Mr. Chairman,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on the organization of work for the first part of the resumed 68th session of the Fifth Committee.

2. Since my delegation is addressing this Committee as Chair of the Group of 77 and China for the first time, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the full support of the Group for you and the other members of the Bureau. We have full confidence that under your chairmanship, the Committee will reach a successful conclusion to its work in this session.

Mr. Chairman,

3. The Group of 77 and China thanks you and the Bureau for providing the programme of work and the status of preparedness of documentation contained in document A/C.5/68/L.27. The Group notes that this is a provisional programme of work and we trust that the Bureau to continue reviewing and updating it during the session.

4. The Group is committed to a thorough consideration of the agenda items allocated to the Committee, including items deferred from the previous session such as mobility and partnerships.

5. The Group of 77 and China is concerned over the status of the documentation for the session. The late issuance of important reports has been a chronic problem affecting the work of this Committee. We reiterate that the timely submission of reports from the Secretariat and the ACABQ in all official languages, according to the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly, are critical for the Committee's work. We stress that the failure to submit reports in time hinders the ability of the Committee to effectively undertake and complete its work.

6. The Group wishes to address another issue, which affects not just the work of this Committee, but that of all delegations. The first is the Secretariat's note of 20 February 2014 informing Member States of changes to UNHQ Grounds Passes. These changes have the effect of denying access to some areas and entrances in UNHQ to all non-diplomatic members of Permanent Missions and Observer Offices. The Group notes that many Member States have non-diplomatic staff which perform essential functions, including representation of their Missions. We are concerned by the lack of consultation with Member States on this far-reaching initiative and will be seeking further clarification on this.

7. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, the Group of 77 and China is ready to consider and conclude the items before us within the timeframe of the Programme of Work. We reiterate our full cooperation and constructive engagement with you and our partners to arrive at a successful outcome for this session.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.