22 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 this agenda item on Special Political Missions.
2 ASEAN thanks Mr. Chandramouli Ramanathan, Controller and Assistant Secretary-General, for introducing the report of the Secretary-General on estimates in respect of special political missions (A/76/6 (Sect.3)/Add.1). We also thank Mr Abdallah Bachar Bong, Chair of the ACABQ for introducing the ACABQ’s report on this issue.
Mr Chair,
3 ASEAN recognises and supports the critical role played by special political missions in responding to global security challenges. The expansion in the number, scope and size of special political missions reflects their importance in maintaining international peace and security. It is therefore crucial that we give these missions the resources to deliver their mandates effectively.
4 Yet, for a decade now, this Committee has failed to act on the recommendations of the ACABQ and High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations to reform the funding and backstopping arrangements for special political missions. This is unacceptable. Current financing arrangements have made it difficult for special political missions to function optimally, which they must in order to respond effectively and flexibly to complex security situations.
5 In this regard, ASEAN strongly calls on the Committee to implement the funding and backstopping recommendations proposed by the ACABQ in its report of 13 December 2011, which remain relevant today. This includes the creation of a separate account aligned with the budgetary cycle for peacekeeping operations. This is especially pertinent given the persistent liquidity challenges afflicting the regular budget, from which special political missions currently draw their funding. It is important for special political missions to have adequate and predictable financing throughout, in order to support the stability and continuity of peacebuilding activities. There should also be better coordination between special political missions, peacekeeping operations, and other peacebuilding activities.
Mr Chair,
6 As we have observed before, the vast majority of special political missions are created through the decision of the Permanent Members of the Security Council. The General Assembly has reaffirmed in its resolutions that “the special responsibilities of the Permanent Members in the Security Council for the maintenance of peace and security should be borne in mind in connection with their contributions to the financing of peace and security operations”. It follows that those who have a larger influence over peace and security operations, including special political missions, should shoulder a larger responsibility for their funding.
Mr Chair,
7 To conclude, ASEAN remains committed to strengthening the effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of funding for special political missions, and we look forward to the discussions on this issue.
8 Thank you, Mr Chair.
. . . . .