Statement on behalf of the European Union by Ms Aleška Simkić, Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations
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Mr Chairman,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countires of Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and the EFTA country Liechtenstein member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Georgia align themselves with this declaration.
Mr Chairman,
At the outset, let me thank Under-Secretary-General for Management, Ms. Alicia Barcena, and Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr. B. Lynn Pascoe for the presentation of the Secretary-General’s report on Strengthening of the Department of Political Affairs (A/62/521). Let me also thank the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), Ms. Susan McLurg, for her presentation of the committee’s related report (A/62/7/Add.32).
Mr. Chairman,
The European Union attaches great importance to the role of the United Nations in preventing and resolving conflicts, and we strongly support the work of the organisation in the area of preventive diplomacy.
While repeating our concern about the piecemeal approach to the regular budget for 2008-2009, the European Union recognizes that there are organisational and resource constraints in the Department of Political Affairs that limit its capacity to fulfil its tasks, and we look forward to discussing the proposal in front of us on its merits.
In strengthening the Department of Political Affairs, the aim of the European Union will be to fill gaps, avoid duplication and ensure a coordinated and a coherent approach to conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding across the United Nations system. The common objective of all of us should always be to ensure that the Organisation is able to deliver as a whole in the best and most efficient manner, therefore synergies as well as possible overlap need close attention.
Our focus will also be on striving towards cost effective and lean management, and on how to organize the change management process.
The European Union looks forward to discussing the report before us in detail and working constructively with all delegations in the course of informal consultations.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
*Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
