Confirmation of the appointment of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme

STATEMENT BY H.E. DR. ABDALMAHMOOD ABDALHALEEM MOHAMAD, AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF 77, AT THE CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP) (New York, 31 March 2009)

Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,

1. I would like to express on behalf of the G-77 and China our sincere congratulations to Ms. Helen Clark of New Zealand for her nomination by the Secretary-General of the United Nations as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). We take this opportunity to extend to her our best wishes for a successful term and to assure her of our support and cooperation.

2. The Group of 77 and China believes that the Development Agenda is a major and a basic pillar for this Organization and one where considerable effort is still needed. Indeed, sustainable development should remain the centerpiece of deliberations at the United Nations, and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs, should continue to be the overarching framework of the UN activities. UNDP represents one of the main institutions whose goals are directly related to the development agenda and are linked to the lives of millions in developing countries. We therefore believe that UNDP can play a crucial role in supporting our developmental objectives. For this reason, it is imperative that the Administrator acts in the interests of developing countries within the framework of their national development policies and priorities.

3. Today UNDP continues to be relevant as a forum for the implementation of our common development goals by translating them into operational activities and concrete actions in the field. Our objective in this period should be the implementation of what we have agreed on in the major UN conferences and summits to help the poor in their struggle against poverty especially in these times of economic crisis. In this regard, the Group of 77 is convinced that the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, is of the utmost priority.

4. This constitutes the framework in which the Group of 77 and China hopes to work with Ms. Helen Clark. That is a challenge we have to face hand in hand with the new Administrator and we are hopeful that under her leadership UNDP will respond to these challenges in a transparent and effective manner. I wish to assure Ms. Clark that the Group of 77 and China will support her efforts as Administrator of UNDP in strengthening our much needed global partnership for development based on recognition of national leadership and ownership of the national strategies.

I thank you.