STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY PETER LE ROUX, COUNSELLOR, PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 56: GROUPS OF COUNTRIES IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS IN THE SECOND COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (New York, 8 November 2006)

Madame Chair

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

The 2005 World Summit Outcome reaffirmed the commitments made to address the special needs of the Least Developed Countries and urged all countries and all relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant international organizations, including the Bretton Woods Institutions to make concerted efforts and adopt speedy measures for meeting in a timely manner the goals and targets of the Brussels Programme of Action.

Achieving the goals and targets as contained in the Programme of Action calls for continued and a renewed commitment from both the Least Developed Countries and development partners. It is vital that this partnership be re-invigorated and enhanced by promoting mutual and shared responsibilities between Least Developed Countries and development partners, in the interests of promoting economic growth and sustainable development in Least Developed Countries thereby further promoting their integration into the global economy.

Madame Chair

The Group of 77 and China welcomed the High-Level Plenary Meeting to assess the progress of the first five years of implementation of the Brussels Programe of Action for the least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010.

The Group of 77 and China further welcomed the Cotonou Strategy as it is a comprehensive analytical midterm review of the status of the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action for the first five years which clearly and succinctly outlines the achievements thus far, the challenges ahead and the actions to be undertaking by the Least Developed Countries and development partners.

As a result of this midterm review the Group of 77 and China noted with concern that insufficient progress has been achieved in the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action, and as indicated very few Least Developed Countries are expected to be able to meet the Brussels Programme of Actions objectives, goals and targets if current trends continue. It is therefore, essential that full implementation of the seven commitments must be adhered to if the Least Developed Countries are to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.

At the G77 and China's 30th Annual Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Ministers, the Ministers stressed the full implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action and in this regard the G77 and China welcomes the decision by the LLDC's to hold a mid-term review meeting of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries in 2008, in accordance with paragraph 49 of the Almaty Programme of Action. The review should be preceded by, where necessary, national, sub-regional, regional and substantive preparations in the most effective, well structured and broad participatory manner. In accordance with paragraph 49 of the Almaty Programme of Action, the UN-OHRLLS should coordinate the preparatory process. United Nations system organizations, including UNCTAD, UNDP, the Regional Commissions and relevant international and regional organizations, within their respective mandates, should provide necessary support to the review process.

Madame Chair

In spite of appropriate measures taken and tremendous efforts made by the LDC's and LLDC's themselves to build enabling national environments for the implementation of the Brussels and Almaty Programmes of Action in their efforts to pursue much-needed development, the support received from development partners is still insufficient, or sometimes, even completely lacking.

The Group of 77 and China calls on the development partners of the LDC's and LLDC's to expeditiously fulfil their commitments as outlined in the Brussels programme of Action and the Almaty Programme of Action so that the objectives, goals and targets are achieved in a timely and expeditious manner.

In conclusion, co-ordinated action from the UN and its agencies, funds and programmes should be enhanced to support LDC's and LLDC's. We should all encourage the private sector to invest in the LDC's and LLDC's, but more importantly the development partners must fulfil their commitments made at all the major conferences and summits in the past ten years especially the Monterrey Financing for Development Conference and the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development

I thank you.