New York, 3 October 2001

Mr. Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China would like to congratulate you and other members for election to the Bureau of the Fifth Committee. We wish you and the bureau members the best of success in fulfilling your respective functions. I would like to assure you of the cooperation of the Group of 77 and China in achieving our common objectives in the interest of the Member States and the Organization. The Group is confident that under your able leadership this Committee will be able to accomplish all the important tasks before it. I would also like to avail myself of this opportunity to express our appreciation to Ambassador Rosenthal, the outgoing Chairman, as well as to other members of the previous bureau for their dedicated efforts in bringing an extremely difficult session of the Committee into successful conclusion.

Mr. Chairman,

We appreciate the efforts of the Bureau and the secretariat in suggesting a programme of work. In this regard, the Group would like to observe that the proposed programme of work should reflect a balanced allocation of time with due priority to those items of work that are time bound. The work programme shall allow us to consider exhaustively the items of priority.

The Group supports the revision, and adoption, of the programme of work on a weekly basis so that work on those items that the Fifth Committee has demanded to take decision on by the end of the regular session can be completed.

It is important that the Secretariat submit documentation in accordance with the six-week rule so that all delegations have sufficient time to review them prior to their consideration in the Committee. The late submission of documentation affects all delegations and has proved to be a serious impediment to the proper functioning of all the committees. In this context, we emphasize implementation of the relevant provisions of the General Assembly resolution 54/248 and rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Accordingly, we are expecting submission of all reports requested by the General Assembly resolution 55/258 on human resources management to be submitted to the current session. The Group reiterates the need to abide by extant rules and regulations governing distribution of draft resolutions and decisions in all the official languages prior to their adoption.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group would like to state that the informal consultations should be conducted in a transparent manner. There should be no parallel consultations or meetings and all meetings should be announced well in advance.

The Group attaches great importance to the efficient functioning of this Committee and notes that the agenda contains complex issues. We, therefore, are ready to engage in constructive negotiations in the usual spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding with our negotiating partners for the successful conclusion of this session within the allocated time frame.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group would like to assure you of its full cooperation and wish you a great success.