Summary: March 15, 2002: Statement by Mr. Daniel Soto on behalf of the European Union on improving the financial situation of the United Nations (New York)
Thank you Mr. Chairman,
I have the honour of speaking on behalf of the European Union.
The European Union would like to thank Mr. Connor for his presentation and for his unstinting efforts this year and throughout his tenure to work for an improvement in the financial management of this Organisation. It is a difficult task, which Mr. Connor has performed with outstanding dedication.
We welcome the improved position in UN finances, an objective towards which the EU has worked consistently and will continue to do so.
Mr. Chairman,
The key element to sustaining that improvement is prompt payment by all Member States of their financial contributions. We noted with regret that the number of countries paying their regular budget contributions in full declined in 2001, reversing a seven year trend. And the very small margin of regular budget cash at year end, and the high level of unpaid peacekeeping assessments underlines continuing precariousness in the financial situation. Conversely, the EU would like to comment on the
efforts of the Government of the Russian Federation to honour its commitment to pay its arrears in peacekeeping in full following its five- year plan.
The need for cross-borrowing to pay for tribunals costs underlines that the situation remains far from satisfactory. The EU had hoped that the days of cross-borrowing were now behind us.
Mr. Chairman,
The EU renews its call therefore for all Member States to respect their legal obligations to the UN and, above all, for the largest contributor to take all measures to address what is an alarming and damaging level of arrears owed to this Organisation. This is the main cause for what Mr. Connor has described as the "very fragile" financial position which we confront today. All those countries awaiting reimbursement have a right to expect to receive what is rightly theirs without any further
delay.
We note the challenges ahead of us all, including the need to pay for increased security and the need to take forward options for structural improvement to the UN building, the financing for which must ultimately be the obligation of the host country.
Peacekeeping remains a central component of the UN's activities. We support unreservedly UN peacekeeping, but we will continue to work to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of how it is financed. We will return to that particular issue at the second resumed session.
Mr. Chairman,
We thank Mr. Connor again, and look forward to a continuation of the steady improvement over which he has presided.
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