Secretary-General Welcomes General Assembly Adopting New Methodology for Unspent Funds

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Secretary-General Welcomes General Assembly Adopting New Methodology for Unspent Funds

The following statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres was issued today:

I welcome today's decision by the General Assembly to reform financial rules that were putting the Organization's stability at risk. By its vote, the Assembly has agreed to introduce, for a four-year trial period, a new methodology to ensure that unspent funds are returned to Member States only when they are backed by cash.

This decision will allow us to manage resources, especially for regular and peacekeeping budgets, in a more predictable and responsible way, and to better deliver on the mandates given by Member States.

Since very early in my mandate, I have called for this change, and I am grateful to Member States for taking this important step. This change is critical for our immediate operational continuity, especially for peacekeeping operations. This important change will greatly benefit my successor, who will no longer be hamstrung by being forced to return funds that were, all too often, never even received in the first place.

I thank those Member States that have paid their assessed contributions and renew my call on all to meet their obligations under the UN Charter.