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STATEMENT
ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. MISHAL AL-ANSARI, STATE
OF QATAR, ON AGENDA ITEM 113: SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS FOR THE APPORTIONMENT
OF THE EXPENSES OF THE UNITED NATIONS (New York, 19 October 2004) |
Mr. Chairman, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 113, entitled "Scale of Assessments for the Apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations". Allow me to express our appreciation to the Chairman of the Committee on Contributions, Mr. Hugo Sessi, for introducing the report of the sixty-fourth session of the Committee, as contained in document A/59/11, and to the Controller, Mr. Jean-Pierre Halbwachs, for introducing the report of the Secretary-General on multi-year payment plans, as contained in document A/59/67. Mr. Chairman, The Group of 77 and China notes with concern that many of its Member States have been negatively affected as a result of the application of the current methodology. The Group would like to see in the future report of the Committee on Contributions concrete proposals on measures to avoid substantial increases in the assessment of developing countries. In this regard, we reiterate that the main principle of the methodology must be the capacity to pay of Member States. Regarding multi-year payment plans, the Group reiterates its position that it should remain a voluntary mechanism to be used to help Member States to pay their arrears. The Group also reiterates that this mechanism must not be used to pressure Member States, already in a difficult situation, and definitely not in relation with granting waivers under Article 19. Concerning exemptions under Article 19, the Group is concerned about
some recommendations in the report of the Committee on Contributions
that contain substantive discussions, and requests the Committee to be
guided by its mandate as a technical body. |