REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF 77 IN THE PLENARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE SECRTARY GENERAL OF THE UN CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT

New York, 18 February 1999

Mr. President,

I would like to express on behalf of the G-77 and China our sincere appreciation to the Secretary General of the United Nations for the nomination of Mr. Rubens Ricupero for a second term as the Secretary General of UNCTAD. The Secretary General’s expression of confidence in Mr. Ricupero is fully shared by the G-77 and China. We therefore take this opportunity to extend to Mr. Ricupero our warm congratulations and best wishes for another successful term.

Since Mr. Ricupero’s appointment as the Secretary General of the organisation in 1995, we have witnessed a major transformation of UNCTAD. His intellectual leadership, vision and commitment to development have been critical to the reemergence of UNCTAD as a serious, competent and responsible organisation in providing a balanced treatment of a wide range of interrelated issues of development in an increasingly interdependent and globalising world.

Today UNCTAD is needed more than ever before as a forum for the dialogue on development and the related issues of trade, finance, technology, investment and sustainable development. UNCTAD’s high quality analyses of major developments in the world economy and particularly of salient issues and concerns facing the developing countries, have been very helpful to our preparations in these major areas.

Within the United Nations, UNCTAD has been responsive to the need for reform and this has led not only to greater efficiency in the intergovernmental and Secretariat machinery of the organisation but has also enabled UNCTAD to more closely collaborate with civil society, including NGOs and the business community. Despite these gains the level of resources allocated to UNCTAD has been significantly reduced. We therefore urge greater support for its activities.

Mr. President,

As we look forward to and plan for UNCTAD X, the Group hopes that the Conference will provide an important opportunity for the United Nations system and the international community to collectively reflect on development in the context of globalisation, out of it should come strategies and policies to ensure the successful integration of all countries particularly developing countries into the world economy. We trust that, under the continuing leadership of Mr. Ricupero, UNCTAD will effectively respond to these challenges.

I thank you.