Fifth Committee

STATEMENT BY MR LOY HUI CHIEN, FIRST SECRETARY, PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 145: SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS FOR THE APPORTIONMENT OF THE EXPENSES OF UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, FIFTH COMMITTEE, TUESDAY, 6 OCTOBER 2009

Thank you, Mr Chairman, for giving me the floor. I thank Mr Jun Yamazaki, Assistant Secretary-General, Office of Programme Planning, Budgets and Accounts, and Controller, for introducing the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 55/235 and 55/236, as contained in document A/64/220. It goes without saying that my delegation fully aligns itself with the statement by Sudan on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

Mr Chairman,

2 Fifty years ago, Singapore was little more than a squalid colonial backwater at the tip of the Malay Peninsula. We had barely achieved self-government from the British when full independence was thrust upon us in 1965. Since then, we had struggled and continue to struggle for our economic survival amidst enormous challenges. Fortunately, we have not done badly over the past few decades. Perhaps it was due to a combination of hard work and good fortune. But despite our relative success, we can never overlook the special and unique constraints and vulnerabilities that we face as a tiny island state with no natural resources. At slightly over 710 square kilometres, Singapore's land area is smaller than that of New York City (1) . Hence, we have never forgotten that our developmental roots lie in the South, even as we strive to improve the economic, political and social well-being of our people. To this day, our heart and soul remains with the South. This is a conscious political choice that my country has made. It is therefore from our perspective as a small state from the South that we intend to contribute to today's discussions on the important question of the peacekeeping scale of assessments.

Mr Chairman,

3 Singapore's position on United Nations peacekeeping is well-known. We have always taken peacekeeping seriously as a crucial function of the Organisation in the maintenance of peace and security. As a small country with limited population and fewer resources, we face constraints in making substantial military and financial contributions to peacekeeping activities. However, we have sought to make modest contributions over the years and will continue to do so, on the solemn understanding that peacekeeping financing is a collective responsibility of all Member States. Thus we have honoured our assessed contributions in full, on time and without conditions, in order to do our part in ensuring that the UN has adequate resources for its current and future peacekeeping activities. In this connection, we have consistently argued for a peacekeeping scale that is fair, just and which would put the UN's peacekeeping activities on a sound and predictable financial footing. With this in mind, I would like to make the following three points as we embark upon this review of the peacekeeping scale.

4 First, Singapore believes that the special responsibilities of the permanent members of the Security Council must be foremost in any discussion on the peacekeeping scale. As stated in the UN Charter, the Security Council bears primary responsibility for providing collective security to the Members of the UN(2). At the same time, it is also a fact that the Permanent Five wield disproportionate power and influence, by virtue of their permanent status and right of veto. Perhaps it is in the nature of the human condition that such inequalities will persist. But having said that, those who make unequal decisions on our behalf, and who hold power, privilege and influence far beyond the rest of the UN members, have to accept the attendant responsibilities that come with it. Hence, there must always be a Level A in the system of discounts for the peacekeeping scale as long as we retain the concept of permanent members of the Security Council. All of us should continue to reaffirm this principle, which is enshrined in every General Assembly resolution dealing with the peacekeeping scale.

5 Second, the present structure of the ten Levels for the peacekeeping scale was arrived at after painstaking negotiations in the Fifth Committee in 2000. Back then, Singapore had stated that we would support a peacekeeping scale that was equitable and which did not structurally disadvantage any country or group of countries. While our discount was significantly reduced following that review, we did not shirk our obligations to the Organisation and continued to do our part with respect to UN peacekeeping financing. Therefore, while we intend to keep an open mind in the coming review and do not wish to prejudge its outcome, we wish to put on record our firm opposition to any proposals to change the current system that would result in countries being assigned to higher Levels against their will, or which would force countries to stomach further reductions in the amounts of discounts.

6 Third, we believe that the peacekeeping scale should try to mirror actual political and economic realities, and not be overly constrained by artificial constructs. Some developing countries may not be well-endowed, but because they are small countries with small populations, their per capita incomes may look deceptively high, and do not accurately reflect their place in the international community. In this connection, it is neither equitable nor just for developing countries to be assigned automatically to the de facto developed world category, Level B, on the sole basis of their nominally high per capita incomes, and forced to assume developed country responsibilities before they are ready to do so. While it is the aspiration of every developing country to fuel development and uplift its own standard of living, is it fair to ignore the unique economic challenges, structural and geophysical difficulties that confront these countries? As a fellow Small Island Developing State, Singapore echoes the concerns that have been expressed by developing countries, namely the Group of 77 and China, the Caribbean Community, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and the delegation of Bahamas on this issue.

Mr Chairman,

7 My delegation is fully aware that the item before us is a difficult and complicated one. Every delegation in this room will defend their own national interests. That said, the requests of developing countries on this issue are modest, and deserve due consideration by this Committee. Ultimately, while the current system of discounts may be used as a guide to the individual capacities of Member States to contribute to peacekeeping financing, it remains an insufficient tool, and cannot be brandished like a blunt instrument without regard for the unique situations of developing countries. On that note, Singapore stands ready to participate constructively in this exercise.

I thank you, Mr Chairman.

.....

(1) According to the New York City Department of City Planning website, New York City's land area covers approximately 790 square kilometres.

(2) Article 24, paragraph 1 of the UN Charter states, "... Members confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf."