STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. MISHAL MOHAMMED AL-ANSARI, STATE OF QATAR, ON AGENDA ITEM 107: REVIEW OF THE EFFICIENCY OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL FUNCTIONING OF THE UNITED NATIONS; AND AGENDA ITEM 108: PROGRAMME BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM 2004-2005, AT THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (New York, 13 December 2004)

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda items 107 and 108.

The Group wishes to express its appreciation to the Budget Controller, Mr. Jean-Pierre Halbwachs, and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Budgetary and Administrative Questions (ACABQ), Mr. Vladimir Kuznetsov, for their introduction of the reports of the Secretary-General and the Advisory Committee, respectively. We also wish to thank the Secretariat of the Fifth Committee for distributing copies of the ACABQ reports to the Committee at the informal informal consultations on 11 December.

The Group has taken note of the reports of the Secretary-General that contain the resource requirements of special political missions for the period up to 31 December 2005, as set out in documents A/59/534/Add.1 and A/59/534/Add.2. The Group regrets that it was unable to give detailed consideration to the contents of the latter reports, including the comments of the Advisory Committee, due to the late issuance thereof. The Group, however, remains ready to give due consideration to the resource requirements.

In this context, the Group would like to emphasize that, in accordance, with the Charter, the General Assembly is the only body authorized to consider and approve the budget of the United Nations. The Group would also like to stress that, in accordance with the Charter, the staff of the Organization should be appointed by the Secretary-General under regulations established by the General Assembly. The Group would be guided in its approach to the elements under this agenda item by Articles 17, 97, 100 and 101 of the Charter, Rule 153 of the Rules and Procedure of the General Assembly, and Rule 5.9 of the PPBME Rules and Regulations.

The Group notes that Phase II security-related requirements of special political missions are estimated at $31.8 million. The Group shares the view of the ACABQ, as set out in paragraph 12 of its report, that security requirements and arrangements of special political missions should be closely coordinated with UNSECOORD, in order to avoid duplication and ensure a more integrated approach with clear lines of authority and accountability.

Turning to the programme budget implications, the Group believes that they should be treated in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolutions 41/213 and 42/211 guiding the operation of the Contingency Fund. The Group further notes that the programme budget implications and revised estimates subject to the Contingency Fund are within the level of the Fund. The Group will appreciate it if it could receive an indication of the status of other items under consideration by Plenary and other Main Committees that may have a bearing on the level of the Fund.

The Group has taken note of the level programme budget outline for the biennium 2006-2007, amounting to $3.359,2 million, as proposed by the Secretary-General in his report A/59/415. The Group notes that the budget outline has been presented in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 41/213 and, in this context, we wish to emphasize the preliminary nature of the estimate. We also note, as reflected in paragraph 9 of the ACABQ report, that the proposed amount of $3.359,2 million, will increase on the basis of the decisions that the Fifth Committee will take in this session, which may increase the final level of the preliminary estimate to $3.760,4 million.

The Group of 77 and China agrees with the proposal of the Secretary General to include in the level of the budget outline the total amount related to special political missions, without prejudice to the outcome of the negotiations of the Committee on this item. We further agree with the proposal of the Secretary-General to maintain the level of the Contingency Fund at 0,75% of the preliminary estimates. In conclusion, the Group concurs with the priorities proposed by the Secretary-General for the biennium 2006-2007, as reflected in paragraph 9 of his report (A/59/415).

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.