STATEMENT BY H.E. AMBASSADOR STAFFORD NEIL, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF JAMAICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF 77, ON AGENDA ITEM 46: INTEGRATED AND COORDINATED IMPLEMENTATION OF AND FOLLOW-UP TO THE OUTCOMES OF THE MAJOR UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES AND SUMMITS IN THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND RELATED FIELDS (New York, 25 October 2005)

Mr President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 46. I wish to thank the Secretary-General for the Reports which have been submitted for our consideration. We look forward to future discussions on the Reports.

Some of the issues of concern to the Group of 77 and China were highlighted during the recently concluded substantive session of the Economic and Social Council. I wish to highlight some points which should further be taken into account in our consideration of this item.

First, the integrated and coordinated follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of major UN conferences and Summit requires that all relevant UN entities review their priorities and programmes in accordance with the relevant provisions of the respective outcomes. We hope to receive more details on concrete actions already taken to support the implementation of such decisions, especially those related to development which were adopted at the recently concluded High-level Plenary Meeting.

We believe that the Secretariat has an important role to play at the technical level in ensuring that resource flows to developing countries are facilitated. Timely assistance in the adoption of country level strategies and programmes and in the identification of funding sources will be very critical. We therefore anticipate very active involvement by the Secretariat in monitoring release of donor resources and supporting measures for greater aid effectiveness. Equally at the level of policies, we expect continuous review of how global economic policies to support development are reflecting in the commitments that have been given at the Summit and previous Conferences.

Mr President,

We recognise that efforts will have to be made to bring those entities which are not directly under the jurisdiction of the UN into the discourse on how best to mainstream development into their respective policies and strategies. We understand that this will be the main focus of the next meeting of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) scheduled to be held on the 28th and 29th of October.

At the same time, we would like to highlight one area of concern. In the ongoing work to be undertaken by UN DESA, relevant Funds and Programmes, the CEB and the UNDG, adequate oversight arrangements have to be in place to ensure that these are monitored at the intergovernmental level. For the Group of 77 and China, it is imperative that the outcome of Secretariat deliberations in the field of development be appropriately reviewed and considered by member states.

With regard to the management reform issues we will be awaiting the Secretary General's proposals on a range of issues for consideration in the Fifth Committee. The approach of the Group of 77 and China will be to assess them on their merits, as reforms to improve the efficiency and performance of the Organisation in the interest of all States. We intend to do so carefully and objectively regardless of the pressures to satisfy particular interests. The position of the Group of 77 and China will continue to be determined on that basis.

Thank you, Mr. President.