GROUP OF 77
NAIROBI

Statement by H.E. Mr. Raza Bashir Tarar, High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Republic of Kenya, Permanent Representative to UNON and Chairperson of the Group of 77 & China, Nairobi Chapter at the 4th Annual Sub-Committee Meeting of UN Environment Committee of Permanent Representative (Nairobi, 6 March 2017)

Madame Chairperson,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 & China.

This being my first statement as the Chair of Group of 77 & China, I would like to extend our Group's warmest welcome to the Executive Director UNEP, Mr. Erik Solheim and wish him success in his future endeavors. I would also like to assure him of our Group's full support and cooperation during his tenure.

Madame Chairperson,

We are in the process of making preparations for UNEA-3 which will be held by the end of this year. In this regard I would like to appreciate the efforts of UNEP Secretariat as evidenced by the recent briefing by an official of the Office for Legal Affairs (OLA), New York. It, also is a matter of satisfaction that communication between the CPR and UNEA Bureaus is open.

I would like to reiterate the Group's request for timely distribution of documents with translations. I would also like to thank the Secretariat for heeding the Group's request for advance sharing of information about stakeholders attending a particular meeting. This is a significant affirmation of the intergovernmental nature of our deliberations and negotiations.

As for UNEA-3 the Group agrees that it should yield an agreed outcome to help free our planet of pollution.

Madame Chairperson

The Group of 77 & China wishes to welcome all inputs provided by the Member States towards the building up of UNEA-3 for a successful outcome. In our quest to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) universality and inclusiveness must not be cast aside.

In planning parallel events and discussions the limitation of small delegations must be factored in. The issue of providing financial assistance for participation to developing and least developed countries should also be handled with seriousness.

Madame Chairperson

While UNEA-3 is not exactly around the corner, time is of the essence. Hence the importance of timely agreement on a UNEA-3 theme and adherence to an agreed time frame for submission of resolutions cannot be overemphasized.

For its part, G77 and China stands ready to play a befitting role in fructifying a successful UNEA-3.

Thank you.

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