Mr. Chairman,

1. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on this important agenda item.

2. The Group would like to thank the Chief of the Policy and Oversight Coordination Service, Mr. Mario Baez, for introducing the relevant report of the Secretary-General. We would also like to thank the Assistant Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services, Mr. David Kanja, and the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, for introducing their respective reports.

3. The Group takes note of the Secretary-General's report document A/67/356, the ACABQ's related report documents A/67/636 as well as the OIOS comprehensive audit report on this issue as reflected in document A/67/695.

4. The Group will closely examine the information, analysis and the recommendations contained in those documents in conjunction with the related reports deferred from the 66th session and looks forward to fruitful discussions during the course of the informal debates. The Group hopes the discussions result in better and more suitable arrangements for the standards of accommodation of air travel in the United Nations and is proportionate to the quantity and quality of work in the organizations while considering special needs, requirements and conditions of work.

5. The Group eagerly awaits the final effects of the Umoja roll-out on the managing of information on air travel in the United Nations and hopes this would bring about more clarity and certainty to policy and decision making on air travel in the future.

6. The Group wishes to reiterate that any policy changes and new formulations in this area, like other areas dealing with management and financial issues, continue to remain the exclusive prerogative of the Fifth Committee and the General Assembly.

7. The Group wishes to assure you, Mr. Chairman, of its readiness to contribute to a satisfactory result in the upcoming discussions.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.