STATEMENT BY THE DELEGATION OF THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO, ON BEHALF OF THE G-77 AND CHINA, AT THE INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL WORK DURING THE 11TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

STATEMENT BY MR. MOHAMMED ARROUCHI, COUNSELLOR, DELEGATION OF THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO, ON BEHALF OF THE G-77 AND CHINA, AT THE INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL WORK DURING THE 11TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - New York, 24-25 February 2003

Mr. Chairman,

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, allow me at the outset to express our congratulations for your election for the chairmanship of the eleventh session of the CSD. We are confident that your outstanding experience and constant devotion will undoubtedly benefit the cause of sustainable development.

We would like also to extend our sincere thanks to the Secretariat for the comprehensive report under consideration.

Mr. Chairman,

Since the report is actually being examined in depth by all delegations, the Group would like, at this stage, to make the following preliminary general remarks:

- The Group considers the report of the Secretary General (Follow-up to Johannesburg and the Future Role of the CSD- The Implementation Track) a good basis for further discussion.

- The Group would like to emphasize that the main challenge we are facing now is how to ensure a real and effective implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. We, therefore, believe that all endeavors should focus on the exploration of all necessary ways and means to make of sustainable development a reality.

- Concerning the program of work, the Group is actually considering the suggested options. In this respect, the Group would like to reiterate that the program of work should ensure the necessary flexibility to allow the Commission to address new challenges and emerging issues that may arise in the implementation of sustainable development goals and targets.

- As to the methods of work of the CSD, the Group, while reiterating its full support to the two-year cycles method, would like to recall that the Johannesburg plan of implementation and Res/47/191 provide the modalities for the work of CSD. The two-year cycle should focus respectively on the progress made in the implementation process and identify constraints as well as provide action-oriented recommendations to overcome the encountered obstacles.

- In relation to the partnerships initiative, the Group would like to emphasize that partnerships should be considered as a complementary instrument in the process of implementation and not as a substitute for the intergovernmental commitments to meet the goals and targets of sustainable development.

- With regard to WEHAB initiative, the Group is of the view that while this initiative deals with vital issues, procedurally it has not yet been subject to any intergovernmental discussion and , therefore, should be further discussed.

- While recognizing the importance of the Major Group’s contribution to the implementation process, the Group is of the view that the modalities governing their participation should be well defined.

- Concerning the UN system wide policy coherence and coordination in the follow-up to major conferences, the Group would like to underline that the outcome of the ad-hoc working Group on coordinated and integrated follow-up of UN conferences and Summits should be duly taken into account.

Mr. Chairman,

Members of our Group, while reiterating their full confidence in your able leadership, would like to assure you of their full cooperation and are looking forward to a productive dialogue leading to the elaboration of an effective process of implementation for the attainment of sustainable development goals.

General remarks by the G-77 and China
on the introductory note from the Chairman on Organization of work during CSD 11

1- How would the provisional programme of activities of CSD 11 contribute to find the appropriate answers to the three key decisions to be made about CSD’s future programme of work ( para. 32 of the SG report):

• Which issues should be considered in depth by CSD in the coming years?
• How the linkages between issues and sectors should be addressed?
• When and how to schedule consideration of these issues in the coming years?

In order to ensure a productive discussion on the CSD future programme of work, it is highly recommended to encourage Ministers who will be attending the 11th CSD session, to focus their respective statements on these questions.

On the other hand, the main question of WHO will do WHAT should be thoroughly discussed and clarified.

2- While “greater focus is essential to make the CSD’s work programme manageable and to ensure that it is effective and relevant” (para.33), the Round Tables’s topics lack this focus. Indeed, implementation is related to the WSSD outcomes in general, without being focused on tangible targets and goals. This approach may not be useful in defining effective and relevant actions and commitments of implementation.

3- The organization of panels could be avoided in order to devote sufficient time to hold regional implementation forums throughout the 2nd and 3rd days. For example, the Panel on linkages between goals and targets set at the WSSD and the MDGs, can be covered by Ministerial statements when dealing with the work programme of CSD.

4- Additional issues, such as Trade, means of implementation and funding should be given due consideration during the Round Table interactions.

5- What will be the content of the various draft decisions? Are they going to be exclusively related to the issues raised in the SG report (para.93 / conclusion)? More clarifications are needed in this respect.

6- One of the draft decisions should be devoted to the issue of SIDS.

7- Participation of Major Groups: In this regard, modalities governing their participation should be defined.

8- Partnerships:

Para 89 of the SG report states clearly that since the Guiding principles for partnerships “have not been officially endorsed or adopted, it is proposed that the CSD clarify a number of issues relating to partnerships, such as the applicability of the Guiding Principles, reporting mechanisms, interaction with national level processes and funding issues”. This implies that sufficient time should be devoted to the discussion of this important issue.