AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My delegation would like to thank Secretary-General Guterres for being with us this afternoon and for presenting his report on Improving the Financial Situation of the United Nations. I would also like to thank Mr. Cihan Terzi, Chair of the ACABQ, for introducing the Advisory Committee’s report.

Mr. Secretary-General, your presentation today comprises part of your broader and sustained efforts of open dialogue with member states on organizational priorities, including on UN reform. We look forward to learning more about UN reform implementation in the coming months.

The United Nations requires enhanced budgetary approaches and tools that will make the Organization more effective, nimble, accountable, transparent and efficient. As the largest donor to the UN System by far – contributing $9.5 billion in assessed and voluntary funding – the United States remains seized of this financial situation. We note the inherent structural weaknesses in the current budget methodologies that present significant obstacles to mandate delivery.

Mr. Secretary-General, your report contains concrete recommendations aimed at addressing both the liquidity and broader and long-standing structural and complex challenges that constrain regular budget and peacekeeping budget management. We therefore believe that these proposals require careful consideration. This situation also presents an important and long overdue opportunity to institute better fiscal discipline and improve the UN’s methods for managing and executing approved budgets, as well as the ability of UN managers to better manage the Organization’s resources and focus on results.

Mr. Secretary-General, in closing, your report provides us with the foundation for consideration and discussion. We look forward to engaging with all delegations on this issue with a view to reaching consensus this session. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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