Madam President,

          The Group of 77 and China and the Non-Aligned Movement welcome the submission of Secretary-General’s Report, in Document A/61/836, on the recommendations of the High-level Panel on UN System-wide Coherence.

2.       The preliminary views of both Groups on the High-Level Panel Report were conveyed in the letter addressed to the Secretary-General by the Chairs of the two Groups on March 19, 2007.

3.       We appreciate that the Secretary-General’s Report has responded to some of the views conveyed in our letter. We reaffirm the contents of our letter, a copy of which is being circulated along with the copy of this statement. Our views in greater detail on the substantive aspects of this report and on the process will be expressed in the forthcoming consultations.

4.       The Joint Coordinating Committee of G-77 and NAM (JCC) looks forward to hearing the views of other delegations on the recommendations of the High-level Panel Report and the report of the Secretary-General, as well as on the process of consultations to consider their recommendations.

Madam President,

5.      On behalf of the JCC, I address this Assembly to recall and reaffirm that economic and social development should remain the centerpiece of deliberations at the UN, and that the achievement of the Internationally Agreed Development Goals, including the MDGs, should continue to be the over-arching framework of the UN activities. We further emphasize the need for a strengthened global partnership for development, based on recognition of national leadership and ownership of national strategies.

6.      The JCC would like to reiterate its position that development cooperation should be demand-driven and be pursued on the basis of the national strategies and plans of developing countries. The JCC has always emphasized that UN development cooperation should be voluntary and grant-based in nature and that there should be no “one size-fits all” approach. The nature of development cooperation should be responsive to the specific needs, priorities and conditions of each country.  The JCC would not support the introduction of new conditionalities through the reform process.

7.      The JCC recalls General Assembly resolution 59/250 which remains the intergovernmentally agreed guiding policy framework for addressing the UN operational activities for development. It is relevant that this resolution stresses that reform efforts should enhance organizational efficiency and achieve concrete development results and that the value of UN operational activities for development should be assessed on the basis of their impact on the recipient countries. The JCC believes that reforms of UN operational activities for development should be aimed at ensuring both the efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of assistance.  It should not be merely a cost-cutting exercise.

8.      It cannot be denied that the most important component for operational activities for development is an expanding and adequate source of funding based on development assistance from the UN system and other sources that is responsive to the national development plans and programmes of countries.

9.      The JCC expects that all these issues would also be included as important elements of the overall discussion.

Madam President,

10.     We agree with the Secretary-General that the High-Level Panel Report “merits a process of review and dialogue to build broad-based common understanding of its objectives, contents and proposals”. We trust, Madam President, that you will agree to lead the process for the consideration of the High-Level Panel Report and the Secretary-General’s comments thereon. We will participate actively and constructively in this process.

11.     Let me stress once again what was stated in the joint letter of G-77 and NAM that the implementation of recommendations contained in the report should follow intergovernmental consideration and agreement by the General Assembly.

12.     Finally, we wish to emphasize that the High-Level Panel Report should be considered with care and due deliberation. There should be no rush to take decisions against artificial deadlines. The process to consider these recommendations should be open, transparent and inclusive. We look forward to further consultations on identifying the best way to consider and decide on the recommendations of the reports.