STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY AMBASSADOR DAUDI N. MWAKAWAGO, PERMANENT RPERESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF 77, ON AGENDA ITEM 157: UNITED NATIONS REFORM: MEASURES AND PROPOSALS

New York, 12 November 1997

Mr. President,

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I should like to thank you for convening this formal session of the General Assembly to adopt resolution A/52/L.17 mandating the Secretary General to implement various actions contained in his report, "Renewing the United Nations: A Programme for Reform"(A/51/950 of 14^th July 1997). This is an important stage in the process of consideration of the Secretary General’s reform proposals, which began on October 8, 1997. In this regard, I should like to express the Group of 77 and China’s deep appreciation and congratulations to you, Mr. President, for your proven able leadership and diplomatic skills in guiding the deliberations of the reform consultations under very challenging circumstances.

Mr. President,

We all acknowledge that the proposals for reform contained in General Assembly resolution 50/227 and the Secretary General’s report, A/50/951, represent a significant contribution to the ongoing debate on how to modernize the organization and improve its operations. This view was underscored by the Foreign Ministers of the Group of 77 in their Ministerial Declaration of 26 September 1997 and in the statements of the leaders of delegations before the 52^nd General Assembly general debate. In particular, our leaders welcomed the reform process and commended the Secretary General’s efforts and initiatives aimed at reforming the United Nations.

Mr. President,

When the debate on UN reforms earnestly began under agenda item 157, delegations were rather cautious, particularly on how to discuss the Secretary General’s report on reforms. Eventually, we all agreed to go along with the methodology of considering first the Actions and to deal with Recommendations thereafter. During the informal consultations, the Group of 77 and China tabled two important documents on 14 October 1977 and 29 October 1997 respectively containing the Group’s position on the Secretary General’s reform proposals. In the same vein, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Joint Co-ordinating Committee of the G-77 and NAM, tabled our position on those recommendations and actions, which fall within their mandate.

Mr. President,

Resolution A/52/L.17, which we have just adopted by consensus, was arduously negotiated. The resolution has tried to accommodate different positions of member states. In this context, the G-77 and China has decided to join the consensus position on this resolution even though it does not fully reflect all our concerns as expressed during the negotiations, in order to facilitate the reform process. We are, however, encouraged to note that the resolution contains useful inbuilt elements which can cover some of our concerns when the measures are implemented. Operative paragraph 2 of resolution A/52/L.17, for example, specifically calls upon the Secretary General, when implementing the actions described in his report, to take full account of the views and comments expressed by Member States and Groups of Member States. In this context, I need hardly over emphasize the concerns of the developing countries as submitted by the Group of 77, NAM and JCC. For after all the reforms will have a direct impact on the developing countries.

The Group of 77 and China further attaches great importance to the articles of the resolution stressing the fact that the implementation of the reform measures should be in accordance with purposes and principles of Charter and respect fully the relevant mandates, decisions and resolutions of the General Assembly including, in particular, the Medium-term Plan for the period 1998-2001. Furthermore, the financial implications of the reform proposals should be considered in the context of rules and regulations of the Organization.

With the above mentioned safeguards and understanding, the Group of 77 and China supports the implementation of the actions contained in the Secretary General’s report.

In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Group of 77 and China for their unwavering support and solidarity that facilitated the achievement we are witnessing to-day. In the same vein, I would like to express our Group’s appreciation for the good work of the Ambassador Amorim of Brazil and Ambassador Biorn Lian of Norway, the facilitators on behalf of the President. I wish also to recognize the cooperation and counsel of the Secretary General and his advisers in the executive unit on reforms. Their contribution is appreciated.

Lastly but not least, the Group of 77 looks forward with anticipation to the next stage of our deliberations of the reform proposals.

I thank you, Mr. President.