STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MRS. NORMA TAYLOR ROBERTS, PERMANENT MISSION OF JAMAICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 108: PROGRAMME BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM 2004-2005, DURING THE SECOND PART OF THE RESUMED FIFTY-NINTH SESSION OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (New York, 16 May 2005)

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on item 108 regarding (a) Unified security management system and (b) Special political missions: Special court for Sierra Leone and expansion of Somalia operations.

The Group of 77 and China wishes to thank Mr. David Vaness for his introduction of the Secretary-General's report on standardized access control and we also wish to welcome him in his capacity as Under-Secretary-General for the new Department for Safety and Security. We also thank the Chairman of the ACABQ, Mr. Vladimir Kuznetsov, and Ms. Sharon Buerle for introducing their respective reports.

With regard to the question of safety and security, the Group recalls that there were many issues on which clarification was sought when the proposal for a global access control system was put to this Committee during the main part of the 59th Session. These include the implications for Capital Master Plan, the principle and guidelines for the sharing of information obtained through the system and the time-frame for implementation. The Secretary-General was therefore requested to submit a detailed report at this resumed session.

We note from the Secretary-General's report that following the establishment of the new Department for Safety and Security in February this year, a revised approach for implementing the project has been proposed and a detailed preliminary design and cost analysis will be undertaken within a six to nine month time frame and that a progress report on the project is to be submitted to the General Assembly at its 60th Session

Considering the issues raised, and clarifications sought by the General Assembly on this project, the Group appreciates the approach for an in-depth review of the concept and implementation of the project to be undertaken by an internal team and will await the Secretary-General's progress report to be submitted to the GA at its 60th Session.

Mr. Chairman,

Turning to special political missions, the Group of 77 and China affirms that it attaches great importance to the work of these missions and the Secretary-General's good offices. In this connection, we value the constructive and useful work carried out by the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the United Nations Office in Somalia.

The Group consequently trusts that this Committee will ensure adequate resources for the successful conclusion of their work.

I thank you.