I would like to express my concern and disappointment that the United Nations’ budget and plan for 2021 have still not been adopted. We are facing an unprecedented situation, in which we are still continuing discussions that have traditionally been finalised before Christmas.
This year, consensus is more urgent than ever. The world has yet to fully address the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated socio-economic consequences. The world is therefore looking to the United Nations, including the General Assembly, for leadership and demonstrable action to address these pressing challenges in the real world. The General Assembly has a responsibility to meet the world’s expectations and support multilateralism and pandemic recovery, in a manner that accelerates the implementation of the 2030 Agenda during this Decade of Action.
My office and I, with the Chair of the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee, Ambassador Carlos Amorin, held extensive consultations with Member States and encouraged them to make every effort to overcome disagreements or disputes and strive for consensus in order to reach a conclusion. Even though these are the last two days of 2020, we are still unable to achieve a final decision.
If Member States fail to reach an agreement, the consequences on the work of the United Nations will be dire. For example:
1) All personnel, including in Special Political Missions, will be asked to stand down from any activity except the minimum needed to ensure the safety of our personnel and assets. All travel will be suspended. This will affect the United Nations’ ability to prepare and hold conferences and events, especially during the first quarter of the year.
2) All mandated activity, including support for political processes under way, will be disrupted, increasing the risk of instability. The Missions with time sensitive tasks will be most affected.
3) Support operations funded wholly or partly by the regular budget will be disrupted, including: on-boarding of personnel; entitlement and payroll processing; payments to vendors; treasury operations, including cash movements; maintenance of facilities; and banking operations.
Considering this devastating picture, Member States have an obligation to support the United Nations in fulfilling the mandates that they themselves have given. The United Nations’ credibility is at stake.
I trust that the remaining differences will be put aside, so we can reach a conclusion and provide the support required to fulfil our obligations.
Member States will continue to have my full support and appreciation in this endeavour.
Volkan BOZKIR
President of the General Assembly
United Nations
New York
29 December 2020
