United Nations General Assembly: Fifth Committee
29 May 2007
Item 141 Financing of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)
Statement by Olivier Poulin
First Secretary
Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations
On behalf of Canada, Australia and New Zealand
(as delivered)
Mr. Chairperson,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the delegations of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (CANZ). Let me start by thanking Mr. Warren Sach, the United Nations Controller, for the introduction of the Performance Report on the Budget of MINUSTAH for the Period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 (A/61/741) and the Budget of MINUSTAH for the Period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 (A/61/869), as well as Mr. Rajat Saha, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), for the introduction of the related report of the ACABQ (A/61/852/Add.15).
Mr. Chairperson,
CANZ strongly supports MINUSTAH and the restoration of peace and security in Haïti. MINUSTAH, despite operating in a challenging environment, has proven able to make progress in key areas. These include free and fair elections, the restoration of security, in particular in Port-au-Prince, and the implementation of security sector reform. Thanks to the dynamic leadership of SRSG Mulet and his very capable team, we trust that MINUSTAH will continue to make further progress in the implementation of its mandate. We wish also to commend MINUSTAH and UNDP for their strong partnership, which sets an example for the UN Country Team, as well as for other peacekeeping operations.
Our delegations note the unencumbered balance for the period of 05/06, representing 7.1% of the appropriation, as well as the projected unencumbered balance representing 6.2% for the current period. We commend the Secretary General for this improvement and, while recognising that peacekeeping budgetary planning is not an exact science, encourage him to make further progress in refining budgetary assumptions. We welcome the sufficient cash balance of the Mission and urges Member States to continue to pay their assessments in full, on time, and without conditions, in order to allow timely reimbursement to Troop contributing Countries.
Our delegations support the budgetary proposal of the Secretary General. We also support most conclusions and recommendations of the ACABQ, and look forward to engaging in a discussion with the ACABQ and Secretariat officials in that regard. We are particularly keen to receive more information on the rationale for recommending the downgrading of the post for a Coordinator of the Working Group on the Rule of Law and its practical impact on the implementation of the mandate. Given the importance of Rule of Law reforms, notably in the Justice, Police and Prisons sectors, and the crucial timing of these initiatives to ensure stability in Haiti, it is essential to stay the course and ensure that MINUSTAH is equipped with personnel with the appropriate skills and experience. CANZ supports the establishment of two P5 posts in the Mission, as recommended by the ACABQ, to provide advice to the Office of the President of Haïti. We believe this will provide the necessary accountability structure to implement the capacity-building mandate of the Mission.
We wish to express our concern at the very high vacancy rate of 75% for national officers. This abnormally high vacancy rate jeopardizes the Mission’s role to develop the capacity of national staff, which is, as highlighted by the ACABQ, a key factor in the successful transition to the Peacebuilding phase. We look forward to receiving details on the causes for such a high vacancy rate and the steps taken by the Secretary General to improve the situation. In light of this very high vacancy rate, we also look forward to receiving the views of the Secretariat on the feasibility of implementing the recommendation of utilizing the existing vacancies instead of increasing the numbers in the staffing table.
CANZ looks forward to the renewal of MINUSTAH’s mandate in October. We trust it will build on the comprehensive assessment of the security risks, challenges and priorities facing Haïti which will be included in the upcoming report of the Secretary General.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairperson, let me express my gratitude on behalf of CANZ to MINUSTAH peacekeepers, and to the families and loved ones of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
I thank you.