STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. KARIM ISMAIL, FIRST SECRETARY AT THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF EGYPT TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 149: CLOSED PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS, AT THE FIFTH COMMITTEE DURING THE SECOND PART OF THE RESUMED SEVENTY-SECOND SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (New York, 7 May 2018)

Mr. Chair,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We would first like to thank the Assistant-Secretary General and Controller Ms. Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, and the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, for introducing the respective reports of the Secretary-General and the ACABQ.

2. Over the years, the Group has repeatedly expressed its concern at the cash deficit situation in several closed peacekeeping missions, owing to the continued non-payment of arrears by some Member States. This has caused a prolonged and unacceptable situation of non-payment of amounts due to other member states, in particular Troop and Police contributing countries, who render the greatest service in maintaining international peace and security.

3. In this connection, the Group stresses, once again, as a matter of principle, that all Member States should fulfill their financial obligations as set out in the Charter of the United Nations on time, in full, and without conditions. Member States that are in arrears in their payments of assessed contributions to closed peacekeeping missions should pay those contributions expeditiously.

4. We would request the secretariat to provide complete information on the Member States in arrears and amounts due regarding the 29 closed PKOs listed in the report, and to include such information in the Secretary General's reports, in case of future reporting on this matter.

5. The Group is also concerned regarding the continued reliance on borrowing from closed missions for cash requirements of active peacekeeping Missions, which is another manifestation of the negative impact of the failure of some member states to fulfill their obligations vis-à-vis PKOs budget in a timely fashion.

6. We wish to recall that in its resolution 65/293, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit concrete proposals and alternatives to address the issue of outstanding dues to Members States from closed peacekeeping operations that are faced with cash deficit.

 
7. In the session ahead of us, the Group stands ready to explore options to achieve a fair solution to this longstanding problem. We reiterate our hope to reach a sustainable solution to the issue of dues payable to Member States, particularly troop and police contributing countries, from closed peacekeeping operation budgets.

Mr. Chair,

8. The Group will engage actively and constructively in the coming deliberations on this important issue. We look forward to all delegations doing the same.

Thank you.