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Date
: 29/05/2006
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: Pahad: Ministerial Meeting of Co-ordinating Bureau of
Non-Aligned Movement
Statement by H.E. Mr. Aziz Pahad, Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of South Africa on behalf of Group of 77
and China to the Opening Ceremony of the Ministerial Meeting of the
Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement, Putrajaya,
Malaysia
Hon Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister
of Malaysia
Hon Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak
Hon Syed Hamid Albar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia
Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Distinguished guests
Excellencies
On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, allow me to express our
deepest appreciation to the Government and people of Malaysia for
hosting this important meeting at a very crucial and challenging
time facing all humanity.
At the Millennium Summit in September 2000, the Heads of State and
Government declared that central challenge we face "is to ensure
that globalisation becomes a positive force for all the world's
people. For while globalisation offers great opportunities, at
present its benefits are very unevenly shared, while its costs are
unevenly distributed."
Six years later, the global situation has not changed and millions
of people are still living below the poverty line. The imbalance in
the decision and policymaking processes of the global trade,
economic and financial institutions continue to weaken the world's
response to poverty and underdevelopment. Many developing
countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa, will not meet
the Millennium Development Goals we set ourselves just a few years
ago.
Of even greater concern is that the multilateral system that allows
us to respond collectively to these challenges is itself under
threat. This makes it more important than ever, that the Group 77
and China and the Non-Aligned Movement should work together in
defending the multilateral system; fighting poverty and
underdevelopment; maintaining peace and stability; and
restructuring the global exercise of economic and political
power.
We can only make progress if we strengthen the role, capacity,
effectiveness and efficiency of the United Nations and improve its
performances in order for it to realize its full potential in
accordance with the purpose and principles of the Charter.
The Group of 77 and China supports the proposals of the
Secretary-General that will help strengthen the ability of the
United Nations to implement its mandates and effectively deliver on
all its programmes. We are committed to working with the
Secretary-general and the President of the General assembly to
achieve the reform of the United Nations within the
inter-governmental framework that the Organisation provides. We
believe that the reform should be meaningful, strengthen the
ability of the Organisation to implement its mandates effectively
and enable it to serve the interests of the collective membership.
A stronger United Nations that responds more effectively to our
collective needs is in our common interest.
Furthermore, the Group of 77 and China remains committed to the
implementation of all the outcomes of all the major UN conferences
and summits, including the 2005 World Summit Outcome. We attach
high importance to the full implementation of commitments, in
particular those in the economic, social and related fields. It is
for this reason that we remain concerned at the slow progress in
the implementation of the 2005 World Summit Outcome decisions, in
particular those regarding development and the strengthening of the
Economic and Social Council.
The biggest challenge for the United Nations has been the spending
cap that has been imposed on the Secretary-General in carrying out
his duties. We regret the exceptional and unprecedented measure of
restricting the expenditures of the Organisation by authorizing the
Secretary-General only to enter into expenditures limited to fifty
per cent of the approved budget for 2006. To avoid a crisis within
the UN and in its operational activities around the world, the
Group of 77 and China expects that the spending cap will be
automatically lifted at the end of June 2006 when the
Secretary-General requests more resources to fulfil his
mandate.
Developing countries have always insisted that the
Secretary-General should receive adequate, predictable and
uninterrupted resources to undertake effectively the work of the
Organisation. The financial stability of the United Nations must
not be jeopardised.
On Secretariat and Management Reform, the Group of 77 and China has
supported reforms adopted so far by the General Assembly, including
increasing the investigation capacity of the Office of Internal
Oversight Services; the creation of a UN ethics office; and the
development of a whistle-blower policy. We initiated some of these
reforms, including the request for a report on the review of the
procurement policies, because of our desire for a stronger United
Nations.
The Group of 77 and China remains ready to engage constructively
with other Member States in an open, transparent and inclusive
manner, to achieve the necessary reforms to the United Nations as
mandated by the 2005 World Summit Outcome.
A stronger and more efficient United Nations is the only hope for
addressing the global challenges we face. And as the Group of 77
and China declared in the Second South Summit Doha Plan of Action
"unity and solidarity among countries of the South is an
indispensable element in the defence of our right to development
and for the creation of a more just and equitable international
order and for preserving and nurturing the policy space necessary
for developing countries to pursue their development
objectives."
I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Malaysia
for their excellent chairmanship of the NAM and welcome Cuba as the
incoming Chair.
In conclusion, allow me Chairperson on behalf of the Group of 77
and China to express our condolences to the Government and the
people of Indonesia for the earthquake tragedy that claimed many
lives in the Java Province.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
29 May 2006
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