Fifth Committee, 27th plenary meeting - General Assembly, First part of the resumed 80th session

Distinguished delegates, before we proceed with taking action on the various draft resolutions and decisions on the issues that were before the Committee during the first part of the resumed ATS session, I should like to recall that consultations concluded overnight and that therefore the documents before the Committee today are advanced and provisional versions and subject to editorial review and quality control. They will be issued in the six official languages as quickly as possible. Taking fully into account the various resolutions of the General Assembly on multilingualism, I thank all delegations for their flexibility to proceed with documents in English only to facilitate the conclusion of the work of the Committee at the first part of the resumed ATS session. Furthermore, All documents for action today have been made available electronically. The provisional documents are available on Fifth Committee place on eDelegate. I thank you for your understanding. I invite the Committee to resume its consideration of agenda item 1.35 entitled Programme budget for 2025, ICT strategy. Action on draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.28. The Committee's attention is drawn to draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.28 entitled Information and Communications Technology Strategy, submitted on the basis of informal consultations coordinated by the representative of Ireland, Ms. Eileen Marias-Kolon. Are there any comments on the draft resolution? If there are no comments, May I take it that the committee wishes to adopt draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.28 as a whole without a vote? I hear no objection. The draft resolution is adopted. Does any delegation wish to make a statement after the adoption of the draft resolution? As I see no requests for the floor, we have thus concluded our consideration of this agenda item at this stage. I invite the committee to resume its consideration of agenda item 136 entitled Program Budget for 2026. Special subjects. Action on draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.27. The committee has before it A/C.5/80/L.27 entitled Special subjects relating to the programme budget for 2026, submitted to the committee on the basis of informal consultations coordinated by the representative of Singapore, Ms. Noel Tam. and Georgia, Ms. Youssef Georgiuliani. Are there any comments on the draft resolution? If there are no comments, may I take it that the committee wishes to adopt draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.27 as a whole without a vote? I hear no objection. The draft resolution is adopted. Does any delegation wish to make a statement after the adoption of the draft resolution? The committee has before it the following draft resolutions and amendment on revised estimates relating to the programme budget for 2026 under section 3, political affairs, and section 36, staff assessment. Draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.24 submitted by Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America. Amendment A/C.5/80/L.25 to draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.24 proposed by the Russian Federation. Draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.26 submitted to the Committee on the basis of informal consultations coordinated by the representative of Rwanda, Mr. Roy Kumuza Gisa. The Committee will first turn its attention to draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.24 entitled Revised estimates relating to the programme budget for 2026 under section III, Political affairs, and section XXXVI, Staff assessment, submitted and co-sponsored by Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cyprus to introduce the draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.24.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have the honor to introduce draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.24 80/L.24 on behalf of Bahrain, Jordan, Japan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the 27 Member States of the European Union. The Fifth Committee bears the responsibility of ensuring that all special political missions receive the financial and human resources necessary to implement the mandates entrusted to them by the relevant United Nations bodies. Regrettably, we were unable to reach a consensus on this basis. The draft resolution before us seeks to ensure adequate and predictable resourcing for all Security Council mandated special political missions under consideration through the regular budget, while avoiding the inappropriate use of the unforeseen and extraordinary expenditures fund. We call on all delegations to honour this responsibility and to support the adoption of the budget as presented in this draft resolution. Thank you.

The Committee also has before it amendment A/C.5/80/L.25 proposed by the Russian Federation to draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.24. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation to introduce the amendment.

Thank you, distinguished Chair, for giving us the floor. Since there is no mandate to restore the work of the Security Council Committee 1737, its panel of experts, and also ensuring them with appropriate financial administrative resources, We therefore propose the amendment document L25, which is an amendment to L24. In our amendment, we propose zero resources for the Committee on Iran and in support of 1737 Committee, the requested by the Secretary General resources for the Senior Representative for the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 2792. and for the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen and the United Nations Mission in Hodeidah. We are proposing to approve this at the level as was proposed by ACABQ and we call on Member States to support our amendment. Thank you.

Are there any other delegations wishing to take the floor? In accordance with Rule 130 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly, the Committee shall take action on the proposed amendment contained in A/C.5/80/L.25 to draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.24. A recorded vote has been requested by the representative of Cyprus on behalf of the EU and its Member States. on the amendment contained in a c five eighty l twenty five proposed by the russian federation. does any delegation wish to make a statement in explanation of vote before the vote? I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cyprus on behalf of the European Union and its member states.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have the honour to deliver this explanation of vote on behalf of the 27 member states of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan. We deeply regret that Russia has presented amendments which seek to defund a special political mission, namely the panel of experts on the Islamic Republic of Iran. As we have previously stated, the Fifth Committee is the main body of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibility for administrative and budgetary matters. To comply with this duty, the Committee must adhere to the resolutions and decisions establishing mandates. It is not its role to renegotiate or relitigate them. The amendments contained in document L25 propose to entirely defund the Panel of Experts on the Islamic Republic of Iran, thereby preventing it from delivering on its approved mandate. We regard this proposal as a direct violation of the decisions taken by the Security Council and an infringement of the Fifth Committee's role. For this reason, we will vote against the amendment and call on all delegations to do the same. I thank you.

I give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

Chair, China has repeatedly made it clear that the Security Council has yet to reach consensus among its members regarding the 1737 Committee and the Panel of Experts on Iran. And as such, the work of the Committee and the Panel of Experts should not restart on its own. Against this backdrop, preparation and submission of such a controversial programme budget is an act that has hindered the efforts of the Fifth Committee to carry out its work based on technical considerations, including from a financial and management perspective. More regrettable still is the fact that certain countries, in total disregard of the aforementioned circumstances, have insisted on putting the entire revised programme budget to a vote. This sets a bad precedent of resorting to a vote when it comes to SPM programme budgets in recent years and seriously undermines the working methods of this committee. In light of the above, China will vote in favour of the abandonment and against the draft resolution to be put to a vote. We are willing to work with all to jointly maintain a good working atmosphere within this committee and uphold basic consensus-based working method. Thank you.

And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iran.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim. My delegation would like to begin by expressing its position regarding the amendment introduced by the distinguished delegate of the Russian Federation. We fully support this amendment, which is in line with our principal position of termination of Security Council Resolution 2231 on 18 October 2025. As of that date, it ceased to have any legal effect or operative mandate, and all measures and restrictions established under that resolution were permanently terminated. In the absence of a clear, valid and legal mandate for the so-called panel of experts, we request the delegations to vote in favour of the draft resolution introduced by the Russian Federation. We strongly regret that the draft resolution is now before us in the Committee that reflects a political agenda rather than a technical text. In our view, the amendment, I mean the L document, L24, it does not capture the technical essence of the committee's work and mandate, but instead represents a clear politicization of its activities. We are also concerned that this draft reflects evident double standards. At the same time, we observe efforts that appear to diminish the priorities of the developing countries in addressing the pressing challenges faced by member states, The draft seeks to allocate maximum resources to activities that are not mandated while disregarding the observations of the relevant technical bodies. So we encourage the committee members to vote in favor of L25 and against L24. Thank you so much.

Before we begin the voting process, I should like to remind members that person to rule 128 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, no representative shall interrupt the voting except on a point of order on the actual conduct of the voting. We shall now proceed to the vote. I now put to the vote the amendment A/C.5/80/L.25 submitted by the representative of the Russian Federation the draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.24. Those in favour of inclusion of the proposed amendment, please press two. Those against, press three. And abstentions, press four. Those in favour of inclusion of the proposed amendment, please press two, those against, press three, and abstentions press four. I now give the floor to the Secretary of the Committee.

Will delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board?

The voting has been completed. The machine is locked.

The result of the vote is as follows: in favour 10, against 74, abstentions 48. The inclusion of the proposed amendment is not adopted. Does any delegation wish to make a statement in explanation of vote after the vote? The Committee shall now take action on draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.24. Are there any delegations wishing to take the floor? I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Thank you, distinguished Chair. Thank you for giving us the floor. As we already explained, in those statements since there is no mandate from the Security Council to restore the activity of the 1737 Committee and its panel of experts. We are against providing them with the financial and administrative resources. And we are asking for a recorded vote of L24, which is approving finances for the panel of experts on Iran. And we call on colleagues to vote against L24. Thank you.

A recorded vote has been requested by the representative of the Russian Federation on draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.24. Does any delegation wish to make a statement in explanation of vote before the vote? I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway.

Thank you, Madam Chair. During the opening meeting of the 18th session of the fifth committee, my delegation expressed our commitment to strive for consensual outcomes in this committee. As my distinguished colleague from Cyprus stated earlier, the committee has regrettably not been able to reach a consensual outcome on this agenda item. My delegation has, however, also underlined the responsibility of the Fifth Committee to ensure adequate financing for the activities of the United Nations. This includes the responsibility of ensuring that all special political missions receive the financial and human resources necessary to implement the mandates entrusted to them by the relevant United Nations bodies. The draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.24 before us seeks to ensure adequate and predictable resourcing for all Security Council-mandated special political missions under consideration through the regular budget. We call on all delegations to honour this responsibility and to support the adoption of the budget as presented in this draft resolution. For this reason, we will vote in favour of the draft resolution and call on all delegations to do the same. Thank you, Madam Chair.

We shall now proceed to take a decision on draft resolution. Before we begin the voting process, I should like to remind delegations the person to rule 128 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly no representative shall interrupt the voting except on a point of order on the actual conduct of the voting I now put to the vote draft resolution a slash c5 slash 80 slash l24 those in favor against or abstaining on draft resolution A/C.5/AT/L.24, please signify on the board. Press number two for yes, number three for no, and number four for abstention. Press number two for yes, number three for no, and number for abstentions. I now give the floor to the Secretary of the Committee.

Will delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board? The voting has been completed.

The machine is locked.

The result of the vote is as follows: in favour 88, against 8, abstentions 37. The draft resolution contained in document A/C.5/80/L.24 is adopted. Does any delegation wish to make a statement in explanation of vote after the vote? I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iran.

Thank you. The adoption of a voted resolution has demonstrated that respect for consensus-based text is diminishing within this committee. This development is both regrettable and telling. as it reveals a growing willingness to advance outcomes despite the explicit opposition of some members, thereby highlighting underlying divisions and the departure from the spirit of cooperative multilateralism. My delegation wishes to disassociate itself from any resources, posts, and funding allocated to the so-called panel of experts as this contravenes with the technical work of the Fifth Committee, which should be in line with the valid mandates. Accordingly, my country will not recognize any attempt to revive or enforce determined measures or mechanisms in any form whatsoever, including the so-called Committee 1737 or the so-called panel of experts. I thank you.

As I see no further request for the floor, we have thus concluded our consideration of this agenda item at this stage. I invite the Committee to resume its consideration of agenda item 143 entitled Joint Inspection Unit. The attention of the Committee is drawn to draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.29 entitled Joint Inspection Unit submitted on the basis of informal consultations coordinated by the representative of the Bahamas, Mr. Obafemi Travis McKenzie. Are there any comments on the draft resolution? If there are no comments, may I take it that the committee wishes to adopt draft resolution A/C.5/80/L.29 without a vote? I hear no objection. The draft resolution is adopted. Does any delegation wish to make a statement after the adoption of the draft resolution? As I see no request for the floor, we have thus concluded our consideration of this agenda item at this stage. I invite the Committee to resume its consideration of agenda item 134 entitled Review of efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations. The attention of the Committee is next drawn to the draft decision contained in document A/C.5/80/L.30 entitled Questions deferred for future consideration. Are there any comments on the draft decision? If there are no comments, may I take it that the Committee wishes to adopt draft decision A/C.5/80/L.30 without a vote? I hear no objection. The draft decision is adopted. Does any delegation wish to make a statement after the adoption of the draft decision? As I see no requests for the floor, we have thus concluded our consideration of this agenda item at this stage. Distinguished delegates, We have concluded our consideration of all items before the Committee at the first part of the resumed ATS session, and I request the rapporteur to report directly thereon to the General Assembly. Distinguished delegates, we have come to the end of the first part of the resumed ATS session of the Fifth Committee. I would like to express my appreciation for the hard work of my fellow Bureau members and of all delegations. I would also like to once again express my sincere appreciation to all coordinators for their dedication and hard work. In this connection, I also wish to acknowledge the work carried out by the representatives of Algeria, Ms. Yusra Salij, Bulgaria, Ms. Yuliana Zhivkova Angelova, Cameroon, Mr. Jean Bertrand Biina, the Gambia, Ms. Fatou Gieye Haydara; Guinea, Ms. Masseni Kabba Saleh; the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. Laurens Thomas den Hertog; and Switzerland, Mr. Olivier Humbel, as coordinators in addition to those already mentioned. Furthermore, I would like to thank our colleagues from the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management, the Department of Operational Support and the Department of Safety and Security and the Office of Information and Communications Technology supporting us. Their invaluable support was crucial to our success. Dear colleagues, allow me to express my appreciation to the Bureau, to the facilitators and the Secretariat for their efforts in supporting our work during this session. As we bring the first resumed session of the Fifth Committee to a close, it is evident that, while the committee carries both budgetary and administrative responsibilities, our overall output has been limited. This warrants a frank assessment of how we have conducted our work. Only a handful of resolutions have been adopted. while the majority of agenda items remain without outcome or have been deferred. This is a matter of concern. This is disappointing. A lack of progress on several key issues including organizational efficiency, human resources management, supply chain activities, accountability, cost recovery, and air travel, highlights missed chances to provide direction where it is most needed. A central concern has been the lack of engagement at the appropriate time. Substantive discussions began too late and in some instances were not initiated at all. The extension of the session did not yield better results. This points to a broader challenge, not the amount of time available, but how and when we choose to engage. It's not a lack of time, but a lack of timely, active, and constructive engagement. If this committee is to fulfill its mandate effectively, earlier involvement, sustained engagement, and constructive approach to negotiations are essential. We must match the expectations we place on the organization with our working methods, prioritizing efficiency, accountability, and flexibility in our deliberations. While it is encouraging that consensus was reached on certain items, these instances should serve as a reminder that progress is achievable when there is sufficient commitment, where there is political will. Looking ahead to the second resumed session, I urge all delegations to build on these reflections. The agenda before us remains substantial and demanding, and incumbent upon us to approach it with renewed focus, stronger discipline and determination to deliver concrete, tangible, negotiated outcomes. The credibility and the effectiveness of this committee depend on our collective effort. And on a personal note, let me convey my birthday wishes to one of the most outstanding Fifth Committee expert, my expert, Nikki, it is a true pleasure to work with you. The floor is now open for any delegation who wishes to make a statement. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uruguay on behalf of the group of G77 and China.

Madam Chair, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 in China at the closing of the first part of the resumed 80th session of the Fifth Committee. The group would like to express its sincere appreciation to you, Madam Chair, and to the members of the Bureau for your leadership and stewardship throughout this session. We also extend our gratitude to all facilitators for their dedication in guiding complex negotiations under particularly challenging circumstances. The group further wishes to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of the Secretariat in supporting the work of the Committee. Madam Chair, this session has taken place against a particularly demanding backdrop marked by continued liquidity constraints facing the organization, as well as the ongoing implementation of system-wide reform efforts, including those associated with UNAD. In this context, the group underscores the importance of preserving the intergovernmental nature of decision making and ensuring that all administrative and budgetary processes remain transparent, inclusive and member state driven. The group notes with appreciation the consensus that was reached on a number of agenda items during the session in particular, will welcome the adoption of outcomes related to organizations, to the organization's ICT strategy, the JIU and the item on addressing racism and racial discrimination. These results demonstrate that even under time pressure, constructive engagement and flexibility can yield positive outcomes for the work of the committee. At the same time, the group regrets that we were not able to reach agreement on several key agenda items of critical importance, in particular, the absence of substantive outcomes under human resources management, as well as on broader questions related to accountability, supply chain activities, and other cross-cutting administrative matters is a matter of concern. The group engaged actively and constructively throughout the session, demonstrating flexibility and a willingness to bridge differences. However, despite these efforts, consensus proved elusive. In this regard, the group wishes to underscore that human resources management remains a central pillar for the effective functioning of the organization. Discussions on this item, including those related to workforce planning, equitable geographical representation, and the impact of ongoing reform initiatives, require careful and comprehensive consideration. We therefore look forward to continuing these discussions in future sessions with a view to achieving balanced and actionable outcomes. With respect to the internship program, the group notes that considerations of this issue has once again been deferred. The group reiterates the importance of advancing a more inclusive and equitable framework for internships, including through the development of a centralized system that enhances accessibility for candidates from developing countries. We remain committed to engaging constructively on this matter in future deliberations. In relation to the proposed revisions to the financial regulations and rules and the program planning framework, which have been deferred to the second resumed session, the group wishes to highlight that delays in the issuance of documentation and in the provision of responses to member states' queries have had a direct impact on the ability of delegations to coordinate effectively and engage in informed negotiations. In this regard, we reiterate that sufficient time should be allocated for the consideration of this important agenda item, which warrants thorough analysis and careful reflection on all potential implications of the proposed language. The group further reiterates its concern regarding the organization's persistent liquidity challenges. Addressing this issue requires a collective commitment by all member states to fulfill their financial obligations in full on time and without conditions. At the same time, efforts aimed at improving efficiency and accountability must, must be taken in a manner that safeguards mandate delivery and avoids unintended consequence for program implementation, particularly in developing countries. Madam Chair, despite the difficulties encountered during this session, the Group of 77 and China remains firmly committed to the work of the Fifth Committee. We will continue to engage in a constructive, flexible and solutions-oriented manner with a view to strengthening the effectiveness, transparency and accountability of the organizations. The group stands ready to work with all partners in the upcoming sessions to build on areas of convergence, bridge outstanding differences and deliver balanced outcomes that reflect the interests and priorities of the entire membership. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank you and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union.

Madam Chair, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Andorra and Monaco, align themselves with this statement. At the outset, we thank you, Madam Chair, the Bureau and the facilitators for guiding this session, as well as the Secretariat for its valuable support. Madam Chair, the first resumed session of the Fifth Committee has once again highlighted its dual role as a budgetary body and as a key forum for addressing essential administrative issues that underpin the effective functioning of the United Nations, particularly in the context of ongoing reform. At the same time, this session calls for honest reflection on where we fell short in providing the necessary guidance and how we can collectively met this responsibility more effectively going forward. Our first session concludes today with the adoption of only a limited number of resolutions. Regrettably, most agenda items resulted in no action or deferral. It is particularly disappointing that no resolutions were adopted under the agenda item on the review of the organization's efficiency, especially in light of the UNAD initiative. We wish to express our concern that the financial rules and regulations and the financial situation were not substantively addressed during this session and were still deferred to the second session, despite being identified as a key priority by the Secretary General. We trust that the Committee will engage with this matter with due urgency with a view to reaching agreement at the second resumed session. We also deplore our inability to send clear positive signals to the staff of the Organization, who are its driving force. We remain firmly committed to advancing discussions on human resources management, including internships, and encourage continued engagement between sessions to reach a consensual outcome, as achieved during the 77th session. Furthermore, the absence of negotiations on supply chain activities continues to deprive us of important guidance. Additional missed opportunities include accountability and cost recovery, as well as efforts to modernize air travel standards. At the same time, we were able to reach agreement on important and diverse issues, such as addressing racism and the ITC strategy, demonstrating that compromise is possible when there is genuine willingness to engage. Supporting the work of the Joint Inspection Unit should remain a priority. It is a core responsibility of this committee to ensure that all special political missions received the financial and human resources required to implement their mandate. We note with concern that some delegations did not uphold this collective responsibility and instead use it the fifth committee as a forum to relitigate Mondays. We trust that today's conclusion will also guide the ACABQ in its further technical considerations. Madam

Chair, as has been highlighted once again, the limited outcomes of this session raise serious concerns about our working methods. Extending the first resumed session from four to five weeks at significant cost has proven inefficient. Key proposals such as those on supply chain activities and special political missions were introduced only in the final week, while the Rev 1 on financial regulations and rules was not introduced at all. Our committee does not need more time, but earlier, more active, and more constructive engagement. Rather than longer hours in the last days, we need more meaningful and effective use of the time allocated. And in this regard, we should hold ourselves to at least the same standards that we expect from the organization and its staff. So we highlight that improving our working methods must remain an ongoing priority. We must raise our standards of efficiency, responsibility and flexibility. In conclusion, Madam Chair, in a few weeks we will resume our session with a demanding programme of work. In an international context of growing uncertainty, the missed opportunities in this session should serve as a wake-up call. prompting us to rise to the challenge and ensure that this committee can fulfill its mandate effectively. Our goal remains clear to deliver on UN mandates in an effort to find consensus. You can count on the full support and commitment of the European Union and its member states in this collective endeavor. I thank you, Madam Chair, and a wish of very happy birthday as well.

I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Angola on behalf of the African group.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, for giving me the floor. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the African group. At the outset, the group aligns itself with the statement just delivered by the distinguished representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and wishes to make the following additional remarks. The African group acknowledges the positive outcomes of the first part of the resumed session We particularly welcome the adoption of the agenda item on addressing racism and racial discrimination, which is of special importance to our group, as well as the decisions related to the ICT strategy and the Joint Inspection Unit. These results demonstrate that when there is genuine political will, constructive engagement and the spirit of compromise, the Fifth Committee can deliver concrete and meaningful outcomes for all Member States. Allow me also to express our sincere appreciation to you, Madam Chair, and the members of your Bureau for your guidance. And we further thank the Secretariat for its tireless support, to the coordinators for their diligent efforts, and all delegations for the constructive spirit they demonstrated throughout this session. Nevertheless, we regret that despite the best efforts of Member States, a significant number of agenda items were not concluded. The growing number of deferrals together with increasing number of items on which no action was taken is a matter of serious concerns to the African group. This trend risks placing additional pressure on already congested sessions while also affecting the quality, timeliness and predictability of the committee's work. In this regard, The African Group reiterates that negotiation by consensus, while often challenging, remains the backbone of the Fifth Committee work. It is through consensus that decisions are collectively owned and that unity in their implementation is preserved. We are therefore concerned by the increasing practice of introducing L documents which, if it continues, may further undermine the Committee's ability to reach consensus and weaken confidence among delegations. We therefore urge all colleagues to renew their commitment to constructive engagement and genuine consensus building with a view to reducing deferrals, avoiding inaction on important agenda items and ensuring that the Committee can discharge its responsibilities effectively. Looking ahead, the African group remains committed to working constructively with all member states, drawing inspiration from the items successfully concluded during this session. We stand ready to continue working with you, Madam Chair, to ensure success of committees for future work. I thank you.

And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States of America.

Thank you, Madam Chair. for your leadership, but for your patience in what is, I think you're hearing in polite diplomatic language, a very frustrating five week first resume session. Perhaps I'll get into that in a couple of minutes. But colleagues, the United States approached this session with clear expectations that we would deliver decisions that strengthen accountability, impose discipline, and ensure that resources entrusted to the United Nations are used effectively. While some progress has been made, the overall outcome, as we've heard today and you're going to hear from other delegation, falls woefully short of these standards. On human resources management, we regret that consensus remained out of reach. Meaningful reform in this area is essential to building a workforce that is agile, accountable, and performance-driven. This includes addressing the over reliance on continuing contracts and ensuring that contractual framework support flexibility, merit and effective management and on prioritizing workforce rejuvenation to ensure the organization can attract, develop and retain the next generation of talent. We are disappointed and that's polite diplomatic speak. We are disappointed that once again this committee was unable to advance common sense reforms on business class travel. I've only been doing this for six months, but boy, the UN loves its business class travel. The current standard exceeds that of most national governments and is not a responsible use of taxpayer resources. The continued inability to align travel policies with common sense standards sends absolutely the wrong signal, not only to here, but I think more importantly to the people that we meet in the field doing the hard work on the ground in places like DRC, Central African Republic, Kenya, and other places that I've had the privilege to visit in this job. And we therefore call on the Secretary General, in his role of Chief Administrative Officer, to ban the use of business class travel. We underscore the importance of the Fifth Committee meeting its fundamental responsibility to provide sufficient and timely funding for mandated special political missions. These missions carry out critical work, often in fragile and rapidly evolving environments. We applaud this committee for taking action to ensure funding for the Iran Sanctions Committee and its panel of experts. Finally, we are also concerned by the fact that the 5C has used only half of its allotted slots this session, which again calls into question the need for five weeks. Pretty common sense. Extending the session has not, in and of itself, produced better outcomes. On the contrary, it has diluted focus and discipline. We should return to a four-week session and ensure that our work is structured to deliver results within that timeframe, or This is what I would do. Given our poor record of achievement, perhaps we should consider doing away with the first resumed entirely. Surely the money we spent here could be better put to better use. If the number I heard was correct, something like $750,000 to have five weeks of sessions to accomplish very little. Taken together, these outcomes reflect a broader challenge, our collective ability to translate words into actions, commitments to reform into concrete decisions. UNAD has provided a clear direction of travel. It is now incumbent, indeed it's essential, for this committee to match that ambition with action. The United States remains committed to working with all delegations to advance a United Nations that is leaner, more accountable, and more effective in delivering results on the ground. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Can I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Madam Chair, on behalf of my delegation, I thank you, your Bureau, item coordinators and the Secretariat for their diligent work throughout this session. Colleagues, as we conclude this first resumed session, as others have said, we must be candid about the reality of our work. Once more, we have seen a pattern of no actions, deferrals and entrenched positions preventing the committee from delivering outcomes commensurate with our technical mandate. On air travel, it was particularly disappointing that, once again, the committee failed to come to an agreement. The rules around the use of first class and business class for staff and representatives are outdated. In times of financial stress and constrained mandate delivery, we hope this committee can find the flexibility to agree a fairer and more robust framework at the 81st main session. On human resource management, our continued failure to have meaningful dialogue and make progress on the main focus of this session is regrettable. We must work together to find a way through our differences for the benefit of staff and the organisation. We regret that voting was necessary this session. This demonstrates the seriousness with which we regard the responsibility this committee has in ensuring that all special political missions receive the financial and human resources necessary to implement the mandates entrusted to them by the relevant UN bodies. That said, we were pleased to see positive progress on a few items this session. We found consensus-based outcomes on ICT, addressing racism and JIU. On ICT, we're pleased to advance the consolidation of digital infrastructure and innovative mandate delivery in line with the UNAD objectives. The committee further adopted a skeletal resolution on a MOJA after its deferral in main session. We view this as the next positive step as the secretariat takes forward the work and full roll out of NextGen ERP. These outcomes, whilst modest in number, demonstrate that technical evidence-based engagement remains the committee's most effective tool. This all said, we continue to be concerned by the delayed issuance of key reports and late tabling of items, including on supply chains, which reduce the time available for any meaningful negotiations. These procedural shortcomings compound the committee's wider challenges and must be urgently addressed if we're to enable a functional working rhythm. Madam Chair, as we look forward to second resume session, the UK urges delegations to return with renewed commitment to progress reform and deliver value for money. We believe delivering on these responsibilities requires cooperation and a willingness to prioritise the organisation's needs over political preferences, a challenge the committee must and can rise to. Thank you.

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Let me express my sincere gratitude for your leadership in guiding us through this session. We also thank the Bureau, the facilitators and the Secretariat for your dedication and tireless efforts day and night and even weekends. Japan strongly supports the continuity of the UN AT reforms and had hoped that this session would sustain the momentum generated during the 80th main session. when we achieved consensus on the budget and many other items. It is therefore the matter of concern, as the Madam Chair mentioned, that in this session we were unable to reach consensus on the majority of items, many of which were deferred or left without action. Some of these issues have remained unsolved for many years. As a result, the Member States have not been able to provide the clear collective guidance the United Nations needs on essential matters. That is not the message this committee intends to send. We therefore encourage all Member States to keep engaging with renewed flexibility and a problem-solving spirit so that our upcoming sessions yield concrete outcome. Madam Chair, Human resource management is central to the effectiveness of the organization, its structure, and above all, its people. Three years ago, after more than six years of negotiation, we adopted a comprehensive resolution that marked important progress. While some advances were made during the session, significant divergences remain. Japan sincerely hopes that in the year ahead, we will be able to adopt another comprehensive resolution that addresses critical areas, including rejuvenation, especially strengthening the internship program, and promoting equitable geographical distribution by closing the gap for unrepresented and underrepresented countries. Madam Chair, the liquidity crisis of the organization remains urgent and demands member states' sustained attention. We regret that this agenda item was postponed despite our efforts to send a clear signal that we must move forward. Japan looks forward to receiving concrete proposals from the Secretary-General and to engaging in a constructive evidence-based dialogue among Member States during the second resumed session to chart a sustainable path forward. Madam Chair, In closing, Japan reaffirms its commitment to an active and constructive discussion of the Fifth Committee. We will continue to work with all delegations to translate our shared responsibilities into practical solutions that strengthen the organization and enable it to deliver to those it serves. Thank you.

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

Madam Chair, China associates itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Uruguay on behalf of G77 and China. I would like to add the following. First, China has always attached great importance to the issue of human resources management at the UN and supports professional, pragmatic and thorough discussions on the SG's report on human resources. It's regrettable that this first resumed session still failed to make progress on equitable geographical distribution and workforce rejuvenation. China would like to reiterate fair and reasonable human resources policies and management system is an important foundation for the UN to effectively fulfill its mandate. The principle of equitable geographical representation should be respected and upheld in the reform process, and all parties should approach and participate in discussions constructively. Second, consensus has long been the effective working method of the Committee, respected and implemented by all member states. However, it is deeply regretful that certain member states have politicized relevant issues and brought budgetary matters to a vote, setting a dangerous precedent and undermining the working method of this committee. China calls on all parties to uphold the committee's working methods and jointly oppose the politicization of management issues. Third, China supports the joint efforts of all parties to keep improving UN's work in the management field. considerable number of items at this session failed to achieve substantive outcomes with several items either deferred or with no action taken. China calls on all states to make full use of the meeting time, give equal attention to every agenda item, set an example improving quality and efficiency, and participate constructively with a sense of urgency knowing that time is of the essence and a commitment to professionalism. Madam Chair, We thank ACABQ, the Bureau of the Fifth Committee, the Secretariat and all delegations for their efforts, which enabled the conclusion of this resumed session as scheduled. We also thank Uruguay, G77 chair, for fostering consensus within the group and demonstrating leadership. We look forward to continue our discussion at the upcoming second resume session and through cooperation and consultation, working towards substantive progress on all agenda items and advancing the implementation of UNAD initiative. Thank you, Madam Chair.

And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for giving me the floor. We also want to wish thank you to the Bureau, the Secretariat, for all of your hard work and support throughout all of this last couple of weeks. Madam Chair, the first resumed session goes to the very core of the organization itself, the people we entrust with implementation of our mandates. and the accountability systems that must underpin their work. At a time when technology is evolving rapidly, we welcome the constructive outcome on information and communication technology, reinforced the importance of strengthening accountability frameworks, improved cybersecurity and responsible, clear and transparent approaches to emerging technologies. Additionally, We welcome the outcome on addressing racism and racial discrimination. We welcome that it makes clear that any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preferrence based on race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin have no place in the United Nations. Madam Chair, we also regret that this session produced far more no actions and deferrals than actual resolutions. This session underscored the need for a serious discussion on the working methods of the committee. Starting too late, leaving no time for engagement until the final stages, and repeating the same patterns year after year do not serve this committee well. If we want better outcomes, we need better working methods. The United Nations is an organization built by people for the people, and its staff remain its most important asset. It is therefore deeply regrettable that, again, year after year, this committee has been unable to reach a successful outcome on human resources management. This allows a harmful pattern to persist. We were encouraged that the Fifth Committee demonstrated that we are here to fund mandates adopted by Member States and that the ACABQ is not the body that should determine when or whatever mandate is mature enough to be funded. The Fifth Committee has a distinct role to play in ensuring responsible management of resources while giving full effect to those mandates. We remain committed to engaging constructively to ensure that this committee can better deliver on its responsibilities in future sessions. As I'm the last speaker that separating Nikki to celebrate her birthday, I will say again, happy birthday and thank you, Madam Chair.

As I see no further requests for the floor, I would like to conclude the session by informing delegations The details on when the General Assembly will take action on the related Fifth Committee reports will be reflected in the Journal in due course. Further, I would like to remind the Committee that we will next meet on Monday, 4 May, for the opening of the second part of the resumed 80th session. I declare closed the work of the Fifth Committee during the first part of the resumed 80th session of the General Assembly. The meeting is adjourned.