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 Ms. Bettina Tucci Bartsiostas, Assistant Secretary-General, Controller, Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts, and Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Chairperson of the Advisory Committee on the Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) for introducing their respective reports.
 
 Mr. Chairman,

3. At the outset, the Group of 77 and China recognizes the importance of the effective and efficient operation of the United Nations Logistics Base (UNLB) in supporting peacekeeping missions to deliver their mandates. The Group continues to believe in the need to improve the functioning of the UNLB and, therefore, would like raise the following points.

4. The Group shares the concern of the ACABQ regarding Service for Geospatial, Information and Telecommunications Technologies (SGITT) due to its organizational, managerial and operational challenges and the financial and human resources implications. Since the study presented in the budget document does not address these concerns, the Group will seek additional information on the issues, particularly in relation to paragraphs 15 and 16 of the Advisory Committee's report.

5. The Group highlights the need to develop a comprehensive performance management framework for the delivery of Secretariat-wide ICT services. Such framework shall present clear lines of responsibility and accountability.

6. Regarding the official designation of the facility at Valencia, the Group agrees with the view of the Advisory Committee that the title proposed does not fulfil the requirement that the designation of the Valencia facility be consistent with its sole use for ICT purposes.

Mr. Chairman,

7. The Group notes that the detailed resource requirements and projected expenditures are provided in the supplementary information document. However, in light of the General Assembly resolution 69/309 and for the purpose of greater transparency, the Group would like to seek further information on the location of the posts which should be presented in the organization charts of UNLB, which should clearly differentiate between Brindisi and Valencia.
   
8. While recognizing the differences in the nature of activities of the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe (RSCE) and the UNLB, the Group will be interested in receiving the proposals of the Secretary-General regarding the scalability of the UNLB.

Mr. Chairman,

10. The Group also looks forward to the Secretary-General's report on the effectiveness of the Strategic Air Operations Centre (SAOC) vis-a-vis the investments made. It will seek further clarity with regard to the distinctive role of UNLB, RSCE and the Department of Field Support on air operations management for field missions.

11. On the issue of Strategic Deployment Stocks (SDS), the Group is highly concerned over the loss of $5 million in obsolete equipment and stocks and will seek clarifications in the management of SDS including the current staff capacities in stock processing and look forward to obtaining a comprehensive report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the same matter.

12. The Group continues to support the use and development of in-house capacity as opposed to hiring external consultancies especially where such capacities already exist within the secretariat mandate.
 
Mr. Chairman,

13. 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.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.