Mr. Chairman.
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China,
on this agenda item.
The G77 and China commends the UNCCD Secretariat for preparation of
the documents under consideration and thanks the inspector of the Joint
Inspection Unit (JIU) for taking the time to come to Nairobi to present
this Report. We welcome the Report and express our appreciation for the
frank, constructive and professional approach taken by the JIU inspectors
in preparing the Report for the consideration of the Conference of the
Parties.
The G77 and China take this opportunity to reiterate our commendation
of the UNCCD Secretariat for its commitment to the implementation of
the Convention, and for continuing to demonstrate leadership in this
regard. We recognise the severe limitations which continue to be placed
on its operations by the lack of stable funding. We urge all country
Parties to do their best to rectify this state of affairs.
Mr. Chairman,
As mentioned in our statement
to the Plenary of this Conference on Monday, 17 th October, the G77
and China believes it is the responsibility of the Conference to address
the JIU Report, which was suggested by COP 6. Many of the observations
made by the JIU inspectors accord with those which have been made by
the G77 and China, year after year, since the beginning of this Convention.
I will not go into detail, Mr. Chairman, but obviously, the inspectors’ lingering
dismay at the lack of commitment to the Convention, deserves to be
highlighted.
Mr. Chairman,
The G77 and China is of the view that this COP must produce a decision
on the JIU Report. As stated previously, we would participate actively
in the elaboration of such a decision.
In this context,
We feel that some of these recommendations need to be considered and/or
implemented by this COP. Other recommendations clearly require more in-depth
analysis. For these, the G77 and China would strongly recommend the establishment,
by this Session of the COP, of an ad hoc working group to meet, between
this COP and the next, which would undertake the task of working on the
more complex recommendations, with a view to submitting concrete recommendations
to COP 8.
We understand, Mr. Chairman, that there are a few other issues currently
being addressed in the COP, which cannot or will not be completed by
the end of COP 7, owing to their complexity or simply, time constraints.
The G77 and China is open to consideration of such items, to be identified
by the COP, to be included in the work of this proposed ad hoc working
group.
We would present other specific issues on the JIU recommendations,
when the time comes.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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