Excellencies,
Colleagues,
It is my pleasure to join you for the opening of this planning meeting for next week’s Preparatory Committee.
The countdown to SIDS4 has begun. In just over four months we will be travelling to Antigua and Barbuda.
On DESA’s side, preparations continue at pace.
We are preparing to open the call for proposals for side events on 26 January.
We are working with UN system partners to begin drafting the background notes for the five Interactive Dialogues.
In addition, we are preparing the documentation and possible decisions for the Preparatory Committee meeting, as well as a program of side events.
I take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation to the co-Chairs and the Host Government for their able leadership and guidance.
Excellencies,
Next week we are embarking on a crucial step in the preparatory process, commencing negotiations on the new ten-year programme of action for SIDS.
I know we all share the ambition for this document to be transformative and respond to this critical moment with a high level of ambition.
I commend Ambassador Luteru and his team for their hard work drafting the text, revising it following November’s Co-Chair’s retreat, and shepherding it through negotiations with G77 and China.
The zero draft text captures SIDS priorities and ambitions and provides clear guidance on the actions needed to support them to achieve their sustainable development objectives.
The first reading will set the tone for negotiations of the outcome document over the coming months.
In order to enable Member States to meaningfully engage with the text, it is crucial to circulate it with sufficient time for review by Capitals. I look forward to an update, in this regard.
Let me conclude by assuring you of the full support of DESA to the intergovernmental process. My team stand ready to support the Co-Chairs to run the negotiations, however you see fit.
I regret that I will be unable to attend the opening of the Preparatory Committee in person, as I am travelling to attend the special meeting of ECOSOC in Santiago, Chile, but I have prepared a recorded message. My team will provide me with regular updates on the negotiations and I will join you for the closing segment and press conference.
I wish you all the best for your preparations.
I thank you.