U.S. Mission to the United Nations
New York, New York
November 13, 2020
AS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD
Mr. Chair,
The United States welcomes the Secretary General’s update on the Strategic Heritage Plan (SHP), as well as the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions.
Mr. Chair,
While it is regrettable that the project timeline has been severely impacted by the global pandemic, we would like to commend the project management team for its continued efforts to minimize potential additional cost and to narrow the gap to bring the construction timeline as close to the original date as possible.
The United States also notes with appreciation the updated valorization strategy. This is a smart investment strategy that paves the way to maximize the full, long-term income potential.
Mr. Chair,
The Strategic Heritage Plan continues to involve many components, including governance, risk management, space utilization, accessibility, and staff welfare and productivity during both the transition and implementation phases of the program. We look forward to discussing these issues further this session along with the financing arrangement to ensure that member states continue to provide the direction needed for success of the project.
The United States would also like to thank the Swiss government for its support and flexibility regarding the interest free loan and the loan repayment.
Mr. Chair,
In closing, my delegation would like to reiterate our commitment to the success of this project, including the need to transparently and effectively manage its resources. We stand ready to work constructively with delegations to ensure that outcome.
Thank you.
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