Statement by Mr. Yasuo Kishimoto
First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

Agenda item 135: United Nations Common System
Fifth Committee
Sixty-second Session of the United Nations General Assembly
23 October 2007

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would like at the outset to express our gratitude to Mr. Kingston Papie Rhodes, Chairman of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), Ms. Katrina Nowlan, Chief, Programme Planning and Budget Division, Mr. Rajat Saha, the Chairman of the ACABQ, and the Representative of the FICSA for introducing the reports and comments.

Mr. Chairman,

My delegation has expressed its full support for the purpose of common system to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of conditions of service among participating organizations. As is true every year, the decision and recommendation of the ICSC on the level of basic salary should be approved as is.

We also commend the swift response of the ICSC at its session in July to the request of the General Assembly regarding the retention strategy in the ICTY and ICTR. The observation of the ICSC provides a very important benchmark that we should consider in addressing the issue of the financing of the ICTY and ICTR. The other output, regarding contractual arrangements and harmonization of conditions of service, should be considered intensively in larger context of human resources management policies at later stage.

The ICSC also looked into the current language incentives among common system organizations and submitted its observations and recommendations in its 2007 report. While it acknowledges that a variety of approaches are employed in order to meet organizations�f individual operational needs, it proposes general guidelines the organizations should follow when they consider introducing, reviewing or revising particular elements of language-related arrangements. The proposed guidelines include the criterion that the knowledge and use of additional languages should be taken into account in career development and promotions of staff;

My delegation has serious concern about any proposal that introduces discriminatory and unnecessary factors into the recruitment and promotion process which are apart from the qualifications needed to execute each post. The proposed guidelines also suggest providing extensive free training opportunities to staff and family members in relation to mobility and organizational operations. We do not see any reason to adapt such guidelines, and it therefore is not acceptable to us to do so.

Finally, my delegation would like to express again its sincere support for the ICSC and the hope that it will play a key role in guiding the common system entities towards more coherent and effective management. We would like to hear about any challenges it faces and participate in constructive discussions on how to surmount them.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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