Statement on behalf of the European Union by Mr Borut Blaj, Third Secretary, Permanent Mission 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 Countries of the 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 and Armenia align themselves with this declaration.
At the outset, let me thank Controller, Mr. Warren Sach and the chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Budgetary and Administrative Questions, Ms. Susan McLurg for presenting there respective reports.
The European Union supports the view expressed in paragraph four of the report of ACABQ that the United Nations Financial Rules and Regulations make clear that the balance of any appropriations should be returned to Member States after a period of 12 months. The Committee came tantalizingly close to reaching agreement on this matter in the 61st session only for an arbitrary link to be made between the return of credits and re-imbursements from closed missions in cash deficit. We do not believe that such a link is appropriate.
The continued retention of funds is not acceptable. This also applies to outstanding liabilities in closed peacekeeping missions. Thus, the European Union once again urges all Member States to pay their outstanding contributions in full, on time and without conditions.
Mr. Chairman,
The European Union look forward to engaging fully with colleagues on this issue with a view to agreeing an acceptable way forward which would allow for the balances from closed Peacekeeping Missions to be returned to the Member States to which it rightfully belongs.
Mr. Chairman,
Turning now to the subject of the consolidation of Peacekeeping accounts. The European Union believes this is an important part of the modernisation of the UN secretariat as it would give the Secretary General greater flexibility in using Peacekeeping Operations resources. At the same time it would bring more timely reimbursement to troop contributing countries and would reduce bureaucracy.
I thank you Mr. Chairman.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
