Statement of H.E. Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations at the Ad Hoc Working Group on Mandate implementation review under the UN80 Initiative

16 July, 2026

Co-chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group,

At the outset, I would like to thank you for your continued leadership and inclusive approach in advancing the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group. We appreciate your efforts to facilitate a transparent process aimed at strengthening the creation, implementation and review of mandates.

We also thank the Secretariat for presenting its analysis and the comprehensive review of the Secretary-General's reporting portfolio pursuant to paragraphs 8 and 16 of General Assembly resolution 80/251. We welcome the methodology adopted by the Secretariat, including its consultations with relevant United Nations entities and its assessment of the scope, purpose and periodicity of existing reporting requirements.

We note with appreciation that the review has been conducted in accordance with the guiding principles set out in resolution 80/251: the exclusive authority of Member States to establish mandates, the need to preserve the right balance across the three UN pillars, and respect for the diverse nature and governance structures of mandates.

We see value in the proposed measures to enhance the quality and reduce unnecessary duplication of reports, including the use of differentiated reporting formats, concise update reports where appropriate, clearer structures, greater use of data and visual presentation, and improved accessibility through plain language and digital tools.

At the same time, efforts to improve format or presentation need to enhance, rather than diminish, the comprehensiveness, neutrality and analytical value of reporting. Secretary-General's reports and recommendations contained therein, should continue to be factual, objective, evidence-based and fully aligned with the mandates entrusted by Member States.

We also welcome the recommendations regarding the combination of a limited number of reports and adjustments to reporting periodicity or format, where appropriate. We agree that any such measures should be considered on a case-by-case basis, be supported by a clear rationale, preserve the underlying reporting mandates and remain subject, where required, to the consideration and decision of the competent intergovernmental bodies.

We encourage the Secretariat to continue its close engagement with Member States as this work progresses and to keep the Ad Hoc Working Group informed of developments, including the implementation of reporting enhancements and the follow-up to recommendations by the relevant intergovernmental bodies.

Finally, I wish to underline that effective mandate implementation begins with effective mandate creation. As recognized in resolution 80/251, Member States, in exercising their sovereign prerogatives, need to strive for enhanced clarity and brevity when establishing mandates.

Efficiency should be reflected not only in the mandates we create, but also in the way we conduct our work. It can also be achieved through more concise Secretariat documentation, more disciplined drafting, and negotiations focused on substantive issues rather than repetitive textual amendments.

This will contribute to a more coherent, efficient and sustainable mandate architecture, enabling the Organization to devote more of its time and resources to implementing mandates and delivering results rather than managing unnecessary procedural burdens.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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