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New York UN

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS BY H.E. 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 71ST SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON 29 SEPTEMBER 2016

29 September 2016

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1        Thank you very much, Madam Chair.  I have the honour to speak on behalf of the 10 Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), on the organisation of work of the Fifth Committee at the main part of its 71st session.  ASEAN aligns ourselves with the statement made by the Kingdom of Thailand on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2        ASEAN takes the opportunity to congratulate you, Madam Chair, and the members of the Bureau on your election.  We are confident that under your able leadership, the Fifth Committee will engage in constructive deliberations at this session, and complete its work in a timely manner.  ASEAN also expresses its sincere appreciation to Ambassador Durga Prasad Bhattarai, his Bureau members, and the Fifth Committee Secretariat for their outstanding work during the 70th session. 

Madam Chair,

3        In the coming months, ASEAN will pay close attention to discussions in this Committee.  We will follow with interest, deliberations on supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, human resource management, the proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 2018-2019, and Special Political Missions.  In addition, ASEAN emphasizes the importance of supporting the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, and the critical work of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).  ASEAN reiterates that the Secretariat must be given sufficient resources to effectively and efficiently fulfill mandates approved by the General Assembly.

Madam Chair,

4        The Fifth Committee has a heavy and complex agenda before us in the session ahead.  In this regard, the early issuance of documents is critical. 
The Committee must be given sufficient time to properly examine and deliberate on key agenda items.  We hope that the Secretariat will work closely with the Advisory Committee on Budgetary and Administrative Questions (ACABQ). 

5        Last year, defying expectations, the Fifth Committee completed its work before the holiday season.  We look forward to building on this good momentum.  Let me assure you, Madam Chair, that ASEAN will work constructively with all delegations towards the timely conclusion of this session.

I thank you.

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