– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Tijjani Muhammad Bande, President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
26 September 2019
Crown Prince of Norway,
President of ECOSOC,
Honourable Ministers,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to be here today. I thank the Government of Qatar for hosting this event.
There is just one year left in the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries yet significant gaps persist. All of us have a responsibility to the people we serve.
As the most vulnerable group, Least Developed Countries need enhanced global support to overcome the structural challenges they face. The international community has to strengthen support from all sources, including official development assistance in order to effectively implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Excellencies,
The priorities I have set out for the Seventy-Fourth Session of the General Assembly will respond to the needs of Least Developed Countries.
Advancing sustainable development remains a top priority for the General Assembly. Mindful of the interconnectedness and indivisibility of this comprehensive framework, I will endeavour to provide the necessary leadership on all goals, with a focus on issues related to poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion.
We must intensify our efforts to fulfill the commitments we made to the people we serve. I will promote partnerships and galvanize the needed engagement from all stakeholders in order to reduce inequality, poverty and hunger.
We need to continue engaging the private sector, civil society and foundations to contribute, in order to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people.
This week’s deliberations have been instrumental in shaping the landscape of the next decade, which should be marked by an unprecedented action and delivery on our commitments made in the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Climate Agreement as well as the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.
Our leaders have sent a strong message on our global responsibility to deliver and reiterate the critical importance of multilateralism in addressing global challenges.
Achieving this Agenda will rely on our collective ability to build momentum, mobilize support and scale up action. We need to make sure that adequate resources are made available for their implementation.
The General Assembly is unique in its guarantee of equality of voice. Throughout the Seventy-Fourth Session I want to hear your voices. You know your own countries and communities best. I am here to serve the needs of Least Developed Countries. I should be considered an ally
It is time for action. Agenda 2030 enshrined the idea of leaving no one behind and that reaching the furthest behind first is an answer to fulfill the sustainable development goals.
We need to seize the momentum of High-Level Week and moving forward, work with communities in Least Developed Countries.
The General Assembly is unique in its guarantee of equality of voice. Throughout the Seventy-Fourth Session I want to hear your voices. You know your own countries and communities best. I am here to serve the needs of Least Developed Countries. I should be considered an ally.
A new program of action would coincide with the decade of implementation for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Thank you.
