has been the non-payment of assessedcontributions by Member States. Without paymentsby Member Statesthis issuecannotbe solved. Peacekeeping operationshave a unique budget and assessment arrangement. justified by individual Assessed contributionfor eachpeacekeeping mission is Council decision to createa mandate.A Council decision on a peacekeeping mandatethen allows the issuanceof assessment letters to Member Statesfor each mission. In other words, the requirement of both individual Security corresponding such action to Council decisionfor a mandateand assessments must be strictly observedand any blurring of this requirementwould create difficulties for certain Member States,including my own, to justify payment of assessments. Treating individual peacekeeping operation as a section of the total peacekeeping budget, as if in the case of the regular budget is, in our view, unfounded and lacks justification. Furthermore, as the ACABQ correctly points out, the scopeand quality of information provided on the financing of peacekeeping operationsshould not be diminished. This applies to both the reportson PKO. budgetsand the performance My delegation would not be ready to accept the proposalsas containedin paragraph112 (b) to (i) of the report of the Secretary-General the reasons for on statedabove.We would, however,be open-minded efforts to find technical adjustmentsto enablethe Secretary-General utilize assessed to contributions operations a more efficient and optimal way. in for peacekeeping Thank you.