Statement by
Mr. Djauhari Oratmangun
Director for U.N. Economic, Development
and Environmental Affairs
on
Agenda Item 121:
Proposed Program Budget
for The Biennium 2004 - 2005
Fifth Committee
Fifty-Eight Session of The United Nations General Assembly

New York, 29 October 2003

Mr. Chairman,

Since this is the first time my delegation is taking the floor, I would like, on behalf of the Indonesian Delegation, to extend my congratulations to you and members of the Bureau for your election. Under your able leadership, my delegation is convinced that this meeting will yield fruitful results of benefit to the Organization and its Member States.

Let me extend, on behalf of my delegation, appreciation to the Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for introducing his budget proposals for the biennium 2004-2005 contained in document A/58/6. I would also like to express my appreciation to the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Chairman of the Committee for Programme and Coordination, for the presentation of the reports of their respective committees.

Mr. Chairman,

My delegation would like to associate itself with the statement delivered by the Chairman of the G77 and China and the distinguished delegate of the Philippines on behalf of ASEAN on this agenda item. We would like to highlight several points in addition to that of the elements contained in the two statements.

Mr. Chairman,

During the opening of the 58th session of the General Assembly, the Secretary General mentioned that the United Nations now confronted many challenges and new threats. The Secretary General elaborated that the threats were hard and soft, ranging from new forms of terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to soft forms such as the persistence of extreme poverty, the disparity of income between and within societies, the spread of infectious diseases and environmental degradation. The United Nation does not have any choice but to confront these challenges.

It is in this context that my delegation believes the world needs the United Nations. Indeed many Heads of State have reaffirmed that multilateralism is indispensable. It is with the collective will and interest of its members that the United Nations will be able to overcome the common challenges facing humanity. In order for the Organization to be able to function effectively, adequate resources must be provided because without such resources the Organization will lack the ability to service Member States as it has been mandated to do.

Mr. Chairman,

Against this backdrop, my delegation has decided to pay special attention to the proposed programme budget for biennium 2004-2005, as submitted by the Secretary General. We would like to thank the Secretary General for the timely submission and the shorter format of the proposed programme budget which attempts to meet the priorities, objectives and mandates set by Member States.

We take note of the ongoing efforts of the Secretary General to strengthen the Organization, with a proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 which continues to reflect the concept of results-based budgeting, namely the application of a logical framework articulating, before programme implementation, objectives, expected accomplishments, indicators of achievement and external factors, in addition to listing outputs and resource requirements.

We would like, however, to emphasize that the application of the results- based budget be utilized as a management tool to enhance responsibility and accountability in the implementation of programmes and budgets. Taking into account the character of the United Nations as a multilateral forum, the results-based budget should be implemented on a gradual basis, in full compliance with the regulations and rules governing programme planning; the programme aspect of budgets; the monitoring of implementation and the methods of evaluation; and the financial regulations and rules of the United Nations.

Mr. Chairman,

Indonesia believes that the proposed programme budget for the period 2004- 2005 should be commensurate with the need of the Organization to continue to pursue the internationally agreed development goals set out in the Millennium Declaration as well as the goals of recent major international conferences convened to examine different aspects of development. Of particular importance, programmes planned for 2004-2005 need to include activities to follow-up the outcomes of the recent conferences held in Monterrey, Mexico, on financing for development and Johannesburg, South Africa, on sustainable development while being guided by priorities contained in the revised medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 57/280.

It is in this context that attention must be given to strengthening and supporting policy coherence and management capacity in the area of economic and social affairs. It is our firm belief that a strengthened Department of Economic and Social Affairs will ensure that development Programmes continue to be the top priority of the Organization.

We note also that the Secretary General's proposal for the biennium 2004- 2005 largely reflects a significant reallocation of resources between several porgrammes. My delegation would like to underline the importance of resources being allocated among the various programmes to reflect the priorities, established in the Medium Term Plan, which function as policy directives. Adequate allocation of resources for economic and social development activities needs to be guaranteed so as to reinforce the ability and capacity of the Organization to meet the United Nations Millennium Declaration. The strategy of continued collective action to address the phenomenon of globalization, still one of the most important challenges facing the Organization, will be fruitful, provided that adequate resources are allocated for this.

In this regard, we would also like to note with appreciation the Secretary General's efforts concerning Africa, in particular the implementation of NEP AD. The assignment of the Secretary General's Special Advisor for Africa who is responsible for carrying out global advocacy and coordination of United Nations' African activities will ensure international support to reinforce these efforts in the future.

Mr. Chairman,

It is Indonesia's view that the proposed programme budget should facilitate implementation of reform measures being carried out by the Secretary General, as contained in the General Assembly's Resolution 57/300, which aims to strengthen the Organization to cope with contemporary challenges and address emerging priorities in the twenty-first century. In this regard, Indonesia is convinced that the Organization should concentrate its energies on priorities set by Member States and, as a result, Secretariat activities must be more responsive and efficient in that respect.

With regard to the budgetary process, my delegation notes that the Secretary General's proposal to improve the current planning and budgeting cycle, merits consideration. However, it is important to underline that streamlining the budget process should not, in any way, compromise the ability of the Organization to carry out mandated programmes by Member States, particularly in the area of international cooperation for development. Furthermore, it is the belief of my delegation that the reform process should not lead to budget cuts.

In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, my delegation stands ready to engage itself in a constructive manner in the deliberations of this important issue.

I thank you.