STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. SIMON CARDY PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS ON AGENDA ITEM 130: JOINT INSPECTION UNIT FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY New Yorko6 March 2006
Mr. Chairrnan, I have the honour to speakon behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agendaitem 130, entitled: Joint InspectionUnit. The Group of 77 andChina wishes to thank the Chef de Cabinet of the President of the GeneralAssembly, AmbassadorWide, for introducing the Note by the Presidentof "Procedurefor the appointmentof inspectorsof the Joint the GeneralAssembly on the to InspectionUnit (N601659), in response the relevantprovisions of GeneralAssembly . resolution 591267 We also wish to thank the Chairpersonof the Joint hrspectionUnit, Mrs. Deborah Wynes, for the timely presentationof the programmeof work of the Unit that is both relevant and useful. We are pleasedto seethe inclusion of a number of topics in the prograrnmeof work that are not only pertinent in terms of their system-wide relevance, but that would also enhancethe effectivenessof the work of the Organisation and the entire United Nations Svstem. Mr. Chairman, The Group of 77 andChina notesthe proposalssubmittedby the Presidentof the GeneralAssembly (4/601659)that are designedto improve and simplify the selection processfor candidatesserving on the Jru. The Group will carefully study theseproposals in with a view to the early approval of a processthat would uphold the highest standards selectingcandidatesfor appointmentas inspectors,as envisagedby the Statuteand relevantresolutionsof the GeneralAssembly. Our collective effort to reform the selectionprocessshould be guidedby respect for the inter-governmental nature of this processand by the need to ensurethat potential candidatesto the JIU are technically qualified and selectedin accordancewith the rotation, as set out in principle of equitable geographicaldistribution and reasonable Article 3(1) of the Statuteof the Joint InspectionUnit. Mr. Chainnan, the The Group of 77 and China appreciates opportunity that will be afforded to Member Stateslater this sessionto seekclarification on the proposalsbefore us.

Amongst the issuesthat we would hope to obtain additional information on are the safeguardsthat would be in place to ensurethe equitable geographical distribution of JIU posts and the precise roles of the Presidents the GeneralAssembly and ECOSOC in of the selectionprocess. We would also need clarity on whether a country whose original candidateis eliminated on technical groundsprior to the submissionof the final list of to candidates the GeneralAssembly may submit new candidates. I thank you, Mr. Chainnan.