United Nations General Assembly: Fifth Committee
25 May 2007
Item 119 Improving the financial situation of the United Nations
Statement by Shannon-Marie Soni
Second Secretary
Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations
On behalf of Canada, Australia and New Zealand
(as delivered)
I have the honour to speak today on behalf of Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Our delegations thank Under-Secretary-General Alicia Barcena for her presentation last week on the financial situation of the United Nations at year end 2006 and mid-way through 2007, and for the introduction of the report A/61/556/Add.1.
Twice every year, this Committee is briefed on the UN’s financial situation and twice each year, the CANZ delegations deliver the same message: all member states need to fulfil their Charter obligations to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without condition. But this appears to make little impact. Amounts owed to the UN by its own Members continue to increase. Our delegations find this unacceptable.
Australia, New Zealand and Canada understand that governments may find it difficult to fulfill each and every financial obligation that they have, both domestically and internationally; our own governments are no different. Maybe we should be doing more in the Fifth Committee to ease such financial burdens through budget discipline, prioritisation and elimination of duplication within the United Nations.
Thank you.