– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly

8 February 2021

Your Excellency, Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, and Secretary-General of LDC5,

Excellencies, Ambassadors, dear colleagues,

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the elected Co-Chairs of the Preparatory Committee and the Officers of the Bureau and wish them the very best with their preparations.

Ten years after the Istanbul Conference, we now approach the fifth LDC Conference in Doha with high expectations and a lot of hope. The impact of this Conference can be wide and far reaching. One of the most critical measures of success of the 2030 Agenda includes its attainment in LDCs – who are essential to achieve the fundamental principle to leave no one behind.

The Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) is firmly situated in the 2030 Agenda. For the past 10 years it has led our sustainable developments efforts with the LDCs. Next year in Doha, ten years of implementation of the IPoA will be reviewed. And this review must be used to inform our efforts going forward, so we can tackle the many areas of where progress is needed. A new Programme of Action for the LDCs will be adopted, which will be built on the elements agreed by this Bureau.

This is also an opportunity for Member States to reaffirm the global commitment to address the special needs of LDCs made at the major United Nations conferences and summits, including in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework.

Excellencies,

I throughout my Presidency, I have prioritized the issues faced by the most vulnerable Member States, with a special focus on LDCs, who are close to my heart. While all Member States have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the most vulnerable countries face the greatest risk of losing a generation of hard-won development gains. We cannot let that happen. This is where the 2030 promise will be won or lost.

The situations faced by many LDCs are already dire. More than 240 million people are hungry, 207 million are severely food insecure and 507 million people do not have access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food.

The latest available data suggests that 14 LDCs are at high risk of external debt distress. While the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative for the International Development Association countries and LDCs, and the IMF’s debt service relief for 28 LDCs for at least 12 months, are welcome initiatives, more needs to be done. This includes dedicated debt relief measures – if LDCs are to rebound from the COVID-19 shock without compromising their development spending and progress. International support for the LDC Tech Bank and LDC Fund should be increased, so that the LDCs have the tools to achieve the 2030 Agenda. 

Efforts must also support the demographic dividend of LDCs’ large youth populations. In that regard, bridging the technology gap between LDCs and ODCs is critical. Investment in education and training is needed to support the acquisition of technological capabilities. This is required to meet the growing opportunities and challenges within the digital economy.

Building back better, stronger and more resilient is an imperative for LDCs. Investment to bolster LDCs against economic and climate shocks, which derail or stifle sustainable development prospects, is critical.

Ten years after the Istanbul Conference, we now approach the fifth LDC Conference in Doha with high expectations and a lot of hope. The impact of this Conference can be wide and far reaching. One of the most critical measures of success of the 2030 Agenda includes its attainment in LDCs – who are essential to achieve the fundamental principle to leave no one behind. 

Volkan Bozkir

President of the UN General Assembly

Excellencies, dear colleagues,

As President of the General Assembly, my team and I stand ready to support you. I look forward to convening on June 18th, the Joint Thematic Event on the “Accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda in LDCs to leave no one behind in the context of COVID-19”, jointly with the President of ECOSOC.

The joint event is a key milestone on the road to Doha for LDCs to build consensus on how to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in LDCs during the Decade of Action. The joint event offers a unique platform to advance the following objectives:

Firstly, to further discussions on concrete ways to strengthen global partnerships for sustainable development crucial to realizing the ambitious objective of enabling half the number of LDCs to fulfill the graduation threshold.

Secondly, to review how the next Programme of Action for LDCs can be organized to facilitate coherent policies that remove constraints and obstacles to sustainable development while building back better from the pandemic.

Thirdly, to discuss policies to ensure countries graduating from the LDC category experience a smooth transition, while paying special attention to the unique challenges imposed by COVID-19.

And finally, to advance specific proposals and recommendations in support of LDCs.

Excellencies, dear colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly added to the many challenges facing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This is especially true in LDCs and that is why the Doha Conference is so important. Your preparations will be instrumental in its success. I welcome the steps you have taken today in electing Co-Chairs and Officers of the Bureau and adopting the agenda. I also express my appreciation for the valuable support of Qatar as the host country. Please consider me and my Office your trusted partner in our common objectives of effective Conference preparations and of a successful Conference for the LDCs.

I thank you very much for this opportunity to address you today and wish you all the best for the remainder of this meeting.