STATEMENT OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA DURING THE TWENTIETH
JOINT MEETING OF WORKING GROUPS A AND B OF THE PREPARATORY COMMISSION OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR-TEST-BAN TREATY ORGANIZATION 2 APRIL 2013, DELIVERED BY
AMBASSADOR MAHMOUD HASSAN ELAMIN, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SUDAN
Mr Chairman,
1. On behalf of the States Signatories of the Group of 77 and China, I would
like to take note that Ambassador Jargalsaikhan Enkhsaikhan will preside and
Mr David McCormack will coordinate the Twentieth Session of Working Groups A
and B. The Group thanks the Executive Secretary, Ambassador Tibor Tóth,
for his introductory remarks at the commencement of the meeting.
2. As previously mentioned at the opening session of the Fortieth Session of Working
Group B on 18 March 2013, the Group reiterates its view to discuss the need of
electing Vice Chairs on a regional basis for its subsidiary bodies at the next
session of the Preparatory Commission.
Mr Chairman,
3. The Group would also like to reaffirm the need for the Working Groups to
set clear priorities to the Secretariat, as the Provisional Technical Secretariat
(PTS) prepares for the 2014 budget cycle. As stated by the Group in its opening
remarks to the Fortieth Session of Working Group B, preparation for the Programme
and Budget should take into account two important aspects: the global economic
situation of austerity and the current perspective of the entry into force of
the Treaty. Fiscal prudence is of the utmost importance and as such, the Group
is confident that the PTS will suggest a programme driven budget that adheres
to a zero growth policy.
4. The Group would appreciate if the PTS could organize a briefing to discuss
the initial draft of the Programme and Budget for 2014, before recommendations
could be made in Working Group A in May. The Group would also appreciate if
the PTS could elaborate a non-paper highlighting the main elements of what it
plans to be the initial draft of the Programme and Budget for 2014. This non-paper
would be made available before the suggested briefing and would contribute to
ensure the appropriate dialogue on planning priorities and efficiencies to be
included in the initial draft Programme and Budget for 2014.
Mr Chairman,
5. To conclude, the Group of 77 and China welcomes the important work conducted
by the PTS on building technical capacity in developing countries. Since capacity
building activities consume less than 10% of the International Data Centre budget,
the Group is of the view that any proposed savings should not harm those activities.
The Group of 77 and China is convinced that all efforts pursued in the realms
of capacity building and training will doubtlessly enhance the capability of
all States to participate fully in the verification system, by helping National
Data Centres to fulfil their tasks and station operators to sustain the International
Monitoring System network.
