Ambassador Cherith Norman Chalet
Acting Deputy Permanent Representative
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
New York, New York
March 2, 2020
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
At this first resumed part of the 74th General Assembly, member states will again consider important agenda items that were deferred or not acted upon comprehensively at the main part of this session or at previous sessions. While my delegation will address the human resources management items in greater detail later this week, we would like to underline that the inability of this committee to reach decisions on critical agenda items, particularly those with policy considerations, inhibits advancement of the Secretary-General’s reform agenda and the important goals set by member states.
In addition to human resources management, we have many important agenda items to consider during this relatively short session, including on accountability, construction of a new facility for the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in Arusha, assessment of the police division, information and communications technology, and interim financing for UNAMID. We also look forward to further discussing the critical work of the Joint Inspection Unit and its important findings during this session.
Mr. Chairman, my delegation is still deeply concerned at the lack of respect for consensus demonstrated by the G77 and China earlier this year. The General Assembly’s vote to enlarge the ACABQ membership by 5 fully bypassed the consensus driven approach of the 5th Committee. This digression from established practice, and even the rules of procedure, is very much at the forefront of our minds as we begin the 1st Resumed session. In that regard, my delegation intends to continue to engage constructively with all partners and on all items this session, in the spirit of consensus.
Thank you very much.
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