EU Presidency Statement - Financial viability of UNITAR

EU Presidency Statement on Item 124: Programme Budget for the Biennium 2006-2007: Financial viability of UNITAR, by Mr William Longhurst, First Secretary, the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union, Fifth Committee, United Nations, New York

Thank you Mr Chairman.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey and Croatia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

The EU thanks Mr John Moffat of OPPBA for introducing the report of the Secretary-General on the financial viability of UNITAR. We also thank Mr Rajat Saha, the Acting Chair of the ACABQ, for the presentation of its report.

Mr Chairman,

The European Union attaches great importance to the field of training and education and so finds the work of UNITAR highly useful. The EU has thoroughly examined the financial difficulties that are threatening the work of UNITAR. We learned with concern that a number of Board of Auditors' recommendations have not been implemented. In the present circumstances, we find it difficult to take a decision on any subvention from the UN regular budget to cover the expenses of UNITAR.

Mr Chairman,

The EU therefore believes that we should retain the present system of voluntary-based contributions as the primary source of UNITAR's financing. Further, the administration of UNITAR should address the question of arrears to UN and implement at the earliest opportunity all the outstanding recommendations of the Board of Auditors. We will need more information on the steps to be taken in this regard to be able to judge whether there is a real need to consider the subvention for UNITAR's programmes from the UN regular budget.

Thank you.

* Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

| Arriba |

• EU Presidency Statement - 5th Committee: Review of Efficiency (12/10/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Board of Auditors  (10/10/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - 5th Committee: Programme of Work (10/10/2005)