Statement by Ms Shannon White, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations on behalf of Canada, Australia and New Zealand to the United Nations Fifth Committee, regarding the Program Budget: Biennium 2008-2009: Capital Master Plan, delivered on 10 November 2009.
(as delivered)
Madam Chair
I have the honour to speak on behalf of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I thank the ASG for the CMP, the Board of Auditors, the ACABQ Chair and the Secretariat for introducing their relevant reports on the CMP.
CANZ countries are strong supporters of the CMP, and we welcome progress to date towards a safer, healthier and more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable UN building complex.
Madam Chair
CANZ delegations are naturally concerned that the CMP is coming in over-budget. We welcome ongoing efforts to bring it back into line, including through design and value engineering exercises. We would urge the project to continue in this vein and welcome ongoing detailed information on progress to this effect. We also recognise the solid cash position of the project.
Our delegations thank the Board of Auditors for their report. The oversight function the Board provides is very valuable and we take seriously their observations about the need to address gaps in internal control. We also look forward to hearing further justification of the Secretariat’s decision to withdraw the requirement for ex post facto review of contractual amendments and procurement processes. In addition, we note the Board has indicated that they believe it is unlikely that the CMP budget will be able to absorb associated costs, and we look forward to hearing more about this in the informals.
CANZ countries will look closely at the needs of the project related to safety and security. This is an important matter, and one in which we are particularly interested. We will therefore be examining closely these requirements, including in the context of the safety and security fascicle of the regular budget for the biennium 2010-2011.
Madam Chair
CANZ delegations believe that it is of the utmost importance that the United Nations fully respect and reflect its mandates at all times and in all areas. This includes the Capital Master Plan. We note that a lack of appropriate facilities for persons with disabilities has been a serious deficiency of the present building. We commend, therefore, the CMP project for its ongoing efforts to fully comply with, and in some cases exceed, the relevant design standards for the needs of persons with disabilities. The United Nations Headquarters should be a leading example of full compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Our delegations would also take this opportunity to express our hope that the CMP will provide for appropriate facilities for nursing mothers. We also welcome and urge ongoing efforts to encourage a healthier workforce through improved implementation of the non-smoking regulations.
Madam Chair
CANZ has been a strong advocate of the CMP since the Secretary-General first approached Member States with the proposal in 2001. We are encouraged by the tangible progress made over the reporting period and take this opportunity to reaffirm our ongoing support for this important project.
Thank you, Madam Chair.