Statement by Ambassador Shinyo
On the Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization
At the (Meeting of the) General Assembly

2 October 2006

Madam President,

I wish to thank you for convening this meeting to discuss the Secretary-General's Report on the Work of the Organization. The 60th session of the General Assembly was the first year of implementation of the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document. We saw some progress, with the establishment of the Human Rights Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, and the continued efforts for Secretariat and management reform. The one item on our agenda that stands out as unfinished agenda is the reform of the Security Council. It is essential that we move forward with all items of our leaders' agreement elucidated in the Outcome Document in the 61st session, guided by your able leadership.

The Secretary-General has asserted on more than one occasion that "no reform of the United Nations will be complete without the reform of the Security Council". Japan is determined to continue to take the initiative on this issue in this session. What the Member States need now is a new proposal - one that is both creative and persuasive - in order to reach an early decision on Council reform during the current session of the General Assembly.

Since its accession to the United Nations fifty years ago, Japan has had an exemplary record with regard to the fulfillment of its duties as a Member State, including assessed contributions. Nevertheless, Japan does strongly believe that the United Nations needs a reformed scale of assessments structure, one that is more equitable and fair, and duly takes into account the status and responsibilities of each Member State. Japan will work together with other Member States to formulate such a structure, which will bring financial stability to this organization.

Madam President,

Over the last several years, Japan has been advocating the importance of "human security", as a concept that stresses the protection of individuals from threats to their life and dignity, as well as the value of their individual empowerment. In partnership with other interested countries, we will continue to promote human security and the approach based on it during this General Assembly session.

It is now widely acknowledged that peace, development and human rights are inter-linked and serve to complement one another. We hold high expectations for the newly created Human Rights Council to begin a new page in the promotion of respect for human rights, and as a Council member, Japan will play a constructive role in the Council's activities to that end.

Japan is committed as well to implementing the agreements in the 2005 Outcome Document, and continues to make efforts towards achieving the MDGs. In this connection, we will propose together with like-minded countries a draft resolution on an International Year of Sanitation, to promote progress in the area of water and sanitation.

We also have dedicated ourselves to realizing reforms aimed at enabling the UN development system to contribute to providing more effective service to the people and the communities which are the final beneficiaries of the system. We believe that the proposals by the High-level Panel on system-wide coherence will give us important guidance in that regard.

Madam President,

Our common task for the sixty-first session of the General Assembly is to continue our earnest efforts to translate the decisions on reform made at the 2005 World Summit into reality. You have our assurances, Madam President, that you can count on Japan's proactive support on our continuing journey towards a more efficient and effective United Nations.

Thank you very much.

Related Information (United Nations)
Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations Official Web Site