Mr. Chair,

1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on Agenda Item 150: Administrative and Budgetary Aspects on the Financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations under title, Support account for peacekeeping operations.

2. First of all, our Group would like thank the Secretariat and the Advisory Committee for the submission of their respective reports.

Mr. Chair,

3. Our Group attaches great importance to peacekeeping operations and this particular agenda item, which bears significant importance. Not only does the membership of our Group contribute financially to the budgets of peacekeeping missions, but it also forms the largest share of troop and police contributing countries.

4. The Committee would appreciate that peacekeeping operations are carried out in remote and high-risk areas. The political instability of environments in which these operations are carried out together with the complexity of their mandates, demand the provision of adequate and timely resources for the support component of peacekeeping operations. This is essential, not only to enable effective execution of changing and complex mandates, but to also ensure the safety and security of our peacekeepers who risk their lives every single day for the UN’s efforts towards global peace and security.

5. We reiterate that the level of support account should be commensurate with the different variables involved, including the given mandate, number, size, and complexity of peacekeeping operations in the field in order to continue to provide seamless backstopping support for peacekeeping operations.

Mr. Chair,

6. Our Group notes that financial resources required for core activities of the support account for the period 2022/23 are estimated at $333.1 million, which represents a 4.9% increase, compared to the approved budget for the period 2021/22. The Group further notes that for the 2022/23 period, the number of authorized uniformed personnel supported, including African Union personnel, is expected to decrease owing mainly to the closure of UNAMID.

7. Our Group stresses that closure and downsizing of missions must consider the continued need for backstopping support in order to provide for completion and transition planning activities. Resources requirements must therefore take into account the specific needs of such Missions accordingly.

Mr. Chair,

8. We wish to highlight that only those activities and initiatives that are fully considered and approved by the General Assembly should be budgeted for, and their resource requirements reflected in support account after approval by the General Assembly.

9. On behalf of our Group, I would like to reiterate our strong support and commitment for UN peacekeeping operations and our call for adequate support for peacekeeping operations.

10. We assure you of our commitment to engage constructively with all members of the committee on this important agenda item.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.