Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of Group of 77 and China on agenda item 132, in particular with regard to the budget for the support account for peacekeeping operations.

2. We would like to thank the Controller, Mr. Jun Yamazaki, and the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Alain Le Roy, for introducing the reports of the Secretary-General under this agenda item.  We would also like to thank the Chairman of the ACABQ, Ms. Susan McLurg, for introducing the related reports of the Advisory Committee.  We further wish to thank the Under-Secretary-General for the Office of Internal Oversight Services, Mrs. Inga-Britt Ahlenius.

Mr. Chairman,

3. The Group of 77 and China believes that the interim review of the restructuring of Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support, decided under resolution 61/279, should be holistic and comprehensive. We should focus our discussions on the overall value-add that this structural change has brought to the United Nations in its capacity to manage and sustain peacekeeping operations. The Group notes that, while there has been some improvement in the support provided to peacekeeping operations arising from the establishment of DFS, the full benefits resulting from the implementation of the restructuring remain uncertain.  

4. In this regard, the Group would like to stress, once again, that structural change is not a substitute for managerial improvement. The Secretary-General must continue to address important issues such as ensuring unity of command, establishing a clear division of labour between DPKO and DFS, and reducing the "silo" mentalities of individual departments. We also note the assessment of the OIOS that the Secretariat has yet to develop the necessary governance and accountability mechanisms to ensure effectiveness and accountability in peacekeeping operations.  

5. The Group recognizes that only 18 months may not be sufficient to fully realize the implementation of the organizational reform. However, we would like to look carefully at the areas of 'significant strategic and operational benefits' that have already been realized, as highlighted in the Secretary General's report. We concur with the ACABQ that the Secretary-General should develop clear benchmarks to realize the objectives set out in paragraph 16 and 17 of his report.  Given these and other pertinent concerns, the Group shall endeavour to seek further clarifications during the informal consultations.

Mr. Chairman,

6. The Group of 77 and China notes that the proposed budget of the support account for peacekeeping operations, for the period 2009-2010, seeks approval for 182 additional posts. The Group acknowledges the recent increase in size and complexity of the peacekeeping missions and the need to provide an adequate level of support. We note with concern, however, the observation made by the Board of Auditors, with regards to the evolution of the support account in the past decade, that there is no defined formula to show the relationship between the level and complexity of peacekeeping operations and the level of the support account. It is also of concern the fact that the Secretariat has yet to develop a sound approach to determine the appropriate support account staffing requirements. This situation makes it very hard for the membership to assess the adequate level of resources for the support account, and also to determine whether the existence of a specific post is justified. In this connection, the Group regrets that the comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the support account, as requested by resolution 60/268, has not been submitted to the General Assembly. We will seek further clarifications and justifications on the posts proposed by the Secretary-General during informal consultations.

7. As for the recruitment and staffing under the support account regime, the Group of 77 and China refers to the decision of the General Assembly that posts funded from the support account shall be filled and managed in compliance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly. In this regard, the Group emphasizes, once again, the issue of proper representation of the troop contributing countries in the DPKO and DFS, taking into account their contribution to UN peacekeeping, as requested by the General Assembly. The Group underscores the fact that majority of the troop contributing countries come from the developing countries, bearing the enormous burden of the peacekeeping operations in commensurate with their unwavering commitment to the maintenance of international peace and security. The Group is equally concerned at the continuing low proportion of woman from developing countries at the Secretariat, especially at senior levels.

8. It is therefore important, in view of this Group, to ensure representation of these countries at the senior and policy making levels at the Secretariat. With regard to the vacancies at some key posts, which is a matter of concern to the Group, while agreeing with ACABQ on the importance of stability in the personnel structure in order to ensure continuity and efficient performance, the Group urges the prompt recruitment and appointment of staff.

Mr. Chairman,

9. Turning to the restructuring of OIOS, the Group of 77 and China notes the proposal by the OIOS to restructure its Investigations Division based on the "hub-and-spoke" configuration.  In brief, the restructuring proposal seeks to establish investigative capabilities specialising in two distinct types of cases, namely, cases of sexual exploitation and abuse, and financial, economic and administrative misconduct, as well as to redeploy OIOS investigators to hubs in New York, Nairobi and Vienna. The Group had previously articulated some of its concerns over the restructuring proposal at the General Assembly's first resumed sixty-second session, when the Committee discussed the Secretary-General's report on "Strengthening Investigations".  In our view, those same concerns remain valid today.  The Group reiterates that the restructuring proposal constitutes a fundamental change in direction for the operations of the OIOS, and therefore requires closer scrutiny and further clarification.

10. The Group believes that the fair and effective conduct of investigations will have a significant impact on the morale and well-being of United Nations staff serving at Headquarters and in the field. The Group notes that the overall caseload in field missions has decreased over the past two years, mostly in sexual exploitation and abuse cases, which fell by 77% in 2007 and a further 36% in 2008. Nevertheless, the Group is concerned by the increased caseload related to financial, economic and administrative cases due to the incorporation of the Procurement Task Force cases (175) into the Investigations Division. Given these developments, the Group emphasizes that the proposed restructuring of the Investigations Division must not be viewed purely as an administrative exercise focusing on the potential cost savings.

11. It is equally important for OIOS to maintain a transparent, predictable, accountable and objective investigative capacity that also fully respects the due process rights of staff.  In this regard, it is critical for a comprehensive and thorough consideration of the restructuring proposal that goes beyond dollars and cents.  For example, issues such as the redeployment process of the investigator posts to the proposed hubs, the effectiveness of the proposed specialist investigator teams, the status of OIOS' comprehensive investigations manual, the dissemination of standardized and consolidated rules and procedures applicable to the investigative process to managers and staff, and the linkage with the new internal justice system need to be adequately addressed.

12. The Group notes that the proposed restructuring has implications for the peacekeeping contingents serving at the field missions where OIOS has resident investigators. Under the June 2007 revision to the model memorandum of understanding with troop-contributing countries, OIOS is likely to have a reduced role in the investigations of misconduct by members of contingents.  The Group seeks further clarification on the current implementation of this model and how it would be affected by the proposed restructuring exercise.

Mr. Chairman,

13. The Group of 77 and China would like to assure you of our constructive engagement on the discussions related to this agenda item.

I thank you.