Repositioning of the United Nations Development System

31 May 2018

– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly, at plenary meeting on repositioning of the United Nations development system in the context of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities development of the United Nations system

 

Excellencies, Mr. Secretary-General, Madame Deputy-Secretary-General, Esteemed Co-Facilitators, Distinguished Delegates, Dear Colleagues,

As we are meeting, here, to consider the resolution on the repositioning of the United Nations Development System, allow me to make four very brief points.

First, I want to express my thanks to our co-facilitators: Ambassadors Sabri Boukadoum and Ib Petersen.

They took on these roles, knowing they would not be easy.

They spent many hours in negotiations: listening, facilitating, responding and analysing.

And they spent many hours outside them too – looking for a middle ground.

The fact we are here today – considering this resolution – means they did a terrific job.

And we all owe them a great debt.

Secondly, you – the Member States.

This was your process. You were in the driving seat, from start to finish.

And it is your work, which has brought us all here.

You came to the table, day after day.  You asked for clarifications. You requested more information. You suggested counter-proposals. And you worked to find common ground.

And so, I want to thank you all.

As my third point, I want to acknowledge something.

And I will be very clear on this.

This resolution, today, is not seen by everyone, as the perfect document.

But it is a legitimate outcome of a multilateral process.

It shows what we are capable of.

We can achieve compromise.

We can, come together – to find new opportunities and ways ahead.

And we can take steps, to move this Organisation forward.

And, as my fourth and final point, I want to say that our work does not end today.

There is a lot, left to do.

This will mean considering the Secretary-General’s implementation plan, due before the end of this session.

It will also mean turning our attention to funding arrangements. And coming together, to mobilise badly-needed resources.

And we cannot see our actions, today, in a vacuum. We must bring this momentum forward.

…Into the ongoing ECOSOC review and alignment process

…Into our discussions on the two, other pillars of reform: management, and peace and security.

…And, finally, into our daily work.

So, before I conclude.

I want thank again, our esteemed and overworked co-facilitators: Ambassador Boukadoum of Algeria, and Ambassador Petersen of Denmark.

…Our committed Secretary-General and Deputy-Secretary-General.

…And all of you, here.

You followed up the commitments we made, in adopting the 2030 Agenda.

You drove this process forward.

And you showed what we are capable of, when we use our multilateral system – and work together.

I thank you.  

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