Statement by Mr Andrew Emmerson, Adviser to the Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations Sixth Committee regarding the Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) on the work of its 42nd Session, delivered on 12 October 2009.
(as delivered)
Mr Chairman
Australia is an active member of UNCITRAL and supports its important work and mandate to harmonise international trade law and reduce barriers to trade.
Australia would like to express our gratitude to the UNCITRAL Commission for its report of the 42nd session, which took place from 29 June to 17 July 2009 in Vienna. We thank the Secretariat for its work in producing a high quality report on the broad range of work done by UNCITRAL. We also thank the Chair of the 42nd session, Professor Oh of the Republic of Korea, for his inclusive and well-structured approach to chairing the meeting.
We note the progress made by UNCITRAL in its consideration of a model law on public procurement. The Commission carefully considered the new provisions of the model law which will, importantly, include provisions on defence procurement. When the model law is finalised, Australia is confident that it will be a widely used and helpful product.
We commend the UNCITRAL Commission for its adoption of the notes on cooperation, communication and coordination in cross-border insolvency proceedings. The notes will be a valuable resource for courts and insolvency practitioners around the world and are particularly important in the current economic climate.
Australia also notes the progress made by UNCITRAL in the areas of international arbitration, insolvency law, electronic commerce, security interests and other important areas of international trade law.
Australia commends the Secretariat’s efforts to identify new projects which are of significance to the international community. One such project identified in the 42nd session was that of micro-financing. We look forward to reviewing the Secretariat’s assessment of the elements required to establish a favourable legal framework for micro-financing. Australia believes this is worthwhile work. Micro-financing is an important tool in combating and alleviating poverty.
In summary, Australia repeats our strong support for the ongoing work of UNCITRAL and thanks the Commission for its recent achievements.