STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. FAISAL AL-ATHBA, DELEGATION OF THE STATE OF QATAR, ON THE OVERALL REVIEW OF PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTATION AT THE TWELFTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (New York, 23 April 2004)

Mr. Chairman,

- The overall review has shown the constraints and challenges facing developing countries in meeting the international agreed goals of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI).

- Developing countries are committed to the full implementation of JPOI and Agenda 21. In this regard, we stress the importance of the review to take into account tall the pillars of sustainable development.

- Delegates gave overview of achievements made in attaining JPOI targets related to water, sanitation and human settlements. Success has, however, been uneven, with some regions posed to achieving the JPOI targets by the given date and some regions tagging behind.

- Delegates from developing countries have identified lack of adequate financial resources, a lack of capacity building efforts and non-transfer of technologies to developing countries, as some of the major obstacles to achieving JPOI targets.

- The G-77 and China would like to see concrete efforts and political will on part of developed countries in meeting the international agreed ODA targets of 0.7% as reaffirmed in Monterrey is another obstacle to achieving JPOI targets.

- The commitment for provision of new and additional financial resources to developing countries has not been implemented. ODA flows are actually lower than in 1992.

- Partnerships have been slow to take off. In fact, the Secretary-General's report suggests that partnerships are stagnating and very limited resources have flown in because of partnerships. It is also relevant to note that partnerships have largely attracted government funding and not funding from the private sector as was expected, therefore their net contribution in generating additional resources from private sector is questionable.

- Many delegations particularly from developing countries made the point that they are conscious of the need to provide quality drinking water to their people but for this they need innovative technologies available largely in the developed countries, which unfortunately is not being transferred to them on appropriate terms.

- Action has been initiated by most countries on achieving the target of integrated water resources management (IWRM) and water efficiency plans by the target date of 2005 as reflected in the JPOI. There can be several approaches to IWRM, depending upon circumstances.

- Governance at all levels including at the international level needs to be given due consideration.

- This is a review year. There is therefore no room for policy interpretation in this year nor is there any need for additional policy guidance. We have before us the collective political will of the international community in the shape of the JPOI, which should guide us in our work.

- The primacy of the Commission on Sustainable Development needs to be respected. While all other UN bodies and agencies have a role in the implementation of JPOI the principal role of CSD has to be recognized.

- Developed countries have unfortunately not adequately touched upon the important cross cutting issues such as poverty alleviation, changing patterns of consumption and production, etc., which are of pivotal importance to developing countries.

- All three themes under consideration at the present CSD session are equally important for the developing countries. To suggest that water is more important as compared to human settlements or sanitation would be incorrect.

- The Group of 77 and China stress the developmental context within which the issues of water, sanitation and human settlements must take place. This means avoiding narrow technical discussions, and that the issue must be considered through the lens of the three pillars of sustainable development, namely, economic, social and environmental. The balance between the three pillars must be maintained.

- New concepts must not be brought in, nor attempts made to go beyond what has been agreed in the JPOI.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.