STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AI\D CHINA
BY MS. KAREN LOCK PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE PROGRAMME BUDGET IMPLICATIONS ARISING FROM DRAFT RESOLUTTON (N60tL.48) FTNALISING THE ESTABLTSMENT OF THB HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCILO AT THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY New York, 15 March 2006 Mr. Chailrnan, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China after the adoption of the Programme Budget Implications, which has been submitted by the in Secretary-General accordancewith rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. The adoption of the ProgrammeBudget Implications by the Committeewill now facilitate the adoption of draft resolution N601L.48 by the Plenary and thereby finalize the establishmentby the General Assembly of the Human Rights Council. As stated at the previous consultationsof the Committee, the Group of 77 and China has been ready to take action on the request of the Secretary-Generalsince Monday,6 March2006. We, however, respondedfavourablyto requestsby a delegation, which was seeking further instructions, to delay action on the Programme Budget Implications, as we are committed to listening to the views of each and every Member solutions. Statesand to finding consensus today The Group is pleasedthat all Member Stateswere able to join the consensus ensure and endorsethe additional human and financial resource that will be required to by the effective functioning of the Human Rights Council as soon as it is established the that the human General Assembly. The Group believes that this decision will ensure rights machinery of the United Nations will be able to function without any intemrption. We remain committed to the reform efforts to strengthenthe United Nations, including its human rights machinery. We also wish to thank the Co-ordinatorof this agendaitem, Ms SarahMcGrath, for the able manner in which she has co-ordinated the negotiations of the Committee on this important matter. We further wish to thank the Office of the President of the General Assembly for the guidancethat it provided to the Committeethroughout its consultations. I thank you, Mr. Chairman.