Mr. Chairman,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of Group of 77 and China on agenda item 146, administrative and budgetary aspects of financing United Nations peacekeeping operations, in particular support account.

2. We would like to thank the Under-Secretaries-General for Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support, Mr. Alain Le Roy and Ms. Susana Malcorra, as well as the Controller, Mr. Jun Yamazaki, for introducing the reports of the Secretary-General under this item. We would also like to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services, Ms. Carman Lapointe, and the Chairman of the ACABQ, Mr. Colleen Kelapile, for introducing their respective reports.

Mr. Chairman,

3. The Group of 77 and China underlines that all peacekeeping operations must be provided with the necessary resources to fulfill their mandates. In this regard, we stress the importance of providing sufficient backstopping to all missions.

4. The Group recognizes the need for sufficient support during all phases of peacekeeping operations. We emphasize that the level of the support account should broadly correspond to the mandate, number, size and complexity of peacekeeping missions and special political missions.

Mr. Chairman,

5. The Group further emphasizes the importance of interaction and close coordination with troop-contributing countries. We underline the need for genuine and meaningful partnership between the Secretariat and the troop-contributing countries on all aspects related to the support of peacekeeping operations.

6. The representation of troop-contributing countries at senior management in all relevant departments, including on the support side, both in the field and at headquarters, is essential to bring greater coherence between those who manage, direct and command operations, and those who provide invaluable human resources on the ground. The Group believes that there is considerable room for improvement in these areas. In this context, we recall the relevant General Assembly resolutions, which consistently request the Secretary-General to make further concrete efforts to ensure adequate representation of troop-contributing countries in all relevant departments, in line with their contributions to UN peacekeeping.

7. We are equally concerned at the continuing low proportion of women from developing countries in the Secretariat, especially at senior levels.

Mr. Chairman,

8. The Group assures you of its constructive approach in these negotiations, with a view to providing the United Nations peacekeeping operations all the necessary resources to effectively deliver on their mandates.

I thank you Mr. Chairman.