STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY II.E. AMBASSADORDUMISANI KUMALO PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF 77 ON SECRETARTATAND MANAGEMENT REFORM: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.GEI{ERAL ENTITLED O'INVESTING THE IN UNITED NATIONS: FOR A STRONGERORGANISATION WORLDWIDE" THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE GEI\ERAL ASSEMBLY

NewYork,3 Aprit 2006

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Mr Chairrnan, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on the report on Secretariatand ManagementReform (N601692). We thank Secretary-General's Mr the Deputy-secretary-General, Mark Malloch Brown, for introducing this report and the ACABe Chairman, Mr. Rajat Saha,for presentingthe related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetaty Questions(4/60/735). Mr Chairrnan, The Group of 77 and China strongly supports ongoing efforts to reform the United Nations ind bases its positions on the fundamental principle that the intergovenrmentalnature of this Organizationshould be upheld. We sharea collective agenda and a common interest in making the United Nations more responsiveto the present-day needsof our people. It is therefore a prerequisitethat the views of every Member State on reform should be taken into account. The legitimacy and viability of the reform measureswould ultimately be dependanton the buy-in of Member States,as well as of personnelwho dedicatethemselvesto this Organization. the Secretariat the ability of the For reform to be meaningful, it should be aimed at strengthening Organizationto implement its mandateseffectively and at better enabling it to serve the interestsof the sollective membership.The objective is to make the United Nations more efficient, effective and accountableto Member States.It should also be more responsive to the priorities collectively agreed to by Member States. The Organization should further te able to recruit and retain qualified staff that reflects the international character of the Organization. Mr. Chairman. The World Summit provided Member Stateswith an opportunity to affirm our commitment to the principles and values of the Organtzation,as enshrinedin its Charter. Our leadersrecognizedthat development,human rights, peace and security are mutually reinforcing and reaffirmed our commitment to urgently addressthe numerous challenges providing the United by strengthening the United Nations. This in turn necessitates becauseit would be unrealistic Nations with the requisite human and financial resources the ambitious goals set by Member Stateswithin to expect the Organizationto deliver on the limited existing resources.In this context, the Group of 77 and China attachesgreat importance to providing additional resources to the Secretariat to help address developmentchallengesand meet the Millennium DevelopmentGoals. In recognition that reform is a continuous process and not an end in itself, the to World Summit Outcome Document requestedthe Secretary-General submit proposals that would advanceongoing reform efforts.

Member States have already acted decisively by adopting several concrete that are intended to reform the Secretariatand strengthenits accountabilityto measures Member States. To this end, the Group has supportedthe creation of an Ethics Office, of the developmentof a whistleblower policy, the strengthening the internal auditing and investigationcapacity of the Organization,and the evaluationand review of the oversight structuresand accountability framework of the Secretanat. We have also ensuredthat the Secretary-Generalreceived the resources that he requires to implement the World Summit decisions, as well as to continue to implement the numerous other important mandates that we have bestowed on the Organization. The Group welcomes the opportunity to now addressthe remaining tasks at hand. Mr Chairrnan, for The Group wishes to thank the Secretary-General outlining his overall vision the Reform is an ongoing processand the current report presents for reform in the report. since L997. As noted third major reform initiative undertakenby the Secretary-General have their many of the proposalsin this latestround of reform measures by the ACABQ, genesisin past proposals,some of which are still in the processof irnplementation. It is therefore imperative for the reform proposalsbefore us to take the positive aspectsof existing reform efforts into account and to build upon them. to Whilst it would have been our preference embark on a detailed considerationof the proposals at this stage, we recognize that the Secretariatwill require some time to prepare the detailed reports proposed by the ACABQ. The Group fully supports the recommendationof the ACABQ for such reports and firmly believes that it is necessary to have well thought-out and rational proposals that will build on and tie together interrelatedissues. The proposals should be cognizant of the inter-governmentalnature and unique character of the United Nations. The submission of detailed and comprehensivereports will enable Member Statesto effectively consider and agree on that will build upon previousreform efforts. reform measures Mr Chairrnan, The Fifth Committee will revert to informal consultations on the reform proposals, as well as the recommendationsof the ACABQ thereon. The Group looks in forward to the opportunity to engagethe Secretariat the next few days and weeks. We believe that this dialogue would help Member Statesto arrive at a common understanding of the rationalebehind the proposalsand the type of information and analysisthat should be included in the follow-up reportsof the Secretariat. It is important that we conclude the consultationsand adopt a resolution as soon as possible,in order to enable the Secretariatto finalize its preparationsfor the reports. We thereforewould appreciateit if the Bureau could prepare a tentative programme of work for consideration by the Committee in its next formal meeting. It is our understandingthat the programme of work would be kept under review to reflect the progressof the Committee's negotiations. We also wish to acknowledgethe efforts of

the Presidentof the General Assembly to ensure that resourcesfor conferenceservices have been diverted from the Plenaryto the Fifth Committee. We believe that it is now up to the Committee to guaranteethat the remaining servicesare provided in order to ensure that we complete our work as soon as possible. I thank you.