Supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MS. SIRITHON WAIRATPANIJ, COUNSELLOR, PERMANENT MISSION OF THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 134: PROGRAMME BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM 2016-2017, SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE ADDIS ABABA ACTION AGENDA OF THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT, AT MAIN PART OF THE SEVENTY-FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY (New York, 30 November 2016)

Madam Chairperson,

1. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 134: Programme budget for the biennium 2016-2017 on supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development.

2. The Group would like to thank Dr. David Nabarro, Special Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, for introducing the report of the Secretary-General on supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, contained in document A/71/534, and Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) for introducing the respective report, contained in document A/71/632.

Madam Chairperson,

3. Both paragraph 14 of the General Assembly resolution 70/247 and the Advisory Committee's recommendations that the General Assembly endorsed this past June called for a comprehensive proposal addressing the effective and efficient delivery of mandates in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development. The Group has examined the new proposal by the Secretary-General. We appreciate the effort put into the report. However, we are concerned and disappointed that the report does not fully respond to the General Assembly's repeated requests for a comprehensive proposal. We are perplexed that even after two resolutions, 70/247 and 70/248 C, the Secretary-General does not appear to fully comprehend the intentions of this Assembly.

4. Nevertheless, the Group will work for the approval of an appropriate level of resources for the implementation of the two Agendas including the strengthening of the regional commissions and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) that the report failed to comprehensively address.

Madam Chairperson,

5. At this stage, the Group will refrain from going into substance or details in this report. Rather, we will take advantage of the question and answer sessions during the informal consultations to try to seek some answers.

6. In closing, the Group of 77 and China look forward to actively and constructively participating in the consideration of this agenda item at the earliest opportunity, so as to ensure sufficient and predictable resources for the effective implementation of the two Agendas.

I thank you, Madam Chairperson.