STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. MISHAL MOHAMMED AL-ANSARI, STATE OF QATAR, ON STRENGTHENED AND UNIFIED SECURITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (New York, 4 November 2004)

Mr. Chairman,

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I would like to thank the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for introducing his report on strengthened and unified security management system for the United Nations, as contained in documents A/59/365 and Corrigendum 1, and A/59/365/Addendum 1 and Corrigendum 1.

I wish to also convey the Group’s appreciation to the Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Mr. Vladmir Kusnetsov, for introducing the report of the Committee, in document A/59/539, and to Under-Secretary-General Mr. Dileep Nair for introducing the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services contained in document A/59/396.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China attaches great importance to the provision of safety and security for United Nations staff and premises. The Group has in the past emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach that should result in lasting solutions. The issue of safety and security cannot be effectively addressed in a vacuum, but through many elements including the following:

(a) Establishing clear criteria for determining security needs;

(b) Forging an agreed framework for the enhancement of system-wide security arrangements;

(c) Outlining clear and realistic time frames for the completion of the various projects agreed to by the GA;

(d) Establishing clear lines of accountability and responsibility and a clear chain of command for all participants in field security and at duty stations;

(e) Clear definition of the role, responsibilities and obligations of host countries, and the status of formal arrangements between the United Nations and host countries in this field;

(f) Clear standards for threat and risk assessment on a worldwide basis;

(g) Adequate security-related training for all United Nations staff.

In this context, the Group underlines the importance that any approach to the issue of safety and security of UN personnel, and proposals thereon, necessitate that the management and the staff work hand in hand in order for such an approach to be comprehensive and for the proposals to yield their desired results.

The Group is of the view that the primary responsibility for the safety and security of the United Nations and its personnel lie with the host government. The Group shares the concerns raised by ACABQ with regard to the inadequate working arrangements with host governments with regard to their responsibilities and obligations for UN security and safety. The Group is also concerned that these responsibilities and obligations are not always finalized in legally binding written documents. The Group intends to follow up on this issue in the informal consultations.

In this context, the Group shares the views expressed in paragraph 20 of the report of the ACABQ that the uneven capacity of host countries to provide security to the United Nations staff and premises should be fully reflected in the Organization’s approach to security matters.

Mr. Chairman,

Organizations of the United Nations system need to further harmonize their efforts on safety and security matters, in order to ensure coordination and unity of purpose. We believe that the cost-sharing arrangement decided by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/255 was a step in the direction of ensuring a proper security arrangements system, and should continue to be pursued.

The Group wishes to emphasize that increased funding for safety and security cannot be at the expense of funding of other programmes of the Organization.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.