STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. SULTAN AL-MAHMOUD, DELEGATION OF THE STATE OF QATAR, AT THE THIRTY-FIFTH SESSION OF THE STATISTICAL COMMISSION (New York, 5 March 2004)

Madam Chairperson,

Thank you very much for giving me the floor to speak on behalf of the G-77 and China.

At the outset, I would like to express the support of the G-77 and China to the Statistical Commission and for the invaluable work undertaken, to which we attach great importance; in particular, the contribution to the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration.

We also emphasize that the Statistical Commission is the inter-governmental system-wide focal point to deal with the issue of indicators. In this regard, the G-77 and China support further strengthening of this role within the United Nations system.

We would also like to express our satisfaction for the technical work that the Statistical Commission is undertaking in the field of the development and use of indicators regarding the implementation of the international development goals.

The committee had indicated during the last session the importance it attaches to the report requested by ECOSOC in its Resolution 2002/311 on the work on the indicators for the integrated follow-up and implementation of the major Conferences and Summits, including indicators on means of implementation. We appreciate the work the Commission has done in this regard.

The G-77 and China attach importance to bring about transparency and clarity in finalizing MDG indicators with participation of all Member States. We feel that there is a need to further refine the indicators on means of implementation. Any process that is established to continue work on MDG indicators Viz standing Advisory Committee, should work in a transparent manner. The development of indicators should benefit from a more direct and enhanced participation by developing countries. It is important that the work done by such a small and limited group be placed before the U.N. Statistical Commission for consideration and approval.

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 the mandate relating to the Millennium Declaration.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson.