Mr. Chairman,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China under agenda item, any other business.

Mr. Chairman,

2. The Group would like to reiterate its long-standing position on the issue of the early issuance of documents, in all six official languages and on time.

3. We recall that during the last formal meeting of 19 March 2009, two groups spoke on this matter and unfairly apportioned blame for this problem on the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).  

4. While the Group is concerned about the endemic problem of the late issuance of documents, this Group distances itself from the unwarranted attack on the ACABQ and its Chairperson.

Mr. Chairman,

5. The Group believes that the apportionment of blame on the ACABQ for the late issuance of documents runs counter to the objective facts. In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the ACABQ's workload and in recognition of this fact, in 2008, this Committee recommended an extension of the ACABQ sessions by two weeks.  

6. The ACABQ does sterling work in the interest of this Organisation and in particular, the work of the Fifth Committee. We owe the ACABQ our debt of gratitude. The Group commends the ACABQ for the quality of its reports and its exceptional guidance in the decision-making process of this Committee.  The Advisory Committee renders great service to the UN, in spite of many hurdles and systemic challenges, including the limited scope for burden sharing in the ACABQ.  

7. In addition, the Chairman of the ACABQ does not have the pleasure of freely delegating responsibility to the Vice-Chairman of the ACABQ. This is, as we all know, owing to the fact that the Vice-Chairman does not get remunerated for occupying this post and for sharing the workload with the Chairman of the ACABQ.

8. The Group believes that it is bizarre to blame the ACABQ for the systemic challenges of this Organisation, in terms of availing documents to the ACABQ on time, whereas those who cry foul have neither the will nor the desire to improve the conditions of service of the ACABQ. We hope that addressing the conditions of service of the ACABQ will be resolved as a matter of urgency. Such a step would help in the facilitation of the work of the ACABQ. We invite our partners to be part of the solution rather than being part of the problem.

9. In conclusion, we strongly support the ACABQ and commend it for the sterling work that it does. I thank you, Mr. Chairman.