STATEMENT BY MR. HASSAN ABOUTAHIR, MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY (MOROCCO), ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA, AGENDA ITEM 13 (C) STATISTICS, DURING THE SUBSTANTIVE SESSION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL GENERAL SEGEMENT (GENEVA, 21 JULY 2003)

Mr. Chairman,

I would like to express the support of the G77 and China to the Statistical Commission and for the invaluable work undertaken, to which we attach great importance, in particular its contribution to the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration.

We also emphasize that the Statistical Commission is the intergovernmental system-wide focal point to deal with the issue of indicators. In this regard, the G77 and China support further strengthening of this role within the UN system.

We would like to express our satisfaction for the technical work that the Statistical Commission is undertaking in the field of the development and use of indicators regarding the implementation of the international development goals.

The development of indicators should benefit from a more direct and enhanced participation by developing countries. The strengthening of their capacities in this respect is very important.

The G77 and China had indicated during last session of the Commission the high importance it attaches to the report requested by the ECOSOC in its Resolution 2002/311 on the work on indicators for the integrated follow-up and implementation of the major Conferences and Summits, including indicators on means of implementation. We appreciate the Commission has done in this regard.

We also note with appreciation that the Commission has stressed the need to pay particular attention to indicators monitoring implementation of Millennium Development Goal 8 and has recommended that country level reports be prepared by developed countries with regard to progress on the commitments made by them to provide assistance to developing countries for the achievement of the goals contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration.

We agree with these recommendations. The MDGs were not adopted in a meeting of the G77. They were adopted in a Summit held in the United Nations and the Millennium Declaration represents a global compact bringing together all member states, developed and developing. The global MDG campaign initiated by the Secretary General can be truly global only if there is country-level reporting on fulfillment of pledges undertaken by developed countries as well. Such report would, in our view, help to foster public debate in developed countries, re-energize a broad political constituency in favor of development and create the necessary links between national priorities and target assumed at the international level.

The Group of 77 and China has taken note of the decisions and recommendations of the Statistical Commission and stands ready to endorse the draft decision recommended by it in Chapter 1 of its report to this Council.