STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS BY HE 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 73RD SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK, 9 OCTOBER 2018

Thank you, Madam Chair.

1                 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 73rd session. ASEAN aligns ourselves with the statement made by Egypt on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2                 Madam Chair, ASEAN takes 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 deliberations, in the spirit of pragmatism and compromise, and complete its work in a timely manner. We wish to underline the importance of the Bureau working in a fully transparent and fully consultative manner, always proceeding by consensus. ASEAN also expresses our appreciation to Ambassador Michel Tommo Monthé of Cameroon, his Bureau members, and the Fifth Committee Secretariat under the leadership of Ms Sharon van Buerle for their hard work during the 72nd session.

Madam Chair,

3                 In the coming months, ASEAN will continue to pay close attention to the discussions in this Committee. We reaffirm our belief that the Secretary-General must be given sufficient resources to effectively implement mandates approved by this Assembly, and realise his vision for reform.

4                 In particular, ASEAN will follow with interest the Committee's deliberations on the scale of assessments for both the regular and peacekeeping budgets, construction, Special Political Missions, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, and human resources management. On this last subject, ASEAN congratulates the Secretary-General on the progress made towards achieving gender parity. We emphasize however, that gender parity and equitable geographical representation must go hand in hand. We encourage the Secretary-General to continue efforts towards geographical diversity, especially at senior levels. We recognise as well the continuing importance of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, especially as the Organisation implements an ambitious programme of reform.

Madam Chair,

5                 Each year, the Fifth Committee faces a heavy and complex agenda. We have repeatedly called for all stakeholders to take steps to improve the timely issuance of documents. We hope that under your leadership, your Bureau will work closely with the Secretariat and ACABQ to make concrete progress in this regard.

6                 Finally, Madam Chair, the session ahead will be challenging. We fully expect a robust discussion. But let me reassure you of ASEAN's firm commitment towards constructive engagement, in an open and transparent manner, on the work before this Committee. We have full faith in the ability of our experts to engage fully with the issues at hand, in order to reach outcomes that will command the widest possible consensus.

I thank you, Madam Chair.

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