Vienna Chapter
Mr Chairman,
I would like to congratulate you for the efforts you have made in
fulfilling your responsibilities through many intersessional and extended
bureau meetings. Your wise guidance has contributed positively in
fulfilling our objectives.
I also take this opportunity to commend the Secretariat for its work
in assisting you in the preparation of our meetings and for making
documents available in a timely manner as recommended and would also like
to thank the Executive Director for his introductory statement.
Mr Chairman,
The Group notes with concern the decrease in the proposed budget
2002-2003 in comparison with the last biennium, especially as the scourge
of narcotic drugs and related criminal activities is increasing. This will
deprive the international community from keeping the momentum initiated by
the 20th UNGASS Political Declaration and thus compromising the fulfilment
of the objectives set for 2003 and 2008.
The Group also regrets the fact that the General Purpose Fund still
represents a very small percentage of the proposed Budget and that it is
mainly used in financing the support budget which impedes the action
flexibility of the Programme. Therefore, we call on the donors to make
substantial financial commitments, particulary to the General Purpose Fund
to allow for more ambitious programmes and invite those who suspended
their contributions to renew their disbursements in the light of the
undeniable improvements in the management of the Programme.
Mr Chairman,
We take note of the Preliminary Report of the Executive Director on
the progress made in the implementation of the resolution 44/16 on the
strengthening of UNDCP and the Role of the Commission. We congratulate him
for the quick reaction towards the implementation of the recommendations,
as promised, which is illustrated by the setting up of the Programme and
Budget Committee, as early as in March 2001, a result based budgeting and
the complete review of hierarchical links in UNDCP. We are looking forward
to receiving a more comprehensive report covering the remaining tasks on
or before the forty-fifth session. We will carefully examine the
improvements to be made in the implementation, evaluation and monitoring
of the projects. We are expecting particularly that the Programme and
Financial Management Integrated System become fully operational by March
2002 as promised. We are also waiting to be informed about the new
strategy for resource mobilization, focused particularly on foundations,
private sectors and other sources.
The Group appreciates the initiation of a system of joint informal
meetings between donors and recipients. However, there is a need to make
these meetings more meaningful through the provision of timely briefings
prior to the meetings. The Group urges the Executive Director to make
further efforts to use this mechanism for the purpose of the planning and
formulation of projects and the widening of the donor base.
Mr Chairman,
Regarding the Thematic Debate for the next session of the Commission,
the Group expresses its satisfaction for the selection of the subject "Alternative
Development and the Eradication of Illicit Crops", which is of
paramount importance to us as developing countries. The Group is holding
internal consultations in order to come up with a common proposal
regarding the sub-themes.
Additionally, to make the debate more fruitful we should select
well-known experts and apply equitable geographical representation. We
should also ensure having interactive discussions through short and well
targeted presentations.
Finally, Mr Chairman, the Group of 77 and China will continue to
provide its active support to achieve the goals of the Commission and will
work with all members and the Secretariat to that end.
Also I would like to take this opportunity to convey to the Executive
Director the appreciation of the Group for his untiring efforts and
dedication during his tenure in controlling the international drug
problem. We would like to wish him every success in his future endeavours.
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