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New York, 16 October 2003 Mr. Chairman, 1. It is an honor and privilege for the delegation of Indonesia to take the floor on behalf of the member states of NAM. 2. We have been mandated by the meeting of NAM Coordinating Bureau that was held on Thursday 9th October to convey the Movement’s general position on the issue of UN reform, in particular that of the First Committee. 3. NAM welcomes this opportunity of informal consultations initiated by the Chairman of the First Committee, Ambassador Jarmo Sareva, on the issue of its reform including the working methods and agenda. We believe that it is an issue on which many member states attach the utmost importance. 4. NAM’s interest and commitment to UN reforms has been expressed as far back as the Jakarta Message of 1992 and reiterated at its most recent Declaration adopted at its Summit Meeting held during last February in Kuala Lumpur. As it is one of the priority issues, its members will participate actively and contribute constructively to the deliberations on this question. 5. Recognizing the importance of this issue, NAM has established a working group long time ago on the revitalization of the General Assembly under the Chairmanship of Sri Lanka. Currently, this working group under the Chairmanship of Algeria is coordinating NAM positions with the aim of preparing NAM proposals on the issue of UN reforms. We are convinced that such proposals will be of value to the President of the General Assembly. At the same time, we will welcome contributions from other states or groups of states. Mr. Chairman, 6. In these endeavors, NAM believes that the First Committe reform should not be carried out in isolation from the over-all process of the General Assembly’s revitalization.Therefore, it is essential to avoid a piece-meal approach. Rather, it should be dealt within a comprehensive context in the plenary discussions under the guidance of the President of the General Assembly. 7. As regards agenda and working methods, NAM looks forward to the convening of an open-ended informal consultations of the plenary on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly chaired by the President of the GA to be held on 17 October 2003 to discuss proposals about the work of all Committees, including the mechanism of implementing resolutions. 8. NAM is ready to engage in the discussion on the working methods of the First Committee. However, NAM wishes to point out that it is also important to keep in mind that the issue relating to the reallocation of some items to and from the other Main Committees are matters to be decided by the General Assembly. 9. NAM is convinced that any reform should also comprehensively address substantive issues concerning disarmament machinery, including the implementation of the resolutions and decisions of the First Committee, the revival of the CD and the revitalization of the UNDC. 10. NAM fully realizes the complexities of the issues involved in bringing about the reform of the United Nations, especially the General Assembly, including its relationship with the other UN organs. This calls for a careful and cautious approach as it impacts on the interests of all member states of the Organization. It is also important to preserve the strength of the existing working methods of the First Committee while exploring ways and means to improve the effective functioning of the Committee with the understanding that any final decision must be taken in the open-ended working group on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. We should therefore refrain from adopting a hasty approach in order to ensure a productive and agreed outcome. 11. In concluding, Mr. Chairman, let me reaffirm NAM’s willingness to work in concert with other member states with a sense of responsibility and dedication to the important task ahead of us. This would require on us all flexibility and a spirit of cooperation so that we can move forward in fulfilling the mandate entrusted to us. Thank you. Mr.Chairman.
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