Sommaire: EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: Financing of Peacekeeping Operations, PKO budgets for 2007/2008 (10 May 2007: New York)
Statement on behalf of the European Union, by Mr. Thomas Thomma, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Germany, on Financing of Peacekeeping Operations - different PKO budgets for 2007/2008, at the 5th Committee, United Nations General Assembly, New York
Thank you 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, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland and Liechtenstein, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
Mr Chairman.
We thank Assistant-Secretary-General, Waren Sach, Controller of the UN, for the introduction of the budget proposals of different peacekeeping operations, as well as Mr. Rajat Saha, Chairman of the ACABQ, for the committee's views on the matter.
Before we comment on the budget proposals, the European Union wants to pay tribute to the 24 persons who lost their lives this year serving in different operations. These fatalities, caused not only by hostile actions but also illness and accident, underline the real risks and challenges that have become a part of daily life in peacekeeping operations.
In this context the European Union wishes to express gratitude to troop contributing countries. Without the ongoing and reliable commitment of these countries and their troops, peacekeeping would be an impossible endeavour.
Mr. Chairman.
Before turning to the budgetary aspects of today's discussion, we would like to express our deep concern over the fact that some very important reports of the Secretariat and of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions will be missing until the very end of this session. Although we are aware of the ever increasing workload facing the Secretariat and the ACABQ, we again must reiterate that the timely availability of reports is essential if the Delegates in this committee
are to perform their functions.
Nevertheless, the European Union reaffirms its strong support to peacekeeping as a core function within the United Nations for helping to deliver conflict resolution and sustainable peace. We would like to see the operations further on be able to accomplish their mandates utilising the resources set at their disposal in the most efficient way and continuing to identify potential economies
Mr. Chairman.
For the budget period of 2007/2008 the Secretariat proposed to this committee a budget amounting to almost 5.4 billion USD. Let me underline that the European Union considers it essential that all peacekeeping operations be provided with adequate resources.
Once again, the European Union is committed to the efficient functioning of peacekeeping operations and will engage constructively in the coming informal consultations.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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