Statement by Ileana Núñez Mordoche, ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations Fifth Committee Agenda item 118. Programme Budget for the Biennium 2008-2009. Development-related activities
New York, October 14, 2008.
Mr. Chairman,
Since this is my first statement in the debates of the Fifth Committee, I would like to congratulate you for your election as chairman of this organ of the Assembly, which deliberates on important issues related to the performance of the UN as an organization.
Our delegation wishes to thank both the presentation of the report A/62/708 by Mrs. Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary General, which contains valuable proposals to improve the work of the organization in terms of development, and the opinions given by Mrs. Susan McLurg in this room on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).
As we likewise endorse the statement by the distinguished delegation of Antigua and Barbuda on behalf of the G-77 and China, reference point which reflects the common aspirations of all developing countries, we would like to make some specific considerations on today’s issue.
Mr. Chairman,
The current circumstances of the world economy make the debate on the UN role in development, more relevant than ever before.
In times when the financial bubble has burst in the heart of neoliberalism, bringing about a crisis with global repercussions of inestimable consequences, the most irrefutable evidence of this capitalist model failure becomes clearer. The fact that the fiercest detractors of the state intervention in the economy cry out for a bailout to save their financial system through public intervention, is an evident sign that the age where the market was considered to be omnipotent, despite the clear evidence to the contrary, is over.
There is an urgent need for a total restructuring of the unjust and unsustainable world order in force which has dragged 80% of the world population into poverty; has plunged 800 million human beings into hunger and despair; has brought the negotiations of the Doha Trade and Development Round to a halt in Geneva; has prevented the world energy resources from being used in a sustainable way; and has caused almost irreversible damages to the world climate regime and to the environment. In the meantime, a trillion dollar is annually wasted is weapons and as much again is wasted in banal advertising.
This is the context where Cuba approaches the urgent need to reform the UN Development Pillar.
Mr. Chairman,
It is no surprise to anyone the claim by the developing countries on the need to re-launch the UN development activities, if the budget allocation percentage of the organization for the same was reduced from 21.8% in the biennium 1998-1999 to 17.8% in the biennium 2008-2009. In the same period, the proportion of appointed posts decreased from 33.5% to 29.9%. Also, the Regional Commissions have considerably reduced the resources allocated for development and has lost 220 posts dealing with regular budgets in the last ten years.
At the same time, we have seen in these years how an important number of delegations from developed countries have insisted in eroding the work of ECOSOC and the Second Committee of the General Assembly. This has been prevented thanks to the firm opposition of the developing countries.
In this respect, our delegation reiterates it is imperative the strict respect for the mandates of the Assembly in terms of development and the prompt resolution of the distortion introduced by the Secretary-General in view of the countries with special needs when aligned under the same leadership and without the consent of the Membership, the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa and the Office of the High Representative of Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.
Likewise, we are awaiting the proposals of the Secretary-General on the Development Account, which is far from having reached the 200 million dollars committed to make it effective.
Mr. Chairman,
Although we understand that since the publication of the report on February 2008 important events have taken place, our delegation will also give a special follow-up to certain aspects of the Secretariat’s proposals which seem fail to take into consideration the state of the debate among the Member States regarding the use of biofuels and the necessary coordination in the system in terms of climate change.
Mr. Chairman,
The general debate of the Assembly was devoted to actions necessary to reinforce the development agenda of the United Nations, including the fulfillment of the very modest Millennium Development Goals.
The reform of the Development Pillar must be centered on that strategic goal. The proposal before us, although moderate – just compare it with the immense budgets for the Peace-keeping Operations – it recognizes at least the need to change the current course taken.
The most important matter for Cuba is the need for the system authorities working on the question of development, to understand that more than posts, a higher number of concrete actions in this respect are required, to complement the efforts of developing countries to achieve the wellbeing of all their citizens.
In all other respects, we must forget the solution lies in a mercantile miracle. The world claims for a more just order.
Thank you very much.
(Cubaminrex- EmbacubaONU)