During the year 2005 the Vienna Chapter serviced a total of 134 meetings 43 on UNIDO matters, 44 on IAEA, 27 on UNOV and 20 on CTBTO matters.
During the year 2005 the G-77 held 134 meetings out of which 44 on IAEA,
43 on UNIDO, 27 on UNOV and 20 on CTBTO matters (including Plenary, Task
Force and Working Group Meetings).
One of the main objectives of UNIDO is poverty alleviation for the
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals through sustainable
industrial development and technical cooperation. South-South cooperation
is considered by the Group as an essential mean and a very valuable tool
of contributing to the national efforts of developing countries to
strengthen their economic development within the framework of the
Millennium Development Goals.
The G-77 covered the following Policy Making Organs meetings of UNIDO
during 2005: (a) Programme and Budget Committee, (b) Industrial
Development Board and the (c) General Conference:
During this meeting the main focus of the Group was on the budget and the
financial statements of the Organization and the statement by the External
Auditor, which expressed that UNIDO was being well run.
The Group expressed concern on the outstanding assessed contributions
and called on Member States and former Member States in arrears to take
advantage of payment plans of UNIDO to fulfill their financial
obligations.
The Group also noted with concern that Major Programmes C, D, E and F
had been reduced by 2%, as compared to 2004-2005.
The Group called upon the Secretariat to continue innovative funds
mobilization efforts through voluntary and additional sources.
During this meeting the main issues of relevance to the Group were as
follows:
The Group commended the Secretariat for the increased volume of
technical cooperation delivery of 2004, which was higher than levels
reached in 1997 when the regular budget was 20% more than the present
level.
The Group noted the potential of the cooperation agreement between
UNIDO and UNDP in increasing field representation and improved
inter-agency cooperation at the national level within the context of the
UN reform process.
The Group participated in the negotiations on the budget and reached
consensus on the ceiling.
The Group welcomed and encouraged UNIDO to continue to undertake
projects that promote South-South cooperation.
The Group acknowledged the vast potential investment and technology
promotion activities of UNIDO have in boosting technical cooperation
through enhanced national capacities to attract Direct Foreign Investment.
The Group appreciated the draft Long-term Vision Statement the
Secretariat had prepared and called upon the Secretariat to continue
consultations with Member States on its finalization.
The Group encouraged the Secretariat to continue to improve its Human
Resource Management Framework for a leaner institution with management
excellence and greater professionalism.
After the recommendation of a candidate for the post of
Director-General, the Group welcomed and congratulated Dr. Kandeh Yumkella
for having been elected as the new Director-General of UNIDO. The Group
was confident that the excellent qualifications and long-term commitment
to UNIDO, Dr. K. Yumkella deserved this prestigious position.
The Group expressed its appreciation to the outgoing Director-General Mr.
Carlos Magariños and took note of his annual report for 2004,
indicating an increase of technical cooperation delivery of US$ 98.8
million which was the highest at all times in UNIDO.
The Group expressed itself on the Reports of the PBC and IDB and
requested the Secretariat to implement the recommendations of the External
as well as those of the Evaluation Group.
The Group welcomed the holding of the Industrial Development Forum
with focus on Industrial Development, Trade and Poverty Alleviation
through South-South Cooperation and requested the results of the Forum to
be translated into a comprehensive strategy.
The Group further urged Member States and former Member States to pay
their outstanding contributions in full and on time.
The Group actively participated in informal consultations to finalize
the Strategic Long term vision statement which was endorsed by the General
Conference. The Group requested the Secretariat to continue its dialogue
with Member States in its implementation.
The Group adopted the revised Programme and Budget for 2006-2007 and
requested that the adjustments took into account the need to allocate
appropriate resources to major programmes C, D, E and F.
With regard to the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement with
the UNDP, the Group noted that for the purpose of identifying locations of
UNIDO desks during the pilot phase of the Agreement, the Secretariat had
applied the criteria defined and the indicators developed in November
2004. The Group requested that future criteria should include improvements
suggested by the G-77 and China as well as the experience gained so far in
this field. The Group was of the view that the location/conversion of
UNIDO Country Office to a UNIDO Desk, should take place in close
consultation with the concerned country.
The Group expressed its heartiest congratulations and warmest welcome
to Mr. Kandeh Yumkella on his appointment as new Director-General of
UNIDO.
The Group of 77 and China remained active during the year 2005 in
pursuing the Member States' collective interests in the three pillars of
the Agency's activities, i.e., technology, safety and verification.
The Group continued to pursue the achievement of better results in
technical cooperation, which remained a major interest, by stressing the
importance of having a sound and financially viable TC programme and by
promoting proactive interaction with the IAEA's Secretariat. In this
regard, special briefings were arranged with the TC department, including
at the DDG level. In the same context, special meetings were conducted
inter alia with the Department of Nuclear Science and Applications.
In addition, the Group participated in several working level meetings
with different Agency departments. As the Member States of the Group
mainly comprise the developing and the least developed countries of the
world, the application of nuclear energy for the socio-economic uplift of
these Member States has always been a major priority of the Group. To this
end the Group has endeavored vigorously in 2005 to strengthen the TC
programme ties among the recipient and donor countries by maintaining a
consistent policy in the sense that there must be a balance among TC and
other statutory activities of the Agency and that there should be
sufficient, assured and predictable provision of funds for the
sustainability of TC programmes.
During 2005, the Group made 27 statements in the various Board
meetings on the subjects closely related to the interests of the Group's
membership. The Group also sponsored General Conference resolutions on
Strengthening the Agency's Technical Cooperation Activities
(GC(49/RES/11); Strengthening the Agency's activities related to nuclear
science, technology and applications GC(49/RES 12.A); Use of isotope
hydrology for water resources management GC(49/RES 12.B); Programme of
Action for Cancer Therapy GC(49/RES/12.C); Support to the African Union's
Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Eradication Campaign (AU-PATTEC)
GC(49/RES/12.D); Plan for producing potable water economically using small
and medium-sized nuclear reactors GC(49/RES/12.E); Personnel (a) Staffing
of the Agency's Secretariat and (b) Women in the Secretariat
GC(49/RES/16). These resolutions were adopted by consensus after intensive
consultations and negotiations with donor countries. These activities have
provided the policy-making organs of the Agency with some clear guidelines
for future planning and implementation of various Agency activities having
a direct bearing on the welfare of the Group's Member States.
The Group's activities were strongly backed by a total of 44 meetings
(Friends of Chair, Task Force and Plenary) on various issues tackled
during 2005.
During the IAEA Board of Governors in June 2005, Dr. Mohamed
ElBaradei was reappointed as Director-General for another 4-year's term.
Since the beginning of the selection process, the Group always expressed
its full support for Dr. ElBaradei due to his credentials and the fact
that he was the sole candidate for this position, enjoying the broad and
strong support from Member States. The Group reiterated its appreciation
for the valuable work carried out to promote, and enhance Agency
activities as well as for the impartial, effective and professional manner
in which Dr. ElBaradei has discharged his responsibilities as DG of the
IAEA. It was the Groups view that Dr. ElBaradei would therefore ensure the
continuation of the Agency's activities in a stable and professional way.
The Group of 77 in a joint statement with the Non-Aligned Movement
has welcomed the decision of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in awarding the
Nobel Peace Prize for 2005 to the International Atomic Energy Agency and
its Director General, Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei. The outstanding achievement
of the Agency and its Director General have been pointed out and it was
mentioned that the award was a testimony and recognition of the great
efforts carried out in ensuring the safe and peaceful development and use
of nuclear technologies. It was also an acknowledgement of the Agency's
role in promoting atomic energy towards peace, health and prosperity. It
should be an impetus in drawing more support and in strengthening the
Agency and its DG to further carry out their mandate and objectives in
promoting the peaceful uses of atomic energy.
The members of the Group of 77 and China consider the Comprehensive
Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) important because it will provide a total
ban on nuclear weapon test explosions in any environment and constrain the
development and qualitative improvement of existing nuclear weapons thus
ending the development of new advanced nuclear weapons. The Group met on
CTBTO issues in 20 coordination meetings.
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
Treaty Organization (CTBTO PrepCom) was established on 19 November 1996 to
prepare for the Treaty's entry into force (EIF). The CTBTO PrepCom
consists of a plenary body composed of all the States Signatories (also
know as the Preparatory Commission) and the Provisional Technical
Secretariat (PTS).
Since the Group of 77 and China attach great importance to the total
ban on nuclear testing, it has supported the activities of the PTS and
actively participated in the meetings of the Preparatory Commission and
its subsidiary bodies.
The Group of 77 and China actively raised, pursued and supported the
following positions:
1. Urged Working Group B (WGB) to adjust the pace of its work to the
principles of the Group of 77 and China on budgetary matters; asking the
PTS to refrain from overall programmatic increases in the budget for 2005.
2. Closely followed the restructuring activities of the PTS and
raised a detailed position on the issue of restructuring. This included
support for the mandate of the PrepCom, maintaining the balance between
the political and technical tasks of the PTS, and fair geographical
representation on the External Review Team.
3. That the operation of IMS stations before the EIF of the Treaty is
provisional in nature. As such, IMS station activity is only for the
purpose of evaluating the performance and data quality of IMS stations,
and the proposed system-wide performance test (SPT1) only be conducted
within a limited timeframe.
4. Welcomed the establishment of joint theme task of NDC (National
Data Centers) within the framework of Working Group B, and asked the PTS
to play a more active role in promoting the NDCs of developing countries
especially in the context of providing hardware, software, and more
training courses for NDCs.
5. Supported a balanced approach dealing with all elements of the
verification system including the IMS, IDC, GCI and OSI, and encouraged
the active participation of all State Signatories in the OSI.
6. Raised the point of adopting a Confidentiality Policy for the PTS
as a real and urgent need, and asked WGB to devote more time to this
issue.
7. That human resource issues in the PTS should continue being
created according to the existing staff rules and regulations; the PTS'
7-year service limit and the administrative directive on recruitment,
appointment, re-appointment and tenure, and Administrative Directive No.
20 (Rev.2).
8. Notwithstanding the CTBTO PrepCom Executive Secretary's
prerogative under Administrative Directive No. 20 (Rev.2), the Group of 77
and China requested that the PTS take due care in ensuring that current
and future staff contracts duly meet the ruling of the International
Labour Organization Administrative Tribunal (ILOAT).
In 2005, members of the G-77 and China have continued to coordinate and
harmonize their positions on the following UNOV matters in 27 coordination
meetings of the Group:
The Group considers that international cooperation should be strengthened
to tackle the problems transit countries are facing as they constitute the
main link between producers and consumers countries. We note with deep
concern the dramatic increase in the abuse of various types of drugs that
has developed along transit trafficking routes, thereby creating lucrative
markets in transit countries. This development has led to the increase of
transnational organized crime and terrorism in transit countries and along
the trafficking routes.
The Group notes the decline of opium poppy cultivation in some
countries. However, the Group is concerned about the growth in the illicit
cultivation, production and trafficking of opiates in Afghanistan.
Adequate support should be provided to that country as well as the
neighbouring and transit states in their fight against drug production and
trafficking originating from Afghanistan.
The G-77 and China is concerned about the drug liberalization
policies of some Member States contrary to the three Narcotic Conventions,
which could promote drug abuse and fuel supply and trafficking of illicit
drugs. We note with concern the report of INCB about public incitement to
drug abuse in some member states. The Group, therefore, calls on all
States to adhere strictly to the provisions of the three conventions. We
believe that the judgment of the INCB as an independent monitoring and
evaluation mechanism should be respected.
The Group 77 and China notes with concern that the abuse of ATS is
rapidly spreading, regardless of nationality, age, gender or income with
the attendant health problems and hazards. The Group calls on Member
States to urgently develop their supply reduction programmes for ATS, to
complement and ensure the effectiveness of demand reduction initiatives.
In this regard we would also like to point out that the priorities
led down by CND sometimes differ from the priorities of major donor
countries and therefore we would like to encourage more dialogue among the
UNODC, and all stakeholders especially those countries where projects are
implemented to ensure that UNODC has sufficient funds to carry out
projects in all the regions in accordance with priorities set by the CND.
Therefore, the Group calls for the establishment of an intergovernmental,
open-ended informal consultative group.
The Group wishes to indicate its preference for a five days, Monday
to Friday duration for the 49th session of the CND. We would like to
stress the importance of advance preparations and consultations, between
the Member States and the Secretariat to ensure the successful outcome of
the five days' session of the Commission. As for the thematic debate for
the 49th session, the preference of the Group is for the theme on "alternative
development, including preventive alternative development", which we
believe is essential to the success of the world wide drug control
strategy. The Group is of the view of establishing an open ended working
group with interpretation to structure the content of the thematic debate,
recalling the importance of the establishment of such group during the
last sessions of the previous CND.
The Group appreciates the work of the regional preparatory meetings for
the 11th United Nations Congress, and holds the view that, the
recommendations and conclusions made by the regional preparatory meetings
should be reflected in the outcome of the Congress. The Congress should
further continue to provide advice to the Commission on Crime Prevention
and Criminal Justice. The Group also recommends that "follow up of
the UN Congress" should be included as a separate agenda item in
every annual session of the CCPCJ.
The Group further believes that, effective implementation of the
obligations set forth in existing international crime prevention
instruments requires international cooperation, technical assistance and
capacity-building. Therefore, the Group of 77 and China urges donor
countries and financing institutions to make adequate regular voluntary
contributions to enable developing countries and countries with economies
in transition to become parties to and/or implement those treaties, namely
TOC Convention and its three protocols, Convention against Corruption, as
well as the 12 UN anti-terrorism instruments.
The Group of 77 and China is concerned about the increased
involvement of organized criminal groups in trafficking in looted, stolen
or smuggled cultural property as well as illicit trafficking in protected
species of flora and fauna and their by products. Therefore, the Group
calls upon Member States to continue adopting effective measures,
strengthening their international cooperation and joining efforts with
relevant regional and international organizations and networks in order to
prevent, combat, punish and eradicate these forms of crime more
effectively.
The G-77 and China is of the view that an open-ended Expert Group
should be established to examine the feasibility of an international
convention for facilitating international cooperation in areas such as
money laundering, trafficking in and theft of cultural properties,
kidnapping and cybercrime.
The Group further believes that a broad and sustained strategy to
combat terrorism must include increased Inter-agency cooperation and
capacity building, both at the national, regional and international
levels. Sufficient training and other forms of technical assistance,
transfer of technology and also more adequate donor assistance to
developing countries are needed to facilitate implementation of
international instruments relating to terrorism. In this context, we urge
the Terrorism Prevention Branch of UNODC within its mandate and on request
of the Member States to continue to provide all necessary assistance and
provision of expertise needed to strengthen the rule of law and to build
national capacities to implement the Conventions and Protocols relevant to
terrorism.
The Group is convinced that it is imperative that any effective crime
prevention strategy should adequately address the breeding grounds and
risk factors of crime such as, injustice, poverty, unemployment,
marginalization of vulnerable people, lack of education, as well as double
standards.
The G-77 and China is of the view that the United Nations Congress
remains a unique forum for the meeting and exchange of views on various
fields of crime prevention and Criminal Justice. The Eleventh United
Nations Congresses held in Bangkok, has provided valuable advice and
suggestions to the United Nations and the Member States in formulating
policies and strategies for crime prevention in different areas of
criminal justice systems. Therefore the G-77 and China welcomes the
Bangkok Declaration, and wishes to urge all Member States to implement its
recommendations.
The Group is convinced that it is imperative that any effective crime
prevention strategy should adequately address the root causes of crime
including injustice, poverty, unemployment, marginalization of vulnerable
people and lack of education.
The G-77 and China is pleased to know that 118 States have signed to
date the United Nations Convention against Corruption and that the number
of its ratifications is growing progressively. We urge all countries that
have not done so to ratify the United Nations Convention against
Corruption. The Group is also encouraged by the measures implemented by
the Secretariat to promote the wider signature and ratification of this
instrument and prepare its future implementation. The vigor which marked
the UNODC endeavors to promote the ratification and implementation of the
TOC Convention or the international instruments on terrorism is also
required in pursuing technical assistance activities in relation to the
Convention against Corruption.
The G-77 and China firmly believes that asset recovery is a
fundamental principle of the Convention against Corruption. For that very
reason, the Group emphasizes the importance of adopting measures to
facilitate asset recovery through international cooperation. Also, for the
Convention to achieve the required number of ratifications to enter into
force, the G-77 and China calls upon Signatory States to extend mutual
cooperation to discourage the continuation of transactions and transfers
of assets originated through the Commission of corruption related crimes
and to act in conformity with Chapter V of the Convention whenever such
illicit assets are confiscated.
The Group of 77 and China highlights that the Draft Model Bilateral
Agreement on Sharing of Confiscated Proceeds of Crime or Property should
not prejudice the principles set forth in the United Nations Convention
against Corruption or the development, at a later stage, of any
appropriate mechanism to facilitate the implementation of that Convention.
The Group of 77 and China strongly condemns terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations and deeply emphasizes that enhancing dialogue
among civilization, promoting tolerance, preventing the indiscriminate
targeting of different religions and cultures and addressing development
issues and unresolved conflicts will contribute to international
cooperation, which is among the most important elements to combat
terrorism. The Group underscores the central role of the United Nations in
fight against terrorism and also strongly believes that any measures taken
to combat terrorism comply with all obligations of states under
international law and should adopt such measures in conformity with the
Charter of the United Nations and international law, in particular
international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law. The Group
supports the ongoing negotiations in New York on the draft UN
Comprehensive Convention on Terrorism, based on the determination of a
universally accepted comprehensive definition of terrorism in conformity
with the UN Charter and relevant United Nations resolutions. The Group
further welcomes the adoption of the International Convention for the
Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, which reinforces the existing
arsenal of international instruments against terrorism.
The G-77 and China believes that the main role of the COP is to enhance
the implementation of the Convention and its protocols through the
establishment of mechanisms to facilitate this aim. Therefore the Group
attaches great importance to the agenda items of this session, especially
agenda item 6 on technical assistance activities.
As regards the mechanisms to review periodically the implementation
of the Convention and its Protocols which are already in force, the G-77
and China believes that such mechanisms must include technical assistance
projects aimed at better implementation of the Convention by State
parties. The process leading to the adoption of these mechanisms must be
open to all Member States with a view to encourage the ratification and to
ensure the universal character of the convention. Any reviewing process
should aim at improving the implementation of technical assistance
projects. In this context, the follow-up evaluation of the technical
assistance projects would in effect be the review of the implementation of
the Convention.
We would like to suggest that the mandate of an interim working group
on technical assistance should be of general nature related to providing
effective technical assistance. It should not go into specific details as
contained in the non-paper under circulation. The mandate of the interim
working group should flow from article 32.1 as well as articles 29 to 31
of the Convention, which could be discussed at the current session of the
COP.
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