Mr. Chairman,

        I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 124, Joint Inspection Unit, Programme of Work for 2007.

2.     The Group would like to express its appreciation to the Chairperson of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), Mrs. Deborah Wynes, for her introduction of the JIU Programme of work for 2007 contained in Chapter II of document A/62/34.

3.     The Group of 77 and China attaches great importance to the work of the Joint Inspection Unit, as the sole independent, external oversight body of the United Nations system. Abiding by this understanding, the Group actively participated in the negotiations which led to the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 61/238 by this Committee in December 2006.

4.     The Joint Inspection Unit has demonstrated its responsiveness to the reform process by acting expeditiously on the provisions of General Assembly resolutions with regard to its role in the UN system. A clear example of that is the submission of its Annual Report and Programme of Work for 2007 to the Fifth Committee at the beginning of this year, taking into account the essence of the discussion on this issue last year.

5.     We welcome the Unit’s efforts to focus in its Programme of Work for 2007 on issues of system-wide interest, value and relevance to the efficient functioning of all organizations to which it provides services, in accordance with the request made by the General Assembly. In this context, we recognize that the 11 reviews the Joint Inspection Unit intends to prepare for 2007 would benefit the United Nations as a whole. The Group looks forward to the results of these reviews and relevant reports.

6.     As part of the ongoing attempts to avoid duplication of efforts, the Group would like to commend the Joint Inspection Unit for promoting the interaction with the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and the Board of Auditors, as well as for promoting the dialogue with oversight bodies at other organizations of the United Nations system. We would like to highlight that the early adoption of the work programme enabled the Unit to discuss in detail the planned reviews with the Board of Auditors and OIOS at the 14 December 2006 tripartite meeting, as well as to ensure that there is no overlap between the work planned by the Board, OIOS and JIU.

7.     Finally, Mr. Chairman, the Group of 77 and China would like to emphasize the understanding that the General Assembly would take note of the Programme of Work of the Unit for 2007 and that we are not here to review or to change the programme.

8.     Mr. Chairman, in conclusion, the Group of 77 and China wishes to commend the Joint Inspection Unit for the Programme of Work and to reiterate our support to the continued relevance of the Unit and its mandate and important role as an oversight body in the UN system.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.