South-South Award Address by Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, President of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, at the South-South Awards Reception
Saturday, 26 September 2015
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the UN General Assembly and I congratulate all those individual award winners who have done so much to transform our world.
This award recognizes the Assembly’s contribution to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and its achievement in reaching a landmark agreement to transform our world.
Developing countries, big and small, together with their partners, have made fantastic progress in implementing the MDGs. As we begin the next chapter, let us be proud of those successes and share the lessons of what has worked well and what has not.
With yesterday’s adoption of the 2030 Agenda, we have before us a truly revolutionary agreement. It’s ambition, universal application and analysis of global challenges is befitting this anniversary year.
By crafting the new Agenda with great care and effort, you, the member states together with civil society, the private sector, the UN system and other stakeholders, have done an enormous service to yourselves and to our Assembly. It is important to recognize also the significant contribution made by my two predecessors His Excellency John Ashe and His Excellency Sam Kutesa, in shepherding through this successful outcome.
The challenge now, and a major priority for my Presidency, is to move swiftly to deliver on our promises. If we are to do so, we must mobilize resources, technology, capacities and knowledge on an unprecedented scale. We must engage and work with all actors, and increase cooperation between all countries including through South-South Cooperation.
The new Agenda’s first test is quickly approaching. And I urge all of you to do your very utmost to deliver an ambitious and universal climate agreement in Paris in December.
Ladies and gentlemen, great progress has indeed been made these past 15 years. Now, we must build on that by working together to make the 2030 Agenda a reality; by moving from commitments to action.
Thank you once again.