STATEMENT BY THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA DURING THE THIRTY-NINETH
SESSION OF THE PREPARATORY COMMISSION DELIVERED BY MS. KARIM DURAND, CHARGE
D'AFFAIRES, PERMANENT MISSION OF PERU 22-24 OCTOBER 2012
Madam Chair,
1. The Group of 77 and China is pleased to see you, Ambassador Ana Teresa Dengo,
chair the Thirty-Ninth Session of the Preparatory Commission. The Group is certain
that under your guidance, the tasks put in front of the Preparatory Commission
at the present session will be concluded successfully.
2. The Group also takes this opportunity to convey its appreciation to the
Permanent Representative of Chile, Ambassador Labbé, for his tenure as
Chairman of the Preparatory Commission during the Thirty-Eighth Session and
for his contribution to the work of this plenary body. Furthermore, the Group
would also like to thank the Executive Secretary for his opening remarks.
3. The Group takes note of the meeting held in New York on 27 September 2012
with the aim of facilitating the Entry Into Force of the CTBT.
4. Allow me now to address the various agenda items. Recognizing that there
are many important issues deserving our attention, the Group of 77 and China
would like to comment on some of these items as they are put forward in our
draft agenda.
Madam Chair,
5. On agenda item 3, on the consideration of the report of Working Group A,
the Group takes note of the report and the recommendations contained therein
and would like to thank Ambassador Jargalsaikhan Enkhsaikhan for his work done
in steering this body. The Group would like to offer a few thoughts under this
agenda item.
6. Pertaining to the proposed changes to the financial rules and regulations,
the Group of 77 and China would like to reiterate that although it welcomes
efforts by the PTS to increase the accountability and the transparency of the
Preparatory Commission, special attention should be given to changes of those
financial rules that are necessary for the implementation of the ERP-IPSAS project.
Moreover, the Group is encouraged by the PTS commitment to deliver the ERP project
in time and within the allocated budget.
7. The Group wishes to emphasize the importance it attaches to the financial
stability of the Commission, and in this regard, welcomes the payment of assessed
contributions in arrears by a number of States Signatories since the last Working
Group A Session.
8. The Group underscores the positive results achieved thus far by the Pilot
Project for financing the participation of technical experts from developing
countries in official technical meetings of the Commission, and notes with satisfaction
that ten participants are currently funded under this project. The Group expresses
its appreciation to all States Signatories which contribute voluntarily to the
Pilot Project but notes with concern that the sustainment of the project is
in jeopardy, should financial resources not become available to fund the experts
currently being financed under this project for 2013.
9. The Group of 77 and China therefore urges States Signatories in a position
to do so to provide additional contributions, and invites the Executive Secretary
to continue to utilize his good offices in this regard. The Group also calls
upon the PTS to continue exploring other ways and means to ensure the predictability
of this project.
Madam Chair,
10. On agenda item 4, the Group takes note of the report of the Thirty-Ninth
Session of Working Group B and its recommendations, and thanks Dr Hein Haak
for his work in chairing this body. On issues falling under the purview of Working
Group B, the Group of 77 and China would like to make the following comments:
11. The Group of 77 and China takes note of the improvements introduced in
the method of work of Working Group B, which tried to facilitate the participation
from all delegations regardless of their size. However, the Group underlines
the need to further optimize the efficiency of WGB Sessions with the aim of
reducing the financial burden its attendance imposes on States Signatories.
Furthermore, the Group would encourage the policy-making organs, in the near
future, to conduct a thorough review of the number of sessions and working methods
of the policy-making organs and to consider the necessity thereof.
12. Pertaining to agenda item 5, the report of the Advisory Group and of the
recommendations to the Executive Secretary, the Preparatory Commission and Working
Group A, as contained in paragraphs 80-81, respectively. The Group takes this
opportunity to thank the Advisory Group and its Chairman, Sir Michael Weston,
for their work and for the report presented to the Commission at its current
session. The Group has already expressed its detailed views of these reports
in the WGA sessions.
13. On Item 6 concerning the final draft 2013 Programme and Budget proposal,
the Group of 77 and China takes note of the proposed adjustments recently presented
by the Secretariat. However slight, such modifications demonstrate the potential
for the identification of savings through rigorous estimates and priority setting.
The Group reiterates that in the next budget cycle, utmost priority should be
given by the Secretariat to the elimination of unnecessary increases in levels
of expenditure and to the identification of possible further savings.
Madam Chair,
14. With respect to agenda item 7, regarding the Appointment of the Executive
Secretary, the Group appreciates your efforts and the informal consultations
that have been held under your guidance. The Group further appreciates the session
held on 27 September 2012 which afforded the respective candidates an opportunity
to share their vision for the Commission with States Signatories.
15. As to agenda item 8.2 on the Appointments to the Advisory Group, the Group
takes note of the nomination of the two respective candidates of Algeria and
Nigeria to serve as members of the Advisory Group and expresses its support
for the nominated candidates from the Group.
16. With these remarks, the Group of 77 and China reiterates its pledge to
work in both a constructed and committed way. Thank you Madam Chair.
23 October 2012
STATEMENT OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA UPON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE PREPARATORY COMMISSION FOR THE CTBTO AT THE 39TH SESSION OF THE PREPCOM, 24 OCTOBER 2012
Madam Chair.
1. The Group of 77 and China would like to congratulate you, Ambassador Ana Teresa Dengo, for steering the process of the Appointment of the Executive Secretary in a successful, inclusive and transparent manner.
2. The Group welcomes the fact that, for the first time, the Executive Secretary
is a national from the Group of 77. The Group believes that a close, transparent
and frequent dialogue with all State Signatories is an essential condition for
a successful mandate and therefore expects to build a fruitful partnership with
the new Executive Secretary.
Madam Chair,
3. The Group attaches great importance to the multilateral efforts aimed at promoting
peace, security and confidence building, and is genuinely committed to nuclear
disarmament and non-proliferation. Therefore, the Group fully supports the CTBT,
which, according to the letter and spirit of the Treaty, must provide for an effective
disarmament and non-proliferation measure, by putting an end to all sorts of nuclear
testing, including experiments associated with the ongoing modernization of nuclear
arsenals. The Group is fully confident that the new Executive Secretary shares
this broader perspective of the majority of States on the Treaty's role in the
multiateral architecture leading to a world free of nuclear weapons.
4. The Group takes this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Lassina Zerbo on his election
to the post of Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO
and looks forward to engaging with him upon his assumption of duties. Thank you
Madam Chair.
