Mr. Chairman,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda items 118, 130 and 131, in particular on the Strengthened and Unified Security Management System for the United Nations.

2.     The Group wishes to thank Mr. David Veness, Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security,  as well as Mr. Kenneth Herman, Senior Advisor, Secretariat of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board, the Under Secretary-General for the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), Ms. Inga Britt Ahlenius and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), Ms. Susan Mclurg, for introducing respectively the reports of the Secretary-General, the OIOS and the Advisory Committee on these important items.

3.    At the outset, the Group of G77 and China notes the decision of the Secretary-General to appoint the new Under Secretary-General for Safety and Security, Mr. Gregory Starr to replace Mr. David Veness, the efforts of whom the Group acknowledges in establishing a system of strengthened and unified security management as requested by the General Assembly  since the inception of the Department.

4. The Group stands ready to work closely with Mr. Starr to continue these efforts, as well as to interact with him, in due time, on his vision for setting clear criteria for determining security needs and clear standards for threat and risk assessment on a world wide basis, which can justify the additional requirements of the Department to ensure that it is able to respond to any emergency, bearing in mind that the level of risk and threats vary from one place to the other.

Mr. Chairman,

5. The Group of 77 and China reiterates its support to the provision of safety and security for the United Nations staff, operations and premises at Headquarters and main duty stations, as well as in the field and the Group will continue to support measures aimed at ensuring a coherent, effective and timely response to all security-related threats and other emergencies.    

6.     However, the Independent Panel on Security and Safety of UN Personnel and Premises Worldwide recommended, inter alia, that the Under Secretary-General for Safety and Security should conduct a management review of the organization of the Department of Safety and Security,  with the purpose of better defining roles and responsibilities, with clear lines of accountability, and identify work methods and organizational structure that privilege the field, adding that in view of the Panel, the Department of Safety and Security will require additional human and financial resources, but their level and allocation should be determined following the management review.
 
7.     Furthermore, the OIOS recommends in its report that the Department of Safety and Security should, in consultation with the Inter-Agency Security Management Network, reassess its current staffing levels. The OIOS also recommends that The Department of Safety and Security should reassess its structure so as to clearly identify the major functions of its divisions and units including the Divisions of Regional Operations and Safety and Security Services.

8. It will also be recalled the General Assembly has requested, in its resolution 61/263, the Secretary General to submit a report on the comprehensive safety and security policy framework at the United Nations which provides the basis for the threat and risk assessment, cooperation with the host countries, cost-sharing arrangements and operations of the Department of Safety and Security.  We express our concern that this report has not yet been presented.
 
9.     The Group of 77 and China wishes to emphasize the importance of ensuring transparency and accountability of the Organisation in order to adequately address the issue of Safety and Security.  To that end, the report of the Independent Panel on Accountability, which was established as a follow-up to the Independent Panel on Safety and Security of UN Personnel and Premises Worldwide, should be made available to Member states on an expedited basis.  

10. We therefore, Mr. Chairman, call upon the Secretary-General to make all relevant information as well as the outcomes of the requested reviews available to Member States so that the Fifth Committee can receive the full picture and have an informed discussion on these issues at the main part of the General Assembly's 64th  session.

I thank you.