Vienna Chapter
Madam Chairman,
The Group of 77 and China wishes to thank the Director General for
his very informative introductury statement in which he highlighted the
items for the IAEA Programme and Budget Committee Meeting.
Madam Chairman,
The Group of 77 and China would like to commend the Secretariat for
the preparation of document GOV/2003/25 which contains the Agency's
Accounts for 2002 and the External Auditor's report.
The Group is glad to note that the External Auditor has placed an
unqualified audit opinion on the Agency's financial statements for 2002.
The Group notes that the External Auditor's report includes
observations and recommendations intended to contribute to the improvement
of the Agency's financial management and control in three areas; results
based management, information technology project management and the
Agency's currency base for financial accounting and reporting. The Group
has carefully reviewed the full scope of recommendations placed under
these areas and wishes to highlight the following comments:
1- On the results-based management, the Group supports the Auditor's
recommendation mentioned in item 13, that the Agency should give greater
priority to the development of an organization wide system to record
project start and completion dates, and any approved changes which are
made to them. The Group believes that the creation of this system will
have a positive impact on the project assessment given the fact that at
present there is no computerised organisation- wide system for recording
projects.
2- The Group also supports the recommendation that the Agency should
continue to refine and improve performance indicators to ensure that they
are relevant, efficient, timely, reliable and accurate.
3- On Euro - based accounting, the Group is aware that the Agency has
considered the merits of moving from primarily dollar - based accounting
to an accounting system that uses the Euro. However, the Group is of the
opinion that the Agency should undertake a detailed assessment of the
proposed system changes, incorporating UNIDO's experience The Group shares
the Auditor's recommendation that the Agency should obtain further legal
advice to confirm the general legality of any proposed changes to the
existing financial accounting and reporting arrangements.
In relation to the follow - up of audit recommendations made in 2001,
the Group welcomes the presence of this useful part in the External
Auditor's report and encourages this trend in the future annual reports
for assessment purposes.
With these comments the Group of 77 and China takes note of document
GOV/2003/25 and requests the Secretariat to provide more information on
the legality of the proposed changes.
The 2002 - 2003 Mid-Term Progress Report (GOV/INF/2003/9)
Madam Chairman,
The Group of 77 & China has carefully studied the 2002 - 2003
Mid-Term Progress Report as contained in document GOV/INF/2003/9. The
Group appreciates the usefulness of this report to inform Member States
about the outputs delivered and resources utilized on the basis of the
planned activities which were implemented. The Group believes that this is
important for formulating adjustments to ensure the planned outcomes for
the biennium.
The Group takes note of the fact that most of the planned activities
funded from the Regular Budget in 2002 have been implemented, some were
cancelled or postponed and a very small number were added.
In Major Programme 1, the Group regrets that the preparation of the
technical document on the socio-economic impact of nuclear desalination
plants was cancelled upon the recommendation of the International Nuclear
Desalination Advisory Group (INDAG) and the Group requests further
explanation on this matter.
In Major Programme 6, the Group requests clarification on when the
e-commerce systems for field procurement could be implemented and why, if
the e-commerce environment was not sufficiently developed among suppliers,
the Agency had planned this activity in the first place.
In compliance with the Board of Governors approval for the
recommended action contained in the document GOV/1999/23 on the "Proposed
changes to the Agency's Programme and Budget Process towards Biennial
Programming", the Group takes note of the carryover of the 2002
unobligated balances of the appropriations.
The Group also notes with appreciation the extrabudgetary funds
received from major donors for Major Programme 6 to strengthen formulation
and delivery of technical co-operation programme in Europe as well as in
the East Asia and Pacific regions and also to support the evaluation of TC
Programme Planning Process.
In Major Programme 6, the Group notes that the Programme is still
relying on short-term consultants or interns to address the increased
workload. The Group agrees with the findings that although outputs were
delivered, there is a considerable stretch of existing human resources and
long-term over-dependence on temporary assistance.
The Group of 77 and China appreciates the Secretariat's intensive
efforts to produce the Modifying Programme and Budget Document for
2004-2005 (GOV/2003/Mode.1) after consultations with Member States.
The Group notes that the modified document has adhered generally to
the budgetary proposals of the original draft programme and budget and
confined its revisions of those proposals to a relatively small number of
adjustments which do not change the overall budgetary level. The Group
also notes that the proposed increases continue to represent a drastic
departure from the Zero Real Growth policy which has been applied for a
decade and half, and that the proposed overall increase of about 11% is
heavily tilted towards Major Programme 4.
Several important proposals were made by the Group on various
programme items like performance indicators, prioritisation, programme
links and outcomes. Some of these have been reflected to a certain extent
in the modified document. However, the Group believes that its concerns,
as reflected in the letter of the Chairman of the Group of 77 dated 24
February 2003, regarding the overall level of the budget and the balance
between verification and other statutory activities, have not yet been
adequately dealt with.
There are aspects of the budget proposal which acquire importance due
to the widespread economic problems faced by the Group's Member States.
These aspects need a serious and thorough discussion. In this context, the
Group sincerely hopes that there will be a positive outcome to these
discussions, which the Group hopes will continue in an atmosphere of
understanding, prudence, transparency and flexibility, so that consensus
is reached for the benefit of all the Member States.
Finally, the Group wishes to thank Madam Chairman for taking timely
notice of this issue and for constituting an informal and open-ended
Working Group under the leadership of the distinguished Ambassadors of
Australia and Peru. The Group of 77 and China will be actively
participating in the aforestated discussions.
In 2001, the Group of 77 and China had endorsed the candidature of India for appointment as the External Auditor of the Agency for the term 2002-2003. However, in view of the prevailing circumstances at that time, India withdrew its candidature in favour of the existing External Auditor, the UK, in the expectation that the post would come to a developing country for the subsequent period. The Group of 77 and China is pleased to note that India is now a candidate for the post for the period 2004-2005. It is appropriate that, in keeping with past practice, an important post such as that of the External Auditor rotates between the developed and developing Member States of the Agency. India has the requisite experience and expertise in the area. Further, a comparative assessment of the bids submitted by the two remaining candidates reveals that the Indian bid is more competitive. Keeping in mind these factors, the Group of 77 and China extends its support to the candidature of India to the post of External Auditor of the Agency.
I thank you Madam Chairman.
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