Mr. Co-Chair,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

1. At the outset, I would like to congratulate you on your appointment as Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole to recommend a course of action to the General Assembly on the regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects. The Group of 77 and China assures the Co-Chairpersons of its support as they lead the meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole in its work this year.

Mr. Co-Chair,

2. The G-77and China reiterates its support for the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole contained in document A/64/347, and endorsed by the General Assembly in resolution 64/71. Those recommendations are the starting point of our deliberations.

3. The Group is of the view that there are a few features that would be required for the Process to generate assessments that provide useful tools for policy making and that enhance capacities. These features are:

- The Regular Process would be guided by international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other applicable international instruments;
- The Regular Process should be a relevant, legitimate and credible mechanism, and its products to be viewed as authoritative;
- Legitimacy, in particular, should result from a process that is multilateral and inclusive;
- The Regular Process should be intergovernmental, that is to say, that full participation of governments in decision making and monitoring of the Process as well as in the appointments of experts;
- The Regular Process is fundamental to national capacity building. The enhancement of each country's capacity and applying methodologies for environmental assessment and monitoring would guarantee more complete and coherent inputs and strengthen the Process' possibility of building a network of scientific activity, which is one of its fundamental building blocks;
- It should constitute a platform for science -policy interface;
- The Regular Process should be conducted under the United Nations and be ultimately accountable to the UN General Assembly.

Mr. Co-Chair,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,

4. The Regular Process should facilitate the provisions of inputs to contribute to the appropriate responses by States and competent regional and international organizations. The Process, therefore, should enhance the capacity of the competent authorities at the international, national and local levels to respond to the challenges to the sustainability of the marine environment, including addressing the socio-economic aspects adequately.

5. The Regular Process should promote and facilitate the full participation of developing countries in all of its activities, including through effective participation at the expert level and in the conduct of the Process.

6. The Regular Process should promote, and ensure capacity-building and transfer of technology, including marine technology, in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other applicable international instruments and initiatives, for developing and other States, taking into account the criteria and guidelines on the transfer of marine technology of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). This is essential as the global review of the state of the marine environment and the decision making process should be based on sound science. In that respect, it should be recalled that the transfer of technology, as recognized by the IOC, is the main tool for capacity building in the scientific sphere.

7. Opportunities for capacity-building should be identified, in particular on the basis of existing capacity-building arrangements and the identified capacity-building priorities, needs and requests of developing countries. Being an integral part of the Regular Process, capacity building and the transfer of technology should be effectively addressed. The first step towards such a process should be to request the Secretary-General to produce a report which includes priorities, needs and requests from developing Member States.

8. The selection of the group of experts, as constituted by the General Assembly by invitations to States, should continue to follow the rule of equitable geographic distribution.

9. The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs (DOALOS) should provide support for the Regular Process, in cooperation, as appropriate, with relevant United Nations specialized agencies and programmes. The center of the Process should be in New York, due to the close links of the object of the Regular Process with the discussions on Oceans at the General Assembly, the body to which it is ultimately accountable. Strengthening the capacity of DOALOS -including staff- could be needed to adequately respond to the needs of the Regular Process.

10. With regard to the financial resources for the Regular Process, the voluntary trust fund should continue and it is essential to ensure transparency and objectivity that all financial contributions made by Member States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons be addressed only at the trust fund established by resolution 64/71.

11. The special scholarship fund for training programmes for developing countries should be maintained by DOALOS.

12. Member States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons should be urged to make contributions to the funds.

13. In conclusion, the G77 and China attaches great importance to the Regular Process for the assessment of the marine environment including its socioeconomic aspects. In this regard, the Group reiterates that it will engage constructively in the meetings and assure the Co-Chairpersons of its full cooperation during this session.

Thank you.