Statement by H.E. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States

10 February, 2016

Mr. President,

Mr. Secretary-General,

Minister Malcorra,

Excellences, Ladies and Gentleman,

The Group of Eastern European States joins all others in congratulating a pivotal subsidiary body of the General Assembly, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on its 70th Anniversary.

The Advisory Committee since its inception has been a critical organ within the UN system to advance budgetary soundness and assist the member states within the Fifth Committee in examining the UN programme budget of the United Nations and its specialised agencies. Over years, the Advisory Committee has built solid reputation, first of all, due to the high professionalism and an exemplary sense of a duty of its members. Through the current members of the Committee we extend our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to all those persons who delivered service at all times.

Our special thanks and congratulations go to Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Chairman of the ACABQ, for his service and dedication in ensuring that the Committee lives up to its full potential as an independent advisory expert body of the General Assembly.

We recognize the evolving role and the value of the ACABQ in performing effective oversight of the programmes and resources of the United Nations and its specialized agencies. 70 years into its inception, the Advisory Committee has evolved into an important partner that deals with an increasingly broader and complex range of issues to better assist the Member States to make informed decisions.

We welcome the continued efforts of the Committee to improve their working methods and its is with profound sense of appreciation and respect that we are pleased to note the results that have been already achieved in making the work of the Committee more efficient and effective. We also welcome the tireless efforts of the Chairman to constantly improve the work of the Committee and to strengthen its independence.

While we are in a celebratory mood, we are, of course, cognizant of the multiple challenges to the sustainability of the financial capacity of the UN system to continue delivering quality service to the member states and to millions of people in our countries. As is evident from the present agenda of the United Nations, the continuing economic and financial challenges consequently influence the financial capacities of the system.

At the same time, the UN remains a central global institution to sustain the hopes of the people in our countries for capacity to deliver. Agenda 2030, promotion of the role of the UN in advancing security through peace operations, delivering humanitarian assistance to millions in a swift and effective manner are amongst the key priorities of our present common agenda. In light of renewed commitments of the global community to redouble their efforts towards addressing our common objectives for development, humanitarian assistance and promotion of peace, questions of accountability, transparency and innovative methods for raising and utilising funds are as ever acute. The capacity of the UN system to consolidate its efforts towards co-ordination and mutual reinforcement of action of its different entities is broadly recognised amongst the most effective ways of sound utilisation of its financial resources. Collectively we are bound to deliver swift and tangible results on these objectives. The Advisory Committee, doubtless, has its share to contribute to addressing these challenges.

The professionalism and profound understanding of the system, scrutiny of financial soundness and delivery of expert advice have been and remain the strongest instruments in the hands of the Committee. We are confident that the Committee shall continue on delivering quality service to the membership.

The Group would like to reassure the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions of its full support to ensure that it continues to perform its functions effectively and in full compliance with its mandate. Once again, we congratulate the Committee on this important anniversary.

Thank you

MFA RA
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