Mr. Co-Chair,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 6 relating to the process for the selection of topics and panelists relevant to facilitating the work of the General Assembly.

2. It should be recalled that according to the provision of Resolution 54/33, an open consultative process was established in order to facilitate the annual review by the General Assembly, in an effective and constructive manner, of developments in ocean affairs and the law of the sea by considering the report of the Secretary/General on oceans and the law of the sea and by suggesting particular issues to be considered by it, with an emphasis on identifying areas where coordination and cooperation at the intergovernmental and interagency level should be enhanced.

3. Regarding the item under consideration, the Group of 77 and China proposes that every meeting of the Informal Consultative Process include an item in the agenda under which consideration of the proposed themes for the next meeting could be advanced so as to facilitate its consideration by the General Assembly. The presentation would be based on a concept paper to be circulated for consideration under the respective item of the agenda. The concept paper would articulate the rationale for the choice of the theme, taking into account the need to:

(a) Carry out the exercise in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and consistent with the agreements reached at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, particularly chapter 17 of Agenda 21;
(b) Take into account the inputs provided by the Commission on Sustainable Development and other United Nations bodies;
(c) Avoid the creation of new institutions;
(d) Avoid the duplication and overlapping of current negotiations and particular debates taking place in specialized fora;
(e) Is not intended that the General Assembly should pursue legal or juridical coordination among the different legal instruments;
(f) Bear in mind the differing characteristics and needs of the different regions of the world;
(g) Contribute to the annual debate of the GA on oceans and the law of the sea; and
(h) Provide an integrated stance of the three pillars of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental).

4. The consideration of the proposal should allow for debate on the theme, with a view to enabling consensus, bearing in mind the undesirability of turning the exercise into a negotiation, which should only occur in the appropriate fora, including at the GA negotiations of the Law of the Sea resolutions.

5. As to the identification of panelists, in preparation for the meeting, it could be managed in the context of dialogue with the Co-chairpersons.

I thank you.