Mr. Chairman,

1. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on the organization of work of the second part of the resumed sixty-eighth session of the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly.

2. Last month, the family of the Fifth Committee lost a truly salient member and dearest friend, Mr. Alan Shaw. The Group of 77 and China would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Alan and express once again its deepest condolences to the UK Mission and the EU Delegation for his untimely death. Our thoughts go to his wife, family and colleagues.

3. The Group of 77 and China would like to commend you, Mr. Chairman, for your outstanding leadership at the first part of the resumed sixty-eighth session and for bringing it to a successful conclusion within the established time framework. As we begin this second resumed session, I would like to wish you all the best in guiding our discussions and to assure you of our full cooperation.

4. The Group of 77 and China wishes to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Hervé Ladsous, the Under Secretary-General of Department of Field Support Ms. Ameerah Haq, and the Assistant Secretary-General/Controller, Ms. Maria Eugenia Casar, for joining us today.

5. The Group of 77 and China also takes this opportunity to thank you and the Bureau of the Committee for preparing the draft programme of work, and the Secretariat for issuing the document A/C.5/68/L.36 reflecting the status of preparedness of documentation for the second part of the resumed sixty-eighth session. We hope that the draft programme of work will consequently be adjusted according to the availability of the relevant documents, as well as the progress and evolution of negotiations during the session. The Group of 77 and China continues to be concerned that important reports have been issued late and some have yet to be issued.

6. The G-77 and China considers that the Committee ought to take measures to ensure, in the long term, timely submission of reports to the ACABQ and to Member States. There are voluminous resources entitled to ensure this, thus efficiency is to be sought and guaranteed. Within this context, the G77 would like to refer to the letter sent by the Chairman of the ACABQ on the issue and as a result of the questions included in this letter, the Group would like to request a formal meeting of the Committee with the Chairman of the ACABQ and the Secretariat during the current second resume session.
Mr. Chairman,

7. The report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 67/261 provides to the General Assembly all the necessary elements for a historic decision on the issue of troop cost, necessary to ensure the sustainability of the UN peacekeeping partnership. The results of the survey conducted pursuant to GA resolution 67/261 clearly demonstrate the deficit between the current reimbursement rate and the financial costs of TCCs. It is high time the General Assembly adopts a decision on this matter, increasing the standard rate of reimbursement for troop contributing countries in line with the results of the survey.

8. The workload ahead of us in this session is considerable and demanding. Undoubtedly, all the administrative and budgetary aspects of financing peacekeeping operations, including the cross-cutting issues, the support account for PKOs, and the closed peacekeeping missions will have to be addressed carefully, while keeping in mind the importance of concluding our work in a timely manner. Within the debate regarding cross-cutting issues, the question of inter-mission cooperation and its impact on peacekeeping budgets and administration will be followed up on keenly by the Group.

9. The Group of 77 and China is of the view that during the session, the following key areas will have to be tackled and looks forward to engaging on these issues during the informals:

i. An increase in the standard rate of reimbursement for troop contributing countries;

ii. to address comprehensively the systemic and unresolved issues and difficulties faced by the Troop-Contributing Countries including their under-representation in the relevant Departments of the Secretariat dealing with Peacekeeping;

iii. to explore options to achieve a fair solution for the unpaid assessments, accounts payable and other liabilities of closed peacekeeping missions, so as to settle claims outstanding in the missions with cash deficit;

iv. to ensure that the formulation, presentation, and approval of the peacekeeping budgets is done on the basis of their mandates and the real situation on ground, and not as arbitrary, across-the-board cost-cutting exercise; and

v. to assess the progress and challenges being faced in the implementation of the Global Field Support Strategy.

Mr. Chairman,

10. The Group of 77 and China would like to state clearly that adequate time should be allocated for the consideration of all items on our agenda. The Group will, therefore, support conclusion of the session within the allocated programme of work.

11. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, the Group of 77 and China would like to assure you of its readiness to engage constructively during the Committee's deliberations on all issues under its consideration during the session.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.