Fifth Committee, 7th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session
- Improving the financial situation of the United Nations - Item 140
A/81/415
General discussion
- Proposed programme budget for 2027 - Item 138
Proposed programme budget for 2027
A/81/87, JIU/REP/2025/4, A/81/87/Add.1, A/81/90, JIU/REP/2025/6, A/81/90/Add.1
Introduction and general discussion
- Programme planning - Item 137
A/C.5/81/5
Agenda items · 381st session
Item 140
Improving the financial situation of the United Nations
General discussion
Item 138
Proposed programme budget for 2027
Introduction and general discussion
Item 139
Programme planning
Source: United Nations (un.org, igov.un.org)
Speaking timeUruguay (17.3%) · Chair (15.2%) · United European Union (10%) + 11 more
Fifth Committee, 7th meeting of the 81st session. Agenda items taken up: item 140, “Improving the financial situation of the United Nations”; “A/81/415”; “General discussion”; and 6 more. 10 speakers were heard, representing 9 delegations.
Points of disagreement
Uruguay, on behalf of group of seventy-seven in China, rejected the unilateral and persistent withholding of contributions as a means of exerting pressure on the organization.
Key points
Singapore, on behalf of Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, noted that the organization's financial outlook had improved, with regular budget collections at their highest level at this point in the year in the last eight years and the year end collection forecast revised upwards to 95.6%, while liquidity remained fragile, particularly for peacekeeping operations.
Cuba stated that it subscribed to the declaration delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G 77 and China.
Guyana expressed concern over the organization's persistent liquidity constraints and their far reaching implications for the effective implementation of its mandates.
Statement by statement · 8 speakers
Under-Secretary-General
Under-Secretary-General announced that Jordan and Nigeria had paid in full for the regular budget, bringing the total to 145 member states, and that Azerbaijan and Nigeria had paid in full for the international tribunals, bringing the total for that category to 127.
Under-Secretary-General noted that payments for peacekeeping operations had been received from Burkina Faso, Greece, Jordan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Montenegro, Nigeria, and the United States of America, and thanked these member states on behalf of the Secretary-General.
🇺🇾 Uruguay · on behalf of group of seventy-seven in China
Uruguay, on behalf of group of seventy-seven in China, expressed concern about the organization's financial situation, citing unpaid assessments as of September 30 of $1.46 billion for the regular budget, approximately $4.1 billion for peacekeeping operations, and $87 million for the international tribunals.
Uruguay, on behalf of group of seventy-seven in China, rejected the unilateral and persistent withholding of contributions as a means of exerting pressure on the organization.
Uruguay, on behalf of group of seventy-seven in China, welcomed the settlement as of September 30 of outstanding troop police and contingent-owned equipment claims for active missions, while noting the risk of renewed delays unless collections improve.
Uruguay, on behalf of group of seventy-seven in China, stressed that countries providing personnel and equipment must not bear an additional financial burden arising from unpaid assessments.
🇸🇬 Singapore · on behalf of Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN
Singapore, on behalf of Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, noted that the organization's financial outlook had improved, with regular budget collections at their highest level at this point in the year in the last eight years and the year end collection forecast revised upwards to 95.6%, while liquidity remained fragile, particularly for peacekeeping operations.
Singapore, on behalf of Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, stressed that liquidity and predictable cash flows are essential for mandate delivery and sound financial management, and that timely payment of assessed contributions is the most effective and sustainable solution, which liquidity management measures cannot substitute.
Singapore, on behalf of Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, called for all member states to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time, and without conditions, noting unpaid assessments for active peacekeeping missions of approximately 3.4 billion US dollars as of 30th September.
🇲🇻 Maldives
Maldives reiterated that primary responsibility for the financial stability of the organization rests with member states, and that assessed contributions must be paid in full, on time, and without conditions.
🇨🇺 Cuba
Cuba stated that it subscribed to the declaration delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G 77 and China.
🇮🇳 India
India stated that full, timely, and unconditional payment of assessed contribution is a charter obligation of every member state, and that India has consistently paid its assessment in full, on time, and often in advance.
India expressed concern that the liquidity situation in 2026 remained challenging, that unpaid assessments remained at what it called unacceptably high levels, and that the situation in peacekeeping was more worrisome, with unpaid assessment reaching $4.1 billion.
🇬🇾 Guyana
Guyana expressed concern over the organization's persistent liquidity constraints and their far reaching implications for the effective implementation of its mandates.
Guyana reiterated its appeal to all member states in a position to do so to pay their assessed contributions to the regular budget in full and in a predictable manner, and urged states experiencing difficulties to work with the Secretariat on a payment plan.
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Indonesia expressed concern about the persistent liquidity challenges facing the organization, even though regular budget collections have improved.
Indonesia stressed that timely payment of assessed contributions is key to resolving the liquidity crisis, and that Member States must pay in full, on time and without conditions, while recognizing the genuine constraints faced by some Member States.
Each line is checked against the transcript before it is shown and plays the moment it comes from. The transcript is the record.