Vienna Chapter
Mr. Chairman,
Allow me to express the Group of 77 and China's deep satisfaction to
see you chairing Working Group A. As you are well aware, the Group has
strongly defended the position that the next Chairman of WGA should be a
member of the G-77 and China. We are confident that under your guidance
and leadership we will achieve fruitful results in our deliberations. The
Group of 77 and China would also like to express its appreciation to
Ambassador Patricia Espinoza for her competent chairmanship of Working
Group A.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group of 77 and China was very much pleased with the results of
the fourth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), held in New York from 21 to
23 September, as it evidenced the overwhelming support of all 117
participating countries to the Treaty and to its prompt entry into force.
The majority of the statements deplored the lack of consensus on the 2005
NPT Review Conference and the omission of disarmament and
non-proliferation themes in the UN High Level Summit Report. In this
scenario, the Declaration negotiated in Vienna under the leadership of
Ambassador Deborah Stokes, and adopted in New York, is a glimmer of hope
for all those countries that wish to free the world from the threat of
nuclear weapons. The Group of 77 and China is looking forward to
discussing further ways of promoting the Entry into Force of the CTBT.
In this regard, the Group would like to welcome into our midst
Madagascar, Djibouti and Vanuatu, countries that have ratified the CTBT
since the last session of Working Group A, as well as Lebanon that has
recently signed it. These new additions contribute to the universalization
of the Treaty. We take this opportunity to urge all countries that have
not done so, especially those eleven listed under Annex II and whose
ratification is necessary for entry into force, to sign and ratify the
Treaty at the earliest possible date.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group of 77 and China would like to thank the Executive Secretary
for his reports on Major Programmes 6 and 7, as well as his informative
oral report. The Group is particularly satisfied that the seven year
service limit for Professional and internationally recruited General
Service staff members is being observed. Nevertheless, the Group notes
that the overall representation of developing countries in the Provisional
Technical Secretariat (PTS) remains unbalanced. In this regard, the Group
would like to reiterate the need to increase the presence of staff members
from developing countries in the PTS, and calls upon the Secretariat to
give due attention to this criterion in the recruitment process of new
staff members who will replace those who have reached their service limit.
The adequate representation of women should also be observed. REVIEW OF
THE REVISED DRAFT 2006 PROGRAMME AND BUDGET PROPOSALS Mr. Chairman,
We thank the Secretariat for elaborating the revised budget proposal
for 2006.
In this regard, the Group would like to make the following comments:
(a) Once again the Group of 77 and China reiterates its position that
the budget proposal should reflect zero real growth. The Group also
maintains the position that there should be no overall programmatic
increases in the budget proposals.
(b) Given the importance it attaches to Major Programme 4 (On-Site
Inspection), including the Integrated Field Exercise, the Group notes with
appreciation the substantive increase proposed for this Major Programme
and holds the view that this increase should be ensured by means of
reallocations and adjustments in the other Major Programmes.
Mr. Chairman,
In reference to the Report of the External Evaluation Team, the Group
of 77 and China would like to once again thank the participants of the
Team who, under the leadership of Ambassadors Rimdap and Starr, produced a
sound document that is considered a good basis for our deliberations.
At this stage we would like to reiterate the position expressed by
the Group at the inception of this exercise, to the effect that all
recommendations of the External Evaluation Team's report must be
thoroughly examined in WGA and WGB, and adopted by the Preparatory
Commission, before they can be implemented.
In this regard, the Group closely followed the deliberations held
during the joint WGA/WGB meeting held during the last session of Working
Group B in August. The Group is, to a large extent, in agreement with the
recommendations of the Report, but we would like to further examine the
recommendation concerning the fusion of the IDC and IMS Divisions, as the
Group is not convinced of the usefulness of this proposal The Group of 77
and China is looking forward to examining the Road Map that is being
prepared by the Executive Secretary.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group of 77 and China notes with appreciation the work that has
been carried out by both Working Groups A and B. The Group is concerned
with the small participation of experts from developing countries in
Working Group B meetings. Considering inputs for improvement, the Group
would like to suggest that ways and means be considered to finance the
participation of representatives from developing countries to WGB
meetings. This is a widespread practice in the United Nations system, for
example in the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change and in the FAO in Rome, to mention
just a few. We would like to propose that funds be made available in the
budget to cover travel expenses for nine representatives of developing
countries, three from Africa, three from Asia and three from Latin America
and the Caribbean. These representatives would be elected within the Group
of 77 and China and would participate in WGB meetings for a period of
three years. At the end of each WGB meeting they would report back to the
Group of 77 and China on the technical deliberations held.
Concerning the Chairmanship of both WGA and WGB, the Group suggests
in principle a tenure of two to three years, taking into consideration
equitable geographical rotation.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group welcomes the mainstreaming of the discussions on the Status
of On-Site Inspectors and Inspector Assistants and looks forward to
further progress in this issue. In this regard, the G-77 and China agrees
that the creation of an open-ended group of interested States Signatories
to follow up on these discussions, as proposed during the joint WGA/WGB
meeting last February, would be an appropriate way to move forward. It is
important to observe geographical balance in the composition of this
Group.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
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