Summary: EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: Programme budget for biennium 2006 - 2007, Strengthened and unified security management system (6 March 2007: New York)
Statement on behalf of the European Union, by Mr. Udo Fenchel, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Germany, on Agenda Item 117: Programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007, Strengthened and unified security management system, UNGA 5th Committee, New York
Thank you Mr Chairman,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Coun-tries Croatia, Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.
First of all we would like to express our thanks to Under Secretary-General, Sir David Veness, and all of his team in the Department of Safety and Security for updating the Committee on the latest developments in the sphere of security measures and the de-partment's efforts to provide safe and sound working conditions for the entire UN staff at major duty stations and in the field. We regret that the Committee has deferred this item a number of times and are concerned that this may be putting
the safety of staff at risk.
Given the importance of Safety and Security for maintaining and enhancing the well-being and productivity of UN Staff, this situation is regrettable and any further delay would simply be unsustainable. The European Union therefore considers the issue of Safety and Security as a priority in this resumed session paying tribute to our common responsibility towards UN staff.
We would also like to convey our appreciation to Chairman Rajat Saha and the other members of the ACABQ, who, through their recommendations articulated in report A/61/642, once again act as a most welcome beacon in the night. We think that with the helpful guidance of the ACABQ, we are now in a good position to move forward on this item.
As regards the standardized access control project, we recognize the intention to meet compliance with headquarters minimum operating security standards for perimeter protection and electronic access control. We reiterate our position that swift action is needed to achieve this goal. Nonetheless, we would welcome clarification on the financial resources needed to implement the first phase of the project and on the proposed conver-sion of temporary posts to established posts in the Security and
Safety Service.
The European Union appreciates the efforts of the High-level committee on Man-agement and the Inter-agency Security Management Network to further develop the cur-rent cost-sharing arrangements as regards Safety and Security expenditures. We look forward to hearing more advice and ideas to overcome the difficulties of the current sys-tem.
Finally, we would like to express our continued encouragement to Under Secretary-General, Sir David Veness, and his department. The European Union continues to stand ready to take on its responsibility for the Safety and Security of the United Nations.
Thank you Mr Chairman.
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