26th Special Session of TDB on JIU Report

GROUP OF 77
GENEVA

STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR DIAN TRIANSYAH DJANI, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT GENEVA AND CHAIR OF THE GROUP OF 77, AT THE 26TH SPECIAL SESSION OF TDB ON JIU REPORT
(Geneva, 15 June 2012)

Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary General,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

Firstly, I am glad that this is a full house meeting. I would certainly be a happy ambassador if all UNCTAD meeting could also have such a high interest as we have witnessed today. I personally regret that all of us, as members, diplomats and ambassadors alike, have often miss in doing so. It seems that administrative and management issues are perceived to be more "sexy" in UNCTAD rather than issue of substance.

On that note, let me therefore begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting. It is indeed a great honor for me to take the floor and convey the views of the Group of 77 and China to this esteemed gathering.

Allow me also to extend the Group's gratitude to both the JIU inspector and the Secretariat of UNCTAD for presenting the report and the response to the report respectively. I believe that this gathering will lay the ground works for continued improvement of the UNCTAD's performance in the future.

Mr. President.

This first gathering of the Trade and Development Board since Doha presents us with a singular opportunity for a fresh beginning. In the Doha Mandate, we have a new basis for our work. In the afterglow of the success that was UNCTAD XIII, we have the opportunity to renew the positive spirit and commitment to UNCTAD which ultimately led to the success of the Conference. In short, this is an excellent opportunity to begin our post-Doha process on a constructive note, and in a positive direction.

The Group of 77 and China is committed to this new beginning. The Group of 77 and China is committed to the strengthening of the bonds of confidence and cooperation among the member states, and to fortify the corresponding relationship with the secretariat. This requires doing more - doing more to build confidence, doing more to be transparent, and doing more to bring about concrete results which will accelerate the development process.

Mr. President,

We have ahead of us an important reflection and discussion on the recommendations stemming from the JIU report and the corresponding management response from the UNCTAD secretariat. The Group is committed to a fair process and we therefore will not comment on the specific substance until everyone has been heard, and all perspectives have been aired. I will therefore take this opportunity to share the principles which will guide and inform the Group's efforts in the coming days.

First, we are guided by the ultimate objective that the process we are launching here has the simple yet vital objective of strengthening UNCTAD, and improving the work of the secretariat. Whatever we decide, whatever we conclude, will be with the objective of realizing a stronger UNCTAD, reinforced and equipped to better meet the demands and expectations of member states, especially developing countries. In other words, we must empower UNCTAD.

Second, we engage here in a cooperative and constructive manner to empower each other. From the beginning, we emphasized that the intergovernmental machinery of UNCTAD exists to ensure the meaningful and adequate participation of each and every member country in the deliberation and decision-making of UNCTAD. We therefore will respect the views, priorities, and concerns of others, just as they respect ours. We also expect that the process will be inclusive, and that all partners will refrain from actions and proposals that may have the effect of marginalizing some voices. We hope that this positive spirit will permeate our deliberations and other aspects of our consensus-building work.

Third, we approach this process from a systemic perspective. If there are systemic problems, they must be swiftly and effectively addressed. But we are concerned by some indications that for some, the discussion has become personalized. We must be professional and base our work on the needs of the system. Of course, this does not preclude us from raising specific concerns, but the overall deliberations must be grounded on strengthening the system.

Related to this is a long-standing concern of the Group on the delicate balance between oversight and micromanagement. The Group continues to be very concerned about proposals and initiatives which would erode the intellectual independence of the secretariat. We therefore stress that the results of our deliberations should not lead to micromanagement. At the same time, as responsible member states and as the principal beneficiaries of UNCTAD, the Group of 77 and China is very much receptive to strengthening oversight by member states, as is our right and responsibility. Perhaps one important result of our deliberations and discussions would be a clearer consensus on the line between micromanagement and oversight.

In other words, we will not be receptive to micromanagement which would erode the secretariat's independence in discharging the mandate we have so delicately negotiated. At the same time, we as member states must strengthen our oversight of the secretariat to ensure that they faithfully discharge the mandate we articulated at the quadrennial conference, and that the secretariat does so in an ethical manner and in accordance with the high professional standards we expect from the talented and dedicated staff of the United Nations.

Finally, the fruits of our labor must be sustainable. Our conclusions, and our directives to the secretariat, must therefore be forward looking and durable. Therefore, they must be within the scope of our mandate. We therefore enter these discussions with an open mind and with great flexibility, but we also caution that any structural and institutional change of the secretariat is beyond the mandate of the TDB and should be decided by the Conference. The various recommendations should also allow sufficient flexibility for the incumbent UNCTAD Secretary-General and his successor to navigate the waters to UNCTAD XIV as smoothly, and as effectively, as possible.

Mr. President,

Now, let me speak in my national capacity on behalf of Indonesia. Personally, I would certainly like to see transparency, effectiveness, accountability, strengthening of any international organizations within the realm of this city of Geneva as well as beyond, including UNCTAD. I should like to underline that in any organization, it is all the members' responsibility to ensure the wellbeing and effective operation of their organization.

Now, as we have good intentions, both as diplomats as well as concerned citizens of the world, it is our duty to ensure that not only UNCTAD, but also many international organizations, have to be renewed and strengthened. To name a few, the conference on disarmament, of health, labor, intellectual property right, trade, as well as other organizations.

Such renewal and strengthening of international organizations have increasingly becoming imperative, as the world has changed drastically. While UN membership itself has grown to 193 countries at the first decades of this century, there are still many international organizations which were established 40 years ago, or even at the start of the last century, and has not change in how they operate, while retaining their old decision making process, as well as the grouping of countries.

When one talks about result or merit-based system, is it right and proper to hold the WTO Secretariat responsible if there is no movement in the Doha Round? If we look at the Conference on Disarmament, if there is no progress in more than 13 years in nuclear proliferation negotiation, should we then disbanding the CD and its Secretariat due to the absence of result?

I might sound a bit critical and cynical, but maybe that is the prerogative of someone leaving the town, as I embark on a new duty back home at the end of this month. In short, Indonesia would like to see reform, transparency, and strengthening in many international organizations in Geneva. At the end, these organizations' ultimate raison d'etre is none but to serve the interest of humanity of the world.

Thank you Mr. President.