Making the United Nations Relevant to all People– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly
15 April 2019
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
The General Assembly has before it the “Buenos Aires outcome document of the second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation”, which was adopted at the second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40) on 22 March 2019 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
I reiterate my sincere appreciation to the Republic of Argentina for the impeccable organization of the Conference; the active participation and strong commitment to multilateralism of the Member States and Observer States; and to all relevant stakeholders whose contribution to the process and Conference was valuable.
The Conference highlighted the increasing role of South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation. It shows the solidarity of the Global South while reflecting the reality that partnership is key to achieve poverty eradication and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Excellencies,
Today would like to highlight three key messages:
First, South- South cooperation and triangular cooperation can be a powerful tool. It is a process and partnership. It bonds us to work together, respect and learn about one another.
Second, we all have a role in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Means of implementation comes in many forms. We must explore all possible options and South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation have the potential we must fully utilized.
Last but not least, the BAPA+40 process and outcome document have given us hope. The spirit of multilateralism still exists and can prevail. Consensus can be achieved.
I thank the Permanent Representatives of Lithuania and Uganda to the United Nations, Ambassadors Audra Plepyté and Adonia Ayebare, who led the intergovernmental process to negotiate the outcome document of the Conference which gathers us here today.
Excellencies,
The text of the “Buenos Aires outcome document of the second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation” is the result of an intense intergovernmental negotiations in New York as well as regional consultations and workshops that took place around the world from Paris to Johannesburg, Brasilia, Bangkok, and Cairo.
The BAPA+40 process and outcome document have given us hope. The spirit of multilateralism still exists and can prevail. Consensus can be achieved.
We now have an outcome document, a roadmap which will be a major milestone for sustainable development. The outcome document reflects the current trends of South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation and comprises forward-looking elements which would strengthen South-South cooperation in the long run, including voluntary reporting mechanism which will help assessing impacts of South-South and triangular cooperation programs, expansion of relevant actors, combating corruption and curbing illicit financial flows, the role of the UN Regional Commissions and reinvigorating the United Nations development system in supporting and promoting South-South Cooperation and triangular cooperation aiming at implementing the 2030 Agenda.
We have a good outcome document and going forward, we must ensure that we put our efforts into its implementation.
Let us continue this spirit of strengthening multilateralism and making the United Nations relevant for all.
I thank you.
