Madam Chair,

1. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 155, Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations: Updated financial position of closed peacekeeping missions as of 30 June 2024.

2. We would like to thank the Secretariat and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for issuing their respective reports in a timely manner.

Madam Chair,

3. The Group takes note of the Secretary-General's report A/79/633 which provides an updated financial situation of 32 closed peacekeeping missions as of 30 June 2024.

4. The Group notes with great concern that the 13 of the closed missions reported have a cash deficit of $156.3 million dollars, which is mainly a result of outstanding payments of assessed contributions from Member States.

5. The cash deficit situation prevents these missions from fulfilling their obligations not only vis-à vis vendors, third-party claims, and Member States, but also vis-à-vis troop- and police- contributing countries (TTCs and PCCs). Some of these liabilities have been outstanding for many years.

6. In this regard, the Group reiterates that all outstanding liabilities, including outstanding claims of troop- and police-contributing countries, in operationally closed peacekeeping missions should be settled as a matter of priority.

7. The Group reiterates its call on all Members States to fulfill their obligations on assessed contributions to PKO budgets on time, in full and without conditions. The Croup further underscores that troop- and police-contributing countries, are already largely contributing and should not, for any reason, be asked to bear additional costs.

8. The Group of 77 and China also notes that 19 closed missions have a positive net cash balance amounting to $5.75 million dollars. This increase is primarily attributable to the inclusion of residual cash assets from the United Nations Operations in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). The Group, however, would urge the Secretary-General to keep close monitoring of the different borrowing transactions and settle in a timely manner all claims and liabilities to enable the final liquidation of closed PKOs.

9. The Group also notes the reclassification of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) and the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) from deficit to surplus status, primarily during the period 2023-2024, due to an increase in the cash asset balance and mainly related to interest income accrued during the period, as the Advisory Committee has reported.

10. The Group notes with satisfaction that the Advisory Committee notes that no loans from closed peacekeeping operations to the regular budget occurred during the reporting period.

11. In this regard, we underscore the importance of regular updates on the financial status of closed missions as requested in A/78/791, paragraph 6.

12. The Group takes note of the Secretary-General's revised proposal for a mechanism for the return of surplus cash balances to Member States, based on the principles contained in General Assembly resolution 76/280. While the Group supports efforts to improve the efficiency of financial closure processes, it emphasizes that the payment of outstanding contributions remains the only viable long-term solution to the timely settlement and requests the Secretary- General to provide an update on his efforts in this regard to the General Assembly during its consideration of the present report and in the next report.

13. To conclude, Madam Chair, the Group of 77 and China, as usual, will spare no effort to work with all partners to reach a successful conclusion of this very important agenda item.

I thank you!