Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 130, entitled: Joint Inspection Unit.

The Group of 77 and China wishes to thank the Chef de Cabinet of the President of the General Assembly, Ambassador Wide, for introducing the Note by the President of the General Assembly on the “Procedure for the appointment of inspectors of the Joint Inspection Unit (A/60/659), in response to the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 59/267.

We also wish to thank the Chairperson of the Joint Inspection Unit, Mrs. Deborah Wynes, for the timely presentation of the programme of work of the Unit that is both relevant and useful. We are pleased to see the inclusion of a number of topics in the programme of work that are not only pertinent in terms of their system-wide relevance, but that would also enhance the effectiveness of the work of the Organisation and the entire United Nations System.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China notes the proposals submitted by the President of the General Assembly (A/60/659) that are designed to improve and simplify the selection process for candidates serving on the JIU. The Group will carefully study these proposals with a view to the early approval of a process that would uphold the highest standards in selecting candidates for appointment as inspectors, as envisaged by the Statute and relevant resolutions of the General Assembly.

Our collective effort to reform the selection process should be guided by respect for the inter-governmental nature of this process and by the need to ensure that potential candidates to the JIU are technically qualified and selected in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical distribution and reasonable rotation, as set out in Article 3(1) of the Statute of the Joint Inspection Unit.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China appreciates the opportunity that will be afforded to Member States later this session to seek clarification on the proposals before us. Amongst the issues that we would hope to obtain additional information on are the safeguards that would be in place to ensure the equitable geographical distribution of JIU posts and the precise roles of the Presidents of the General Assembly and ECOSOC in the selection process. We would also need clarity on whether a country whose original candidate is eliminated on technical grounds prior to the submission of the final list of candidates to the General Assembly may submit new candidates.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.