30 December 2022

Excellencies, dear colleagues,

I thank Ambassador Philippe Kridelka, Permanent Representative of Belgium and Chair of Fifth Committee, for his leadership in ensuring that the Fifth Committee completed its work in an amicable manner.

Many thanks also go to the Bureau members, the Secretariat, and to all members of the Fifth Committee, for your active participation, your flexibility, and collective decision to ensure this organization is adequately funded to respond to the many interlocking crises the world is facing.

I thank you for preventing the looming perspective of a possible lockdown of the United Nations. Our 8 billion stakeholders are expecting from us solutions. They might have found it difficult to understand any other direction of events when the world needs multilateral solutions more than ever.

I would like to congratulate all of you for the following:

First, congratulations for your collective effort and determination to prioritize the needs of the United Nations, and ensure its budgetary matters, and operation implemented in accordance with all procedures and mandate given to the organization.

Second, congratulations for your successful tenacity in setting aside differences and your humility to work in an amicable manner, despite the challenging issues at hand.  

Third, I would like to specifically congratulate all of you for your resolve in joining hands to address the funding of the global food insecurity. An exemplary, and tangible work that is much needed in the United Nations.

Excellencies, Colleagues,

I would like to close my remarks with inspiring words from Martin Luther King Jr.

“Our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.”

I encourage you to keep your openness, faith, and strong willingness to cooperate in the resumed sessions ahead. Our ability to accept inputs and new ideas, and working together to achieve our common goal, will determine our capacity to overcome challenges.

I thank you and wish you and your families all the best for the new year.