STATEMENT BY THE DELEGATION OF INDONESIA ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION OF THE SECOND RESUMED SESSION OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE 52^ND SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

New York, 11 May 1998

Mr. Chairman,

1. Let me begin by saying that the Group of 77 and China is pleased to see you presiding over the second resumed session of the Fifth Committee. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the able manner with which you guided the last resumed session of this Committee. You can rest assured of the continued support and full cooperation of the Group of 77 and China during this resumed session.

2. The Group would also like to thank the bureau and the Fifth Committee secretariat for preparing the proposed programme of work and the status of documentation for the Fifth Committee during the second part of the resumed 52^nd session of the General Assembly as contained in document A/C.5/52/L.34. We consider that these documents are important for the orderly conduct of our deliberations.

Mr. Chairman,

3. The Group of 77 and China takes note that a number of reports for this second resumed session have been issued. However, we would like to place on record our deep regret that the chronic problem of late submission of documents perpetuates and some important reports have not yet been issued. Besides, most of the reports were not issued in accordance with the six-week rule. In this context, the Group would like to refer to the letter of 26 February 1998 from the Acting Chairman of the Group of 77 and China as contained in document A/C.5/52/40, in which we underscored the need to issue documents and reports in compliance with the six-week rule. It is also worthwhile to mention that the Group of 77 and China and other member states have repeatedly requested the timely submission of the documents in consonance with the decisions of the General Assembly. The noncompliance with the relevant rules and the General Assembly resolutions adversely affects the smooth and efficient functioning of this Committee.

4. The Group of 77 and China expresses its deep disappointment that some of the reports recently issued lack substantive and comprehensive information which reflect negatively on the quality of the documents. This will only impede the work of this Committee. The Group is also concerned at the submission of documents which are not requested by the legislative bodies, whereas the documents requested by the General Assembly are not issued in time. Just to give a few examples, we have document A/52/867 before us without any request by the General Assembly while the reports on support account, gratis personnel, UNCTAD savings in the 1996-1997, have either not been issued or issued with considerable delay. Therefore, we believe that the responsible officials in the Secretariat should explain the reasons for such late issuance of the documents.

5. The Group of 77 and China further regrets to note that the documents are not being submitted in accordance with paragraphs 24 and 25 of General Assembly resolution 52/214 B of 22 December 1997 and decision 52/471. We emphasize that the reports should be prepared in compliance with these provisions of resolution 52/214 B.

Mr. Chairman,

6. The Group of 77 and China is conscious of the fact that, due to time constraints, the Committee may not be in a position to devote its full attention to all of the items on its agenda. Therefore, the Group of 77 and China would like to suggest that the Committee prioritize its programme of work to enable it to take well considered decisions. The Group is of the view that in this session the following issues should be given ample time for their consideration: support account; programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999 particularly utilization of the development account and reduction and refocusing of non-programme costs; gratis personnel; and financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

7. The Group of 77 and China also takes this opportunity to express its concern that the list of documents does not contain the proposals of the Secretary-General on the savings of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) made from the programme budget 1996-1997 concerning the financing of the activities of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development as was requested by General Assembly resolutions 51/167 of December 1996 and 52/220 and decision 52/426. The Group of 77 and China urges that the comments of the Secretary-General be issued at the earliest possible time for consideration during this resumed session or during the third resumed 52nd session of the General Assembly at the latest, as the working party of the Trade and Development Board in Geneva has just adopted its recommendations on the requested report which was issued only on 24 April 1998. We would like to seek a clarification from the concerned official of the Secretariat for this inordinate delay in submission of the report.

Mr. Chairman,

8. The Group of 77 and China would like to stress the importance and need to respect the current decision-making frameworks of both formal meetings and informal consultations in order to ensure the full transparency in the consideration of all agenda items.

9. In concluding, the Group of 77 and China would like to assure you once again of its full cooperation and readiness to engage constructively in the work of the Committee.

Thank you.