STATEMENT BY MR. MOHAMMED ARROUCHI, COUNSELLOR, DELEGATION OF THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA AT THE 1ST MEETING OF THE 11TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (CSD) - New York, 27 January 2003

Mr. Chairman,

Allow me at the outset to express on behalf of the Group of 77 and China our congratulations for your election to chair the 11th session of our Commission. Your outstanding experience and well-known devotion will undoubtedly benefit the cause of sustainable development and help maintain the momentum from the Johannesburg Summit. Your election, Mr. Chairman, proves once again the constant engagement of your brotherly country, South Africa, in promoting the goals of sustainable development for the well-being of all mankind. Our congratulations go as well to the newly elected members of the Bureau.

Let me also extend our sincere thanks to the outgoing members of the Bureau for their invaluable efforts in conducting successfully the work of our Commission at a critical moment during the preparatory process of the world summit on sustainable development. I would like in this respect to extend our sincere thanks to the Government of Indonesia for its valuable contribution during the preparatory process of the above mentioned summit.

Mr. Chairman,

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I would like to emphasize that the plan of implementation and the political declaration of the world summit on sustainable development underlined the urgency to effectively carry on the implementation of Agenda 21 as well as the new and emerging issues of vital importance in the field of sustainable development.

In the face of growing poverty and increasing environmental degradation, the big challenge confronting us now is the effective implementation of the commitments set forth in the world summit on sustainable development and in the major international Conferences since the Rio Summit.

The focus on implementation of the Johannesburg Plan of Action calls for a new adaptation of the CSD methods of work which should focus primarily on action-oriented recommendations while avoiding, whenever possible, conceptual discussions except when new and emerging issues arise.

We therefore believe that sufficient time for informal consultations prior to the substantive session of the CSD is highly recommended. These consultations, in our view, will pave the way towards a productive discussion on the program of work which we hope will lead to the effective implementation of the targets and goals commonly agreed upon at the Johannesburg Summit.

Mr. Chairman,

While reiterating our fall readiness to work closely with you and with all the members of the Bureau, we remain confident that under your able leadership and wisdom the work of our Commission will be undoubtedly crowned with success. Our Group will be looking forward to a productive discussion within this Commission on all concrete measures leading to a tangible and effective implementation of the jointly agreed commitments and targets pertaining to sustainable developments.

Let the focus on implementation be our guiding principle.

Thank you.