– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
23 September 2020
H.E. Mr. Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Global Chair of the Group of landlocked developing countries,
H.E. António Guterres, Secretary-General, of the United Nations,
Excellencies,
Two days ago, I presided over the High-Level Meeting commemorating the 75thAnniversary of the United Nations.
While I took a moment to reflect on the UN’s successes and challenges, I also looked ahead.
I noted then that, “We must support the United Nations to evolve into a more agile, effective and accountable organization, so it is fit for purpose and can deliver the future we want.”
I would echo that call here today.
Each country has its own path to sustainable development, guided by the Goals. But each country’s conditions and context differ. We cannot copy and paste the solution; we must work together with flexibility and adaptability to achieve success.
While no country in the world has escaped the struggles associated with COVID-19, those faced by LLDCs are particularly severe.
Limited access to ports hinders shipments of crucial medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, and already weak exports are being further strained.
Unfortunately, as is so often the case, the most vulnerable are being hit hardest.
COVID-19 represents the greatest global challenge since the end of the Second World War and will require global cooperation at greater levels than ever before.
Failure to act swiftly will only entrench and widen existing inequalities and take us even further from achieving the SDGs.
Immediate support is required to fulfil the Reform Agenda and ensure that the UN is fit for purpose.
We must also strive to ensure meaningful progress against the Paris Agreement, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction, Almaty & Vienna Programmes of Action, and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
And we must re-energize our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals through the Decade of Action.
On this last point, the SDGs have the potential to serve as a blueprint for resilient recovery from COVID-19.
In doing so, it is essential that the international community consider and account for the contextual circumstances of LLDCs.
Measures must be taken to facilitate their participation in the global, sustainable recovery.
Each country has its own path to sustainable development, guided by the Goals. But each country’s conditions and context differ.
We cannot copy and paste the solution; we must work together with flexibility and adaptability to achieve success.
For LLDCs, this means strengthening technical capacity building, facilitating access to financial resources, enhancing technological capacity building, and improving access to markets.
As President of the General Assembly, I will promote the use of emerging technologies, strengthening data, and results-oriented action.
You can also count on my Presidency to extend full support to the implementation of the Roadmap on accelerated implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action.
And I will work to finalize the modalities of the high-level mid-term review of the decade for action on water, and the high-level meeting on the water-related goals of the SDGs, both of which are critical to the LLDCs.
Excellencies, I appreciate again the opportunity to address this forum. Trust that I will work with you to advance the objectives of the LLDCs and that I will remain a champion of those most vulnerable.
Thank you very much.
