04 Oct 2021
Thank you, Mr Chair.
1 I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on agenda item 142: Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations; and agenda item 149: Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of United Nations peacekeeping operations. ASEAN aligns itself with the statement made by Guinea on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
2 ASEAN thanks Ambassador Bernardo Greiver, Chair of the Committee on Contributions, and Mr Chandru Ramanathan, Controller and Assistant Secretary-General for Programme Planning, Finance and Budget, for presenting their respective reports.
Mr Chair,
3 ASEAN maintains that all Member States must fulfil their obligations to bear the expenses of the Organisation, in full, on time, and without conditions. However, we also recognise that some countries face genuine difficulties. This is especially so for many developing countries whose economies were disproportionately affected by COVID-19. ASEAN therefore supports the Committee on Contributions’ recommendation to allow these countries to vote until the end of the 76th session of the General Assembly.
Mr Chair,
4 The current methodologies governing both scales of assessments have been adopted by consensus for two decades. This longstanding consensus reflects our common agreement on the principles underpinning the scales. These principles were reached after extremely difficult negotiations in 2000. This agreement, solemnly entered into by sovereign states, is not to be taken lightly.
5 The first and main principle governing the scales is capacity to pay. ASEAN reaffirms that capacity to pay must remain the main criterion in the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations. Under the current methodology, economies that have grown faster, including many ASEAN Member States, will see increases in their share of assessments. Economies that have performed relatively less well will see decreases in their scales. According to the latest report of the Committee on Contributions, about 45 developing countries will see a rise in their contributions to the Regular Budget.
6 ASEAN’s contribution to the Regular Budget is projected to increase by nearly 6 percent of our current share. Nevertheless, we remain committed to fulfilling our financial and legal obligations to the United Nations. We call on other Member States to do likewise, and to provide the Organisation with the resources it needs to fully implement its mandates. ASEAN will not support proposals aimed at distorting the principle of capacity to pay, or unduly shifting the burden to developing countries. We reaffirm the position expressed by Guinea on behalf of the G77 and China that the 22% maximum ceiling is the only element of the methodology which contradicts the principle of capacity to pay. The ceiling is a fundamental source of distortion in the scales, benefits only one Member State, and must be addressed.
7 ASEAN also supports the G77 and China position that observer intergovernmental organisations which have the rights and privileges usually only applied to observer states, such as the right to speak in the General Debate, should also have the same financial obligations to the United Nations as observer states. This is a question of equity and equality for the treatment of observers with enhanced status. ASEAN looks forward to a thorough consideration of this during informal consultations.
Mr Chair,
8 On the scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of United Nations peacekeeping operations, ASEAN reiterates once again that all Member States must fulfil their Charter obligations to bear the expenses of the Organisation, in full, on time, and without conditions.
9 The principles which underpin the financing of peacekeeping operations have been enshrined by this Assembly and by consensus since resolution 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, resolution 3101 (XXVII) of 11 December 1973, and resolution 55/235 of 23 December 2000. Chief among these is that the permanent members of the Security Council have special responsibilities in the maintenance of peace and security. This principle must be considered, and I quote, “in connection with their contributions to the financing of peace and security operations”.[1]
10 ASEAN reaffirms that the permanent members of the Security Council should continue to absorb the discounts applied to other Member States in the peacekeeping scale, in recognition of their special decision-making prerogatives on peacekeeping operations in the Security Council. Special privileges cannot be divorced from special responsibilities. In other words, special privileges must be paid for by every permanent member of the Security Council. The permanent members must demonstrate leadership to justify their special privileges, and should not shift the burden to developing states. We cannot have a situation where the political dominance of permanent members continues to increase while their financial contributions are allowed to decrease.
11 ASEAN also maintains that peacekeeping financing must continue to recognise the circumstances of developing countries, particularly small developing economies that may have misleadingly high per capita incomes because of small populations. Developing countries should not shoulder the same financial responsibilities as developed countries. We therefore reaffirm the established G77 and China position that no developing country that is not a permanent member of the Security Council should be categorised above Level C in the scale of assessments for peacekeeping operations.
Mr Chair,
12 ASEAN looks forward to engaging in a full deliberation on the scales in the coming weeks. We are committed to doing so in an open, inclusive, and transparent manner, fully respecting the prerogatives of Member States.
I thank you, Mr Chair.
. . . . .
[1] OP 1(d) of A/RES/1874(S-IV) of 27 June 1963: “The special responsibilities of the permanent members of the Security Council for the maintenance of peace and security should be borne in mind in connexion with their contributions to the financing of peace and security operations.”