Reverend Naseri,The Honourable Prime Minister of Samoa,Honourable Cabinet Ministers,Your Excellency, Ambassador Ali N. Mohammed, Permanent Representative of Maldives and Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)Excellencies,Distinguished Delegates,Colleagues from the UN system,Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Morning.
On behalf of the United Nations Secretariat, it is a great honour for me to address the opening of the interregional preparatory meeting for the Mid-Term review of the SAMOA Pathway.
I acknowledge with gratitude the Honourable Prime Minister, the Government and people of Samoa for hosting this Interregional Meeting, and for the warm hospitality extended to us.
Samoa’s offer to host the interregional meeting, four years after it hosted the Third International Conference on SIDS in Apia, is a testimony to its continuing commitment to the sustainable development of SIDS.
Honourable Prime Minister – in Apia and its suburbs, we have seen remarkable achievements made by the people of Samoa over the past years under your able leadership and that of your Cabinet. Moreover, Samoa has been unwavering in its support to the United Nations. We recognize with appreciation Samoa’s commitment to supporting the UN system, including its offices in Apia.I also wish to acknowledge the governments of Mauritius, Tonga and Belize for generously hosting the respective three regional preparatory meetings.
Excellencies and distinguished delegates,
Small Island developing States (SIDS) represent a group of countries whose contribution to the world in terms of biodiversity, culture, human talents and creativity defies their size.
SIDS have given us Nobel laureates, musical legends, sports legends and renowned international cuisines, weaving a tapestry of rich colours and hope.
SIDS continue to lead the charge in global climate action, being the voice of ambition, and the voice of reason.
In other areas of sustainable development, SIDS are boldly exploring the productive potential of oceans and seas. And you are continuing to shine the light on non-communicable diseases, on social inclusion, on empowerment of women, and on disaster risk reduction, just to name a few.
SIDS are indeed a group of countries with hopes and aspirations for a better future. You are facing sustainability challenges every day but are determined to overcome them with incredible resilience.
We know well the challenges that SIDS face given their vulnerability to external economic and environmental shocks. Nevertheless, you are a community of nations ready to apply your talents and creativity in the search for solutions.
Your countries are battered year after year by:
• extreme weather events,• poverty,• fallouts of global economic downturns,• falling investments,• contracting trade, and• declining ODA and the closing doors to concessional financing.
Yet these challenges have not broken your spirit.
Many SIDS have responded with determination, strengthening national plans, policies and institutions to pursue new opportunities for growth and sustainable development.
Without a doubt, this Mid-Term review of the SAMOA Pathway – SIDS blueprint for sustainable development – presents a key opportunity to re-examine progress and gaps, to determine priorities ahead, and to reaffirm and reinforce partnerships.Built on the platforms of the Barbados Programme of Action (1994) and the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation (2005), the SAMOA Pathway reinforces unequivocally the status of SIDS as a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique vulnerabilities.
As such, the SAMOA Pathway remains a sound basis on which to articulate SIDS needs and pursue paths of sustainability.
In addition, we now have the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. This universal Agenda and interlinked Goals reaffirm the special case of SIDS and the commitment of the international community for the sustainable development of SIDS.
The United Nations family is working together, to ensure that we are better able to support the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway and the 2030 Agenda in a coherent and efficient manner.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Given these changing global dynamics, it is imperative that SIDS undertake a thorough assessment of where we are with the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway. SIDS needs must be clearly articulated to ensure that the systems and structures that support SIDS within the UN system are adequately resourced and fit for purpose.
I would like to also emphasize that this review process is an opportunity for SIDS to look among themselves, leverage their assets and better engage at regional and sub-regional levels.
As such, I acknowledge the enormous contributions of the United Nations Regional Commissions for their commitment and support to SIDS.
Likewise, I wish to acknowledge the partnership and collaboration of regional partners, including the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, among others.
These institutions, working in partnership with the UN System, can support SIDS to put the SAMOA Pathway and the 2030 Agenda into effect and to strengthen SIDS-SIDS cooperation within and between SIDS regions.
Speaking of Partnerships, I wish again to thank all of you for your active participation in yesterday’s Partnership Dialogue, and those held in the regions.
And I wish to thank Belize and Ireland for leading the review and implementation of the SAMOA Pathway partnerships.
SIDS experience has shown that partnerships can, if well designed and executed, make significant contributions to sustainable development.They can be a source of additional resources at national and regional levels and can support SIDS’ efforts in resilience building.
But we must do more to build on recent successes and launch new partnerships. The Mid- Term Review offers a timely opportunity.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
There is no doubt that SIDS will continue to contend with challenges, uncertainties and setbacks in pursuit of their sustainable development objectives. But we must continue to collectively tackle these challenges, and strive together for progress, by re-focusing on priorities and accelerating implementation, and by building on successes.
This is the purpose of all of us being here this week.
Let us not fail at this task. Our collective future depends on our common commitment to building stronger, resilient and secure partnerships for prosperity.
In the UN family – we remain committed to investing in and supporting SIDS.
I wish you a productive and successful Meeting.
Thank you.
Good Morning.
On behalf of the United Nations Secretariat, it is a great honour for me to address the opening of the interregional preparatory meeting for the Mid-Term review of the SAMOA Pathway.
I acknowledge with gratitude the Honourable Prime Minister, the Government and people of Samoa for hosting this Interregional Meeting, and for the warm hospitality extended to us.
Samoa’s offer to host the interregional meeting, four years after it hosted the Third International Conference on SIDS in Apia, is a testimony to its continuing commitment to the sustainable development of SIDS.
Honourable Prime Minister – in Apia and its suburbs, we have seen remarkable achievements made by the people of Samoa over the past years under your able leadership and that of your Cabinet. Moreover, Samoa has been unwavering in its support to the United Nations. We recognize with appreciation Samoa’s commitment to supporting the UN system, including its offices in Apia.I also wish to acknowledge the governments of Mauritius, Tonga and Belize for generously hosting the respective three regional preparatory meetings.
Excellencies and distinguished delegates,
Small Island developing States (SIDS) represent a group of countries whose contribution to the world in terms of biodiversity, culture, human talents and creativity defies their size.
SIDS have given us Nobel laureates, musical legends, sports legends and renowned international cuisines, weaving a tapestry of rich colours and hope.
SIDS continue to lead the charge in global climate action, being the voice of ambition, and the voice of reason.
In other areas of sustainable development, SIDS are boldly exploring the productive potential of oceans and seas. And you are continuing to shine the light on non-communicable diseases, on social inclusion, on empowerment of women, and on disaster risk reduction, just to name a few.
SIDS are indeed a group of countries with hopes and aspirations for a better future. You are facing sustainability challenges every day but are determined to overcome them with incredible resilience.
We know well the challenges that SIDS face given their vulnerability to external economic and environmental shocks. Nevertheless, you are a community of nations ready to apply your talents and creativity in the search for solutions.
Your countries are battered year after year by:
• extreme weather events,• poverty,• fallouts of global economic downturns,• falling investments,• contracting trade, and• declining ODA and the closing doors to concessional financing.
Yet these challenges have not broken your spirit.
Many SIDS have responded with determination, strengthening national plans, policies and institutions to pursue new opportunities for growth and sustainable development.
Without a doubt, this Mid-Term review of the SAMOA Pathway – SIDS blueprint for sustainable development – presents a key opportunity to re-examine progress and gaps, to determine priorities ahead, and to reaffirm and reinforce partnerships.Built on the platforms of the Barbados Programme of Action (1994) and the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation (2005), the SAMOA Pathway reinforces unequivocally the status of SIDS as a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique vulnerabilities.
As such, the SAMOA Pathway remains a sound basis on which to articulate SIDS needs and pursue paths of sustainability.
In addition, we now have the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. This universal Agenda and interlinked Goals reaffirm the special case of SIDS and the commitment of the international community for the sustainable development of SIDS.
The United Nations family is working together, to ensure that we are better able to support the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway and the 2030 Agenda in a coherent and efficient manner.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Given these changing global dynamics, it is imperative that SIDS undertake a thorough assessment of where we are with the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway. SIDS needs must be clearly articulated to ensure that the systems and structures that support SIDS within the UN system are adequately resourced and fit for purpose.
I would like to also emphasize that this review process is an opportunity for SIDS to look among themselves, leverage their assets and better engage at regional and sub-regional levels.
As such, I acknowledge the enormous contributions of the United Nations Regional Commissions for their commitment and support to SIDS.
Likewise, I wish to acknowledge the partnership and collaboration of regional partners, including the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, among others.
These institutions, working in partnership with the UN System, can support SIDS to put the SAMOA Pathway and the 2030 Agenda into effect and to strengthen SIDS-SIDS cooperation within and between SIDS regions.
Speaking of Partnerships, I wish again to thank all of you for your active participation in yesterday’s Partnership Dialogue, and those held in the regions.
And I wish to thank Belize and Ireland for leading the review and implementation of the SAMOA Pathway partnerships.
SIDS experience has shown that partnerships can, if well designed and executed, make significant contributions to sustainable development.They can be a source of additional resources at national and regional levels and can support SIDS’ efforts in resilience building.
But we must do more to build on recent successes and launch new partnerships. The Mid- Term Review offers a timely opportunity.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
There is no doubt that SIDS will continue to contend with challenges, uncertainties and setbacks in pursuit of their sustainable development objectives. But we must continue to collectively tackle these challenges, and strive together for progress, by re-focusing on priorities and accelerating implementation, and by building on successes.
This is the purpose of all of us being here this week.
Let us not fail at this task. Our collective future depends on our common commitment to building stronger, resilient and secure partnerships for prosperity.
In the UN family – we remain committed to investing in and supporting SIDS.
I wish you a productive and successful Meeting.
Thank you.
File date:
Tuesday, October 30, 2018