Distinguished Co-Chairs,

          Allow me at the outset to reiterate the willingness of the Joint Coordinating Committee, that is both the Group of 77 and China and the Non-Aligned Movement, to engage constructively in the process set up by the President of the General Assembly to facilitate an intergovernmental consideration of the recommendations emanating from the High-Level Panel’s Report and the Secretary-General’s comments thereon.

2.       We have full confidence in your able leadership and fully trust that you will guide the process in an open, transparent and inclusive manner.

3.       We reaffirm all the elements stated by the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) during the plenary meeting of the General Assembly on April 16th and reiterate the preliminary views of both Groups on the Report, conveyed in the letter addressed to the Secretary-General by the Chairs of the two Groups on 19 March 2007 and the JCC Statement during the informal meeting of the General Assembly on 6 June 2007.

4.       On behalf of the JCC, we would also like to reiterate that the Group of 77 and China and the Non-Aligned Movement would prefer an integrated process in which no a priori conclusion will be made with regard to when decisions on the Panel report will be taken. We stress that Funding, Development and Governance will be areas of priority interest for both groups and that there should not be any artificial deadlines and that the implementation of recommendations contained in the report should follow intergovernmental consideration and agreement by the General Assembly.

5.       Although the mandate given by the World Summit Outcome is on development, environment and humanitarian assistance, nevertheless, the JCC is prepared to work on the basis of the format proposed by the facilitators. The purpose of the informal consultations and briefings planned by the Facilitators should be to exchange views and outline positions, not to negotiate or take decisions.

6.       The JCC would also like to emphasize its strong preference that no meetings should be scheduled for July, taking into account the fact that the ECOSOC Substantive Session would be underway during this period in Geneva.

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

7.       We look forward to substantive and detailed discussions in future on various aspects and each of the recommendations contained in the Report. We have heard the statement of the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and we shall respond to this also at the appropriate time. At present, we wish to outline the following preliminary and general elements of the JCC’s position on humanitarian issues and recovery:

One, the enhanced UN system-wide coherence, envisaged as a result of this collective exercise, should strengthen the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations.

Two, there are a number of recommendations in the report related to humanitarian assistance and transition from relief to development that could provide useful inputs for the ongoing reform in the area of humanitarian assistance. There are, however, recommendations that do not take into account the outcomes and divergent views expressed during the intensive negotiations conducted in that issue in the humanitarian segment of ECOSOC and the General Assembly. We believe that those outcomes and different views should also be given due consideration.

Three, simultaneously, there are certain recommendations which though relevant, lack the specificity and clarity, required for member States to fully understand and consider them. This is another reason for further discussion and engagement to seek clarification on all such issues before any decisions are taken;

Four, the Panel’s Report may have touched upon some issues, such as human rights, gender and sustainable development, as cross-cutting issues in the context of UN operational activities for development.  These issues are universal; their application is not confined to only developing countries. The Group is concerned that these issues, as also humanitarian assistance, could be misused to introduce new conditionalities on international development assistance which is not acceptable to developing countries.

Five,  we reiterate our commitment and support for the guidelines contained in the annex to resolution 46/182 of 16 December 1991 as the framework for the provision of UN humanitarian. Those principles, including neutrality, humanity, impartiality and independence, should remain the basis of all responses to humanitarian emergencies and guide the efficiency and coordination of humanitarian assistance by the UN and other relevant organizations.

Six,    in this context, it is vital to uphold the primary role of the concerned State in the organization, coordination and delivery of such humanitarian assistance. Relevant organizations of the UN system must continue to engage with the relevant regional and national authorities to build strong capacities at all levels, in order to improve the adequacy and deployment of resources.

Seven, more attention should be accorded to strengthening financial mechanisms. In this regard, we emphasize the need to establish predictable funding for all and in particular for neglected emergencies, under-resourced sectors and to address funding gaps, especially for post-disaster recovery.  The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) can be used, in the initial phase, prior to the launch of an appeal, to address the most urgent needs and meet financial gaps.These expenditures and other actions by OCHA, should be subject to appropriate intergovernmental oversight and accountability.

Eight, in addition to promoting more consistent cooperation agreements among all the humanitarian actors, the United Nations system should further urge the international community to ensure, through bilateral and multilateral channels, the allocation of larger resources to respond rapidly to emergencies.

Nine, the role of UN agencies, funds and programmes in emergency response and humanitarian assistance, should not reduce, replace or eliminate their role in support of development programmes and projects. The support of the funds programmes and agencies’ in the task of humanitarian help is no doubt important and noble. This assistance should be provided with the consent of the affected country and on the basis of its requirement. It is, however, important not to forget that the Funds and Programmes are not relief bodies, and that their essential role is to foster long-term development.

Ten, the challenge posed by natural disasters is specially important for developing countries, mainly due to the long-lasting consequences for the affected populations, the adverse impact on the environment, as well as the erosion of social and economic development in the affected countries. It is, therefore, important to examine and promote measures to improve the response capacity of affected nations and the assistance and cooperation from the international community for this purpose.

Eleven, we urge the implementation of commitments related to:

1. assistance for developing countries that are prone to natural disasters;
2. for disaster-stricken states in the transition phase towards sustainable physical, social and economic recovery;
3. for risk-reduction activities in post-disaster recovery; and
4. for rehabilitation processes.

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

8.       The Group of 77 and China and the Non-Aligned Movement will participate actively and constructively in this process and will continue to discuss within the JCC the merits of each and every recommendation of the Panel. We expect all delegations to do so as well. Our common and central objective should be to enable the UN system, and its member States, to make an enhanced, efficient and effective contribution to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs.

          Thank you