Mr Chairman,

1. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 148 : Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations : United Nations Logistics Base.

2. The Group would like to thank Mr Atul Khare, Under-Secretary General, for Field Support, Ms Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, Assistant-Secretary General, Controller, Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts, Mrs Carmen Lapointe, Under-Secretary General, Office of Internal Oversight Services, Ms Carole Wamuyu Wainaina, Assistance-Secretary General for Human Resources Management, and Mr Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Chair of the ACABQ for introducing their respective reports.

Mr Chairman,

3. At the outset, the Group of 77 and China wishes to point out that it attaches great importance to the effective and efficient operation of the United Nations Logistics Base (UNLB) in supporting the Missions delivering their mandate. In this regard the Group continues to believe in the improvement of the function of the center.

4. The Group has taken note of the information related to the performance of the Base for the period ending 30 June 2014, and specifically that out of the US$ 68.5 million budget, expenditure in the amount of US$ 68.4 representing the full performance of the budget was reflected. The group has also taken note of the estimated expenditure for the current period and looks forward to more detailed information on the variations across the section in the context of informal deliberations.

5. With regard to the financing of the base for the period of 2015/2016 the Group has taken note of the proposed financial requirement in the amount of US$ 71.4 million as well as the information related to the reorganization of the base. The Group has also taken note of the related comments and observation of the Board of Auditors and the Advisory Committee including those related to the implementation of GFSS and look forward to detailed deliberation on these matters during the informal consultations.

6. The Group of 77 and China will carefully examine the number of proposals contained in the report of the Secretary General including those related to ICT, human resources, as well as the question of Valencia and will seek specific clarification on these matter during our informal consultations.

7. In conclusion, allow me to assure you of the Group's readiness to engage constructively in order to reach a successful conclusion under this agenda item.

Thank you, Mr Chairman