STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON THE ORGANISATION OF WORK OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE AT THE MAIN PART OF THE 80TH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK, 6 OCTOBER 2025

Thank you, Mdm Chair, and good morning to you.

1 Good morning also to the Controller, members of the Secretariat, and all the experts and delegates in this room, as we begin our very first meeting. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the organisation of work of the Fifth Committee at the main part of its 80th session. ASEAN aligns itself with the statement just delivered by Iraq on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

Mdm Chair,

2 We take this opportunity to congratulate you and the members of your Bureau on your election. We are confident that under your leadership, the Committee will engage in constructive, transparent and consultative discussions. ASEAN is committed to supporting your work towards the successful and timely conclusion of this session. ASEAN also thanks Ambassador Egriselda López of El Salvador, her Bureau members and the Fifth Committee Secretariat for their tireless efforts during the 79th session.

Mdm Chair,

3 As the UN commemorates the 80th anniversary of its founding, the Organisation finds itself at an inflection point. Amidst increasingly complex global challenges, geopolitical tensions and economic fragmentation, we are all called upon to ensure that the UN remains fit-for-purpose. We were encouraged by the strong support shown by many leaders during the General Debate for the principles of the UN Charter, and for reaffirming their support for the multilateral system based on international law, with the UN at its core.

4 This brings us to the ongoing UN80 reform efforts. ASEAN reiterates its support for the Secretary-General’s UN80 initiative, which is a timely and important step towards strengthening the UN system to make it more efficient, effective and responsive. ASEAN will continue to participate constructively in the deliberation and implementation of the UN80 initiative across all of its three workstreams. 

5 Under workstream 1, the Fifth Committee will bear a heavy burden in considering the revised estimates for the 2026 proposed programme budget, and will no doubt be forced to make some tough decisions. We note that the revised estimates for the 2026 proposed programme budget represent a significant decrease of 15.1% in overall resource requirements and of 18.8% in the staffing table compared to the approved regular budget for 2025, in addition to other streamlining efforts. The revised estimates reflect the Secretary-General’s seriousness in his reform efforts. Our delegations will give the Secretary-General’s proposal serious consideration. We also underscore that cuts should not result in the weakening of mandates, but should ultimately contribute to increasing the efficiency of and reducing duplications in the Organisation.

6 At the same time, ASEAN stresses that discussions on reform must also ensure adequate financial resources and liquidity for the UN to fulfil its mandates across all of its three pillars. ASEAN will continue to pay close attention to the deployment of resources for the UN, particularly to the development pillar, which sorely needs funding. We also call on Member States that have the capacity to pay their assessed contributions to do so in full, on time, and without conditions.

Mdm Chair,

7 This year, the Fifth Committee faces a heavy and complex agenda and a compressed timeline for deliberations. ASEAN will actively engage in discussions on the proposed programme budget for 2026, including the revised estimates resulting from the UN80 initiative, construction and property management especially the seismic mitigation retrofit and life-cycle project at UN ESCAP, Special Political Missions, and subvention to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. ASEAN’s positions and views on these items have not changed. We look forward to securing good outcomes and ensuring that the UN has adequate financial resources to fulfil its mandates efficiently and effectively.

8 I assure you that ASEAN will continue to work constructively with all delegations to ensure the successful conclusion of this session.

9 Thank you very much.

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