Statement of the G-77 and China in the first meeting of the Working Group on the Programme and Budget and the Technical Cooperation Fund Targets for 2014-2015, delivered by Ambassador Mahmoud Hassan Elamin, Permanent Representative of the Sudan

Vienna, 22 March 2013

Mr. Chairman,

1. The Group of 77 and China wishes to thank you for convening the first meeting of this Working Group on the Programme and Budget and the Technical Cooperation Fund targets for 2014-2015.

2. The Group takes note of the proposal by the Chair of the Board to convene two sub- groups, one on TCF targets and one on the Programme and Budget. The Group recalls the decision of the Board of Governors, as contained in document GOV/2011/37, that one Working Group dealing with both the level of the Programme and Budget and TCF targets should be launched beginning in 2013, in the spirit of cooperation the Group is willing to go along with the proposed schedule for today but requests that, in the future, all consultations on the Programme and Budget and the TCF targets be consolidated in line with the decision of the board.
Thank you.

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Statement of the G-77 and China in the first meeting of the Working Group on Technical Cooperation Fund targets for 2014-2015, delivered by Ambassador Mahmoud Hassan Elamin, Permanent Representative of the Sudan

Mr. Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China wishes to thank you for convening this meeting.

We are confident that deliberations in the Working Group will be helpful in identifying the ways and means to make the Technical Cooperation Fund sufficient, assured and predictable, an issue of crucial importance for the Group.

The Group believes that the discussions in this Working Group should be guided by the previous decisions of the Board on the funding of the Technical Cooperation Fund, among others the budget packages approved in 2003 (GOV/2003/48), 2010-2011 (GOV/2009/52/Rev.1), 2010 (GOV/2010/37) and in 2011 (GOV/2011/38) which established that: "With respect to the targets for voluntary contributions to the TCF, the 2005 decision to synchronize the TC programme cycle with the regular programme and budget cycle provides a framework to consider increases to the resources for the TC programme, including the TCF target, beginning in 2012. Such adjustments would take into account the changes in the level of the regular operational budget from 2009 onwards, the price adjustment in the corresponding years, and all other relevant factors".

The G-77 firmly believes that, in accordance with the indicated decisions of the Board, the Technical Cooperation Fund targets to be established for 2014 and beyond must be proportionate to the evolution of the regular budget and should not be less than US$90 million per year as decided by the Board in 2011 (GOV/2011/37).

The Group proposes that the TCF Target for 2015 be established at a level equivalent to the proposed target for 2014 plus the estimated price adjustment for that year.
The Group believes that the extra budgetary contributions, which always come with attached conditions, cannot be a substitute to the assessed contributions to the Technical Cooperation Fund.

The Group expresses its strong expectation that this Working Group will allow for a meaningful dialogue with substantive outcomes for Board action that will facilitate the budget and TCF discussion on 2014-2015 biennium.

Thank you.

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Statement of the G77 and China during the Working Group on the Programme and Budget for 2014-2015, delivered by Ambassador Mahmoud Hassan Elamin, Permanent Representative of the Sudan

Madam Chairperson,

The Group of 77 and China wishes to thank you for convening the meeting of this Working Group and commends the Secretariat for preparing the Draft Programme and Budget 2014-2015 as contained in document GOV/2013/1.

Madam Chairperson,

The Group of 77 and China believes that this Working Group could serve as a forum for discussing solutions for a more equitable distribution of costs between promotional and non-promotional activities of the Agency.

The Group reiterates its call for a balanced distribution of the budget so as to reflect the equal importance of the three pillars of the Agency namely the promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear technology including technical cooperation, safety and safeguards.

The Group underscores that the promotional activities of the Agency, delivered through technical cooperation, is the main statutory function of the Agency.

The Group reiterates its considered view that the Agency's Technical Cooperation Programme and promotional activities are in a greater need of sufficient, assured and predictable (SAP) resources.

Thank you Madam Chairperson.


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