Mr. Chair,

1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on the organization of work for the first part of the resumed 78th session of the Fifth Committee.

2. At the outset, allow me to congratulate and appreciate Cuba's stellar leadership of the Group of 77 & China throughout 2023, notably my dearest friend Richard. I reiterate Uganda's commitment to steward the work of the Group in a transparent, inclusive, and constructive manner.

3. I also wish to extend the Group's sincere appreciation and gratitude to the great efforts of the Secretariat of the Fifth Committee and the Bureau in the preparation of the programme of work of the Committee for this session, acknowledging that this session has started a week earlier than it has been ordinarily starting.

4. We hope that the extra week extension of the programme of work of the Committee as decided in the General Assembly resolution 77/267 will be utilized effectively and efficiently to enable the Committee to come to the negotiated outcome of the agenda items before it and not simply squandered.

5. The Group would also like to acknowledge the great efforts of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in providing comprehensive technical and sound recommendations to the Committee on the agenda items before us during this part of the resumed session.

6. We also note the efforts and steps taken towards timely submission and availability of reports to the Committee. Timely submission of reports is a vital element towards enabling the Committee to conclude the sessions on time and within the allocated working hours, provide sound guidance to our organization, and avoid the undesirable practice of adopting skeletal resolutions or taking no action.

Mr. Chair,

7. The Group of G77 & China remains committed to having a thorough consideration of all the agenda items allocated to this Committee, in particular, the human resources management, accountability system, supply chain activities, report of the Joint Inspection Unit, and United Nations Common System, among others.

8. The Group recalls that the General Assembly adopted resolution 77/278 after a long time of having no consensus on the human resources management. The Group will be interested in hearing and understanding how the secretariat is implementing the comprehensive guidance that the Assembly gave. We reiterate that every department, without exception, must implement the resolution of the General Assembly substantially and unselectively.

9. In this regard, we look forward to receiving detailed information on how the decision to widen the posts subject to the desirable ranges system to all posts funded by the regular budget at the Professional and higher categories, including in special political missions and peacekeeping operations is being implemented effective last month by the responsible departments.

Mr. Chair,

10. Accountability system is another important item before the Committee this session. Our Group will pay close attention to the report of the secretary-general on this agenda item. We reiterate that the Secretary-General should continue to strengthen internal controls in the accountability system, including through the monitoring of expenditures in order to fully implement agreed mandates and programmes and in ensuring that reforms should contribute to the enhancement of the accountability mechanism within the Organization.

11. In conclusion, Mr. Chair, the Group assures you and your bureau of our commitment to engage constructively and in good faith with all our partners in order come to negotiated outcomes to the agenda items before us and to conclude on time.

I thank you.