At the outset, we would like to fully associate ourselves with the statement just delivered on behalf of the Member States of the Joint Coordinating Committee of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 and China. We have actively and constructively participated in the discussions on this agenda item during the last session of the General Assembly and would like to believe that the changes approved will result in real gains in the efficiency and effectiveness of the United Nations and would make it more responsive to the aspirations and hopes of the vast majority of its members, namely the developing countries. We, therefore, congratulate the Secretary General for his continuing efforts to reform the United Nations, to better equip it to meet the challenges of the next millennium, and to make a felt impact on the lives of the citizens of the governments represented here.

Mr. President,

It is of paramount importance that discussions on this agenda item be undertaken in an open-ended, transparent, inter-governmental process, enabling each and every delegation to effectively participate in the decisions that will significantly influence the future course of our organization. This could be ensured interalia, through consideration of these items by Open Ended Ad Hoc Working Groups. Separate Working Groups may be required for consideration of the proposals related to UNEP and Human Settlements and for preparations towards a successful organization of the Millennium Assembly and Summit. It would need to be ensured that the meetings of these Working Groups do not overlap. At the same time their meetings should also not be in conflict with the schedule of other important meetings, in order to allow all delegations, specially smaller delegations, the opportunity of full and effective participation. Other mechanisms for consideration of these items, which meet the criteria mentioned above, could also be explored.

My delegation has carefully studied the report of the Secretary General contained in document A/53/463. We have noted that some of the proposals contained in the report of the Secretary General modify considerably the report of the High Level Task Force. Furthermore some of the proposals of the Secretary General, including the "Recommendations for Action at the Secretariat Level" require further deliberation before they can be implemented. This makes it necessary for us to undertake a thorough exercise of intergovernmental deliberation of this report. While undertaking these consultations, as underlined in the statement of the Joint Coordinating Committee, no artificial time-limits should be imposed. Only thus can we ensure that the decisions finally adopted on the revitalization and strengthening of UNEP and UNCHS, meet with widespread consensus.

Mr. President,

My delegation had stated before that as we inexorably move towards the new millennium, we must work towards ensuring the success of the Millennium Assembly and the Summit. In our view, the Millennium Assembly must be well prepared, and should identify effective goals for the organization in the coming millennium while providing the means to achieve them. An obvious goal would be increasing the role of UN in development, including through the promotion of South South cooperation. Another issue of concern to the international community that must be dealt with in the context of the Millennium Assembly and the Summit is that of weapons of mass destruction. By the 21st century, both Biological Weapons

Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention would hopefully receive universal or near universal ratification. These weapons of mass destruction have been outlawed, but very little progress has been made on the last remaining weapon of mass destruction i.e., nuclear weapons. Adoption of a Nuclear Weapons Convention by the Millennium Assembly would be a crowning glory of the UN in the next millennium. We hope that the international community would rise to this challenge.