STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. SULTAN AL-MAHMOUD, DELEGATION OF THE STATE OF QATAR, ON THE REPORT OF THE 34TH SESSION OF THE STATISTICAL COMMISSION AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL FOR 2004 (New York, 13 February 2004)

Madam President,

We note with concern that some concerns have been raised regarding the report of the Statistical Commission, including by those who speak on behalf of members of the Statistical Commission. We are particularly concerned as those concerns raised relate to a report which was adopted by consensus. The Group of 77 wishes to place on record its deep appreciation for the work done by the Statistical Commission at its 34th session as well as our complete and unqualified agreement with its report. We also reiterate the views expressed by Morocco, then Chair of the G-77 at the 52nd meeting of the 2003 substantive session of ECOSOC, held in July last year.

A suggestion has been made that the emphasis placed by the Commission on indicators for monitoring implementation of MDG 8 is not based on consensus among members of this Council. This suggestion is, in our view, incorrect. We would like to draw attention to paragraph 32 of General Assembly resolution 57/270B, which was adopted after the 34th session of the Statistical Commission. This also “stresses the need to apply and further develop indicators on means of implementation to evaluate progress towards conference goals in creating an enabling environment for development”. The Group of 77 would be most dismayed if there is now an attempt by delegations to also disassociate themselves from General Assembly resolution 57/270B.

The Group of 77 would like to take this opportunity to applaud the initiative taken by the Nordic countries to work to ensure that developed countries report on their undertakings to fulfill MDG 8. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have announced their intention to be among the first countries to produce country level reports on Goal 8. They have also expressed support for the drawing up of an international framework for such reporting by developed countries. We would urge the Statistical Commission to also address itself to this task with dispatch. This would be essential to the fulfillment by the Statistical Commission of its mandate relating to the Millennium Declaration.

Finally, Madam President, we would also like to take this opportunity to express appreciation for the work done by the Statistics Division of the Secretariat and by the experts who sit on the Commission.

Thank you.