Distinguished Co-Chairs,

          Allow me at the outset to reiterate the willingness of the Group of 77 and China and the Non-Aligned Movement to constructively engage in the intergovernmental consideration of the recommendations contained in the High-Level Panel's Report. We appreciate your able stewardship thus far and fully trust that you will continue to guide this process in an open, transparent and inclusive manner.

2.       The Joint Coordinating Committee of the G-77 and NAM is of the view that   many of the  recommendations contained in the High Level Panel's Report on this cluster of issues are already before the General Assembly's Fifth Committee, where many decisions have been made and future Reports from the Secrtary Genral are expected. This may be in part due to the timing of the finalization of the Report coinciding with the adoption of  relevant resolutions in the General Assembly on many of the issues addressed.   We look forward to the full implementation of the resolutions of the Assembly thereon.   Bearing in mind the adoption of several resolutions in the 60th and 61st sessions of the Assembly on Secretariat and Management reform related matters, we believe that the issues inthis  section  canbe dealt betterin the Fifth Committee.    We further would like to stress that our discussions here today on the Report's recommendations should not in any way detract from the ongoing consideration of these issues in the Fifth Committee nor infringe upon the role of the Fifth Committee to make  decisions on such matters, under relevant agenda items of that Committee.   We maintain our principled position that the Fifth Committee is the only body that can pronounce on budgetary and adminsitrative matters.  

3.       We believe that the General Assembly is in the process of a comprehensive reform of Human Resources Management. Some issues have been agreed upon in the 61 st session of the General Assembly, most notably in Resolution 61/244, while agreement on other issues is likely to be realized in upcoming meetings of the Fifth Committee.   We consequently are not convinced of the necessity to review human resources management policies and stress the full implementation of the resolutions of the General Assembly on human resources management reform, in particular resolution 61/244, and administration of justice.   

4.       The equitable, geographic representation and representation of developing countries particularly at senior level of management is an issue to which members of the G-77 and NAM attach high importance. In the context of the recommendations contained in the Report, the Group seeks clarification on the criteria utilized in the selection of senior management and who would be making such appointments.  The G-77 and NAM calls upon the UN Secretariat to improve its level of reporting to member states on issues related to staffing and Human Resources Management.  The Group also wishes to stress the primary oversight role of the General Assembly and the Fifth Committee concerning administrative and budgetary matters.   

5.       On the issue of the International Civil Service Commission and its role, we feel that the recommendations in the Report are rather detached from realities on the ground as the ICSC is not meant to serve as an instrument for defining human resources policy but to clarify technical aspects of   areas such as contracts or conditions of service. The Fifth Committee of the Assembly is the only body that may legislate and approve human resources management policies.  Furthermore, the General Assembly, through the Fifth Committee, is already seized of the matter and pronounced on the strengthening of the Commission in its resolution 61/239.   We consequently believe that this matter has been dealt with and there is no need for a review of the Commission by an external panel. 

6.       The role of the Chief Executive Board for Coordination as highlighted in the Report is another matter of concern. It should be recalled that the CEB ascribed a coordination role for Senior Management of the UN System and any effort to transform it into a policy making body would mistakenly be overstepping the parameters of   its mandate. In the course of any review of the CEB, the Joint Coordinating Committee of the G-77 and NAM feel that a mechanism of intergovernmental oversight of the body should be given due consideration as the General Assembly is ultimately responsible for deliberating, deciding on and overseeing management related matters.  We furthermore wishes to reaffirm the role and mandate of the Committee for Programme and Coordination in monitoring and evaluation matters.

7.       The G-77 and NAM are supportive of the frameworks of Results Based Budgeting and Results Based Management as important tools to be relied upon by the UN system in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assemnbly on results based budgeting. We feel however that more work needs to be done to fully  implement these ideas and that staff must be better trained to ensure the effective utilization of these frameworks by the organization. While reports on the  IPSAs are anticipated, we note with concern that recommendations contained in the Report link these mechanisms to questions of funding which we feel should be strictly  allocated on the basis of the host countries development needs and national priorities.   We wish to stress that the Fifth Committee has already pronounced on the proposals related to the implementation of IPSAS and a new ERPS system.  It will receive and consider several reports in the 62nd session on accountability, results based management, evaluation and monitoring and the progress made towards implementing its resolution 60/283 on new accounting standards and new ICT systems.

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

8.       The Group of 77 and China and the Non-Aligned Movement will continue to participate actively and constructively in the intergovernmental consideration of the recommendations contained in the High Level Panel Report.

          I thank you.