STATEMENT BY H.E. AMBASSADOR DUMISANI S. KUMALO ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA AT A GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLENARY ADDRESS BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON HIS REPORT "INVESTING IN THE UNITED NATIONS: FOR A STRONGER ORGANIZATION WORLDWIDE" (New York, 7 March 2006)

Mr. President,

Allow me on behalf of the Group of 77 and China to welcome the Secretary-General to this meeting today. We thank the Secretary-General for his report. We note that it is indeed unusual for the Secretary-General to address Member States before the formal introduction of his reports. Like the Secretary-General, we agree that this is a very important report that the Summit requested him to present to Member States.

However, as we have so clearly stated in our letter referred to by the President of the General Assembly, we now expect that this entire report will be forwarded immediately to the ACABQ so that the ACABQ can expeditiously start considering the substance of the proposals before it is formally introduced to the Fifth Committee. This is a process that has always been followed on reports that contain administrative and budgetary policies and is also a process that is covered by the established practices, the rules of procedure and relevant resolutions of the General Assembly.

For the smooth process, and to save us time, we would expect that when the report is introduced to the Fifth Committee it would be re-issued for technical reasons to include relevant agenda items such as 122, 124, 129 and others. We remain anxious and ready as any other Member States to see positive changes that can result from this report toward strengthening our beloved Organisation.

Once again, we want to reconfirm the commitment of the Group of 77 and China to the reform of the United Nations in an intergovernmental process and according to the rules a nd procedures of this Organisation.

I thank you.