Post #28073

🗓The main Session of the Administrative and Budgetary Committee (Fifth Committee) of the UN General Assembly concluded on December 30, 2025. The key item on its agenda was the proposed programme plan for 2026, updated to reflect the UN80 Initiative – a reform package proposed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Aimed at streamlining operations and eliminating functional duplication amid the ongoing liquidity crisis, the initiative envisages unprecedented budget reductions and staffing cuts at the UN, as well as the relocation of a significant number of the UN Secretariat staff to lower-cost duty stations. Through proactive efforts by Russian Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, undertaken in coordination with like-minded members of the Fifth Committee and despite resistance from Western countries, it was possible to agree on parameters for the UN regular budget for 2026 that reflect Russia’s interests to the greatest extent possible. This outcome was largely facilitated by UN General Assembly Resolution 79/318, which reaffirms the central role of Member States in determining the modalities of the reform process. Drafted by the Russian Federation, the resolution was adopted by consensus. At Russia’s initiative, the Secretary-General was instructed to analyse the impact of the staffing reductions envisaged under the UN80 Initiative on the implementation of approved mandates and to present conclusions in the next draft of the regular budget. At the same time, Russia dissociated itself from the consensus on the use of the UN regular budget to finance the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011, established pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution 71/248 of December 21, 2016. Russia’s consistent position is that, by adopting this resolution, the General Assembly exceeded its powers under Articles 10-12 and 22 of the UN Charter. ❗️Resolution 71/248 is therefore legally null and void, the establishment of the mechanism is unlawful, and the results of its activities – including collected materials and purported causal links between evidence of crimes and individuals alleged to be responsible – cannot be used for the purposes of any potential criminal proceedings.