STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR DAUDI N. MWAKAWAGO, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA AND CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF 77, FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE RESOLUTION ON GRATIS PERSONNEL UNDER AGENDA ITEM 112

New York, 15 September 1997

Mr. President,

The cardinal principle for the implementation of mandated activities by the United Nations is provision of adequate resources to the Secretary-General collectively by membership of the Organization. When we approve a mandate, we assume the obligation that the member states will provide resources for efficient and effective functioning of the Organization, in accordance with relevant rules and regulations. Unless this principle is fully respected, the Secretary-General would find himself in a difficult situation and exceptional practices, like the acceptance of gratis personnel, are bound to affect negatively the Organization.

The General Assembly has today adopted an important resolution by consensus which we hope will go a long way in restoring the international character and impartiality of the Organization. The General Assembly has now provided a clear direction in which this issue should be dealt with in its totality. This important decision explicitly stipulates that the gratis personnel may only be accepted in cases of urgency and for the expertise not available within the Organization for a very limited and specified time. Those gratis personnel who are outside these parameters have to be phased out expeditiously.

Mr. President,

The Group of 77 and China took an active part in the difficult and arduous negotiations, with a view to ensuring full respect to the principles of the UN Charter. We are confident that this consensus decision will be fully implemented in letter and spirit by the Secretary-General.

Thank you, Mr. President.