Addressing Sovereign Debt Distress among Issues Tackled, as Second Committee Continues Debate on Sustainable Development Goals

As the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) continued its general debate today, delegates discussed a number of development issues, including the need to tackle external debt.

“Unscrupulous speculation” by vulture funds had to be curbed, according to Argentina’s representative, because it “conspired against equitable growth and sustainable development”.  Adoption of General Assembly resolution 68/304 on a multilateral legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring sought to tackle the issue and gear the financial system and its institutions towards helping countries emerge from crises.

The representative of Venezuela also supported that resolution, adding that vulture funds posed a threat to the restructuring efforts of countries.  The distortions such practices caused were a function of an economic model that promoted “accumulation of wealth” by the minority at the expense of the whole, and which caused desertification, biodiversity loss and climate change.

While echoing calls for action on sovereign debt distress, the representative of the United States stressed the need to do so without creating market uncertainties.  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Capital Markets Association were the institutions best equipped to handle such debt issues.

Among several delegates noting the significance of the Committee’s session, the representative of Pakistan looked forward to its “most momentous” for many years, as negotiations continued on a post-2015 development agenda and sustainable development goals.  The agenda should be transformative, but States did not need to “reinvent the wheel”, and the new agenda should build on past successes and lessons learned.  Resources had to be commensurate with the mandates given.

A number of delegates repeated the call for adequate resources to tackle poverty, with Nigeria’s representative calling for a doubling of official development assistance (ODA), and the representative of Ethiopia noting that ODA to Africa had declined.  He called for action to reverse that trend and hoped that the upcoming conference on financing for development, which his country would host, would achieve a robust and sustainable agreement.

The representative of Spain echoed the view that financing was a major challenge, but pointed out that his country was meeting its commitments to global development, and he urged other States to follow that example.  His country had established the first fund devoted to the sustainable development goals, and it had been the first to contribute to the adaptation fund to tackle the effects of climate change.

The threat posed by climate change was clearly articulated, with the delegate of Maldives underlining the particular vulnerabilities his country faced, and Burkina Faso’s representative noting the threat posed to humanity at large.  Resilience capacities needed to be built, meaning technology transfer would be important.  The Paris conference needed to end with an agreement to achieve both “the future we want” and to ensure humanity’s continued survival and development.

The representative of United Republic of Tanzania also underscored the need for an agreement on climate change, continuing to outline his country’s commitment to sustainable, inclusive agriculture policies under the terms of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development’s (NEPAD) Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme.  He described several national initiatives, including a food security investment plan.

The representative of Azerbaijan also described national level policies, notably the progress made towards achieving the aim of ensuring that 9.7 per cent of Azerbaijan’s total energy consumption came from wind and solar power by 2020.  She also discussed regional cooperation on the $15 billion Southern Gas Corridor and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line.

Such cooperation and partnership was vital, with several delegations taking up the issue.  The representative of Qatar hoped to be able to strengthen her country’s involvement in South-South cooperation, while she was also one of a number of delegates to highlight the importance of an open, non-discriminatory and multilateral trade system.

Also speaking today were representatives of Nepal, China, Chile, San Marino, Thailand, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Yemen, El Salvador, India, Bangladesh, Dominican Republic, Uganda, Myanmar, Australia, Republic of Korea, Guyana, Cameroon, Botswana, Singapore, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Guatemala, Peru, Kyrgyzstan, Viet Nam, Zambia, Guinea, Afghanistan, Jamaica, Ecuador, Kuwait, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Lebanon.

An observer for the Holy See also spoke.

The Second Committee will reconvene on Thursday, 9 October, to continue its debate.

HENRY SUÁREZ (Venezuela), associating himself with the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, described the negative impacts of an economic model that promoted “accumulation of wealth” and caused inequality and destruction of resources.  The world was weakened by war and financial crisis, and the only place enjoying prosperity was the financial system.  Resources were in the hands of a few instead of being used to benefit the whole, and the economic system catalysed desertification, biodiversity loss and climate change.  A “Pre-COP” meeting in Caracas ahead of the Lima Climate Conference would offer space for dialogue between Governments and social organizations.  New proposals for sustainable development had to minimize the risks of crises like the ones the world had recently faced, while solutions were needed for systemic economic distortions like sovereign debt crises and corrupt practices.  Vulture funds threatened countries’ restructuring efforts, and he supported multilateral regulatory legal framework for debt resolution and reform of the international financial architecture, to ensure democratization and participation of developing countries.

MATEO ESTREME (Argentina), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, stressed the importance of tackling external debt.  It was time to end the “unscrupulous speculation” by vulture funds that “conspired against equitable growth and sustainable development”.  Resolution 68/304 on the multilateral legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring sought to do that, gearing the financial system and its institutions towards helping countries emerge from crises.  If negotiations in the session proceeded smoothly, States could arrange substantive issues in 2015.  Argentina’s development efforts focused on improving people’s quality of life, and no single development model was the prescription for success.  That had to be a central tenet of the post-2015 development agenda.  He underlined the right to migration and his hopes for an international convention, and noted that the effects of climate change affected developing countries most, despite their small contribution to the problem.  A draft of the elements of a new global agreement should emerge from the Lima Conference.  The international trading system needed reform, and he promoted all varieties of alternative international cooperation.

DURGA PRASAD BHATTARAI (Nepal), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, and the Group of Least Developed Countries, said the latter were most off-track in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.  The post-2015 development agenda should incorporate the unfinished business of those Goals, with an overarching aim of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030.  Nepal had set the goal to graduate from the least developed country status by 2022, but also being a land-locked economy, it faced many structural barriers in its development efforts.  Due to its remoteness from the market, marginalization and lack of integration into the regional and global value chains, its competitive strengths had been limited.  He also said that saving mountain ecosystems through appropriate adaptation and mitigation measures was critical in addressing the adverse effects of climate change and the associated disasters.

WANG MIN (China), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, said the international community should plan carefully for the future of cooperation for development.  The session should focus on mobilizing the international will to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, for which it was necessary to guarantee development resources.  The new agenda should have those Goals as its basis, and make poverty eradication a priority.  He called for improved global economic governance, an increased voice for the emerging markets in developing countries, and the reduction of their debt burden.  His country’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 7.7 per cent in 2013 and by 7.6 per cent in the first half of 2014, and it intended to deepen reforms and further open up their economy.

CARLOS OLGUÍN CIGARROA (Chile), associating himself with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Group of 77 and China, highlighted the central role of international multilateralism in tackling global problems.  His country would maintain the same level of commitment to build a single post-2015 agenda, and would focus on a consensus to guarantee sustainable development and the eradication of poverty.  He outlined the following goals as particularly important for his country: combatting poverty; empowerment of women and girls; inclusive economic growth and job creation; environment and climate change; and a peaceful society, citizen security, access to justice and strengthening the rule of law.  On the post-2015 development agenda, it should be flexible and adaptable to challenges that might arise in the future.

DANIELE D. BODINI (San Marino) said no single country or institution could find a lasting solution to economic challenges alone.  Recent crises had caused uncertainty among people and leaders.  The historic economic model had been proven wrong, while new models were not in place.  The United Nations was the best place for making long-term plans to tackle long-term crises, and it had to remain at the centre of dialogue on the world’s future.  Many ideas were being considered, and the task now was prioritizing and ensuring that goals would be implemented.  Whatever goals were agreed, it was vital to meet them because there was nothing worse than making promises and failing to deliver.  When things went wrong with no solutions offered, populations turned to “unpredictable, uncontrollable and violent behaviour”.  Member States had to work together to agree on plans for the future of youth, women and elders.

MASOOD KHAN (Pakistan), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, said the current session was “the most momentous” for many years, because the Committee was charged with crafting the post-2015 development agenda and fulfilling the processes initiated at the Rio+20 Conference.  While aiming to set a transformative agenda, States did not need to “reinvent the wheel”.  Rather, cumulative experiences and collective wisdom needed bringing to bear, and the new agenda should build on past successes and lessons learned.  The Millennium Development Goals had changed global discourse, but their work was far from done.  Where they had fallen short, they did so because of a lack of resources.  This time, resources had to be commensurate with the mandates given.  The Monterrey Consensus had outlined policy actions needed to achieve the Goals, and it was important to assess shortfalls fairly and agree on actions needed to implement the sustainable development goals if the Third Conference on Financing for Development was to be successful.

NORACHIT SINHASENI (Thailand) said that once the Millennium Development Goals had reached their end-point, the international community would have to arrive at a post-2015 development agenda.  His country firmly believed that the sustainable development goals proposed by the Open Working Group should be the main basis of negotiations on that.  People had to remain central to the agenda, a strong means of implementation was key, and all avenues of partnership had to be explored.  He touched on issues involving climate change, disaster risk reduction, trade, financing for development, and agricultural development as well as food security, and noted that 2015 would be the International Year of Soils.

GANBOLD GONCHIG (Mongolia), associating himself with the statement made by Bolivia on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said that the report of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals should not be renegotiated, and should be the basis for integrating those goals in the post-2015 development agenda.  Mongolia was affected by climate change, which was no challenge for the future, but a reality of today.  Touching on issues of trade, he noted how recent high-level visits from China and Russia had helped resolve a number of issues in transport and logistics.  Finally, as the Second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries would be held in Vienna in November, he expressed hope that the Conference would assist in tackling the specific structural challenges of the coming decade.

PALITHA T. B. KOHONA (Sri Lanka), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, said that balancing economic growth and simultaneously protecting the environment would remain a preeminent challenge, and called on developed countries to honour their commitments and balance the damage they had done to the environment.  The post-2015 agenda must focus on implementation, develop a real global partnership for development and allow States to set their own domestic priorities.  Despite being challenged by a “ruthless” terrorist group and the devastating 2004 tsunami, Sri Lanka had achieved most of the Millennium Development Goals, and ranked ahead of all South Asian countries in the 2013 Human Development Index.  One of the examples of his country’s progress was the decline in absolute poverty to 6.7 per cent in 2013 from 15.2 per cent in 2007.

ALYA AHMED SAIF AL-THANI (Qatar), associating herself with the Group of 77 and China, said that developing countries were responsible for organizing their resources and for their development.  However, donor countries must help them by relieving their debt burden and by encouraging trade.  In that context, she highlighted the importance of an open, non-discriminatory and multilateral trade system.  Her country intended to advance by 2030, to strengthen its institutions and civil society.  They hoped to be among the first States seeking to strengthen South-South cooperation, which had the potential to benefit all countries.  Concerning the Palestinian issue, she said that Israel’s continued occupation was “illegal and inhumane”, and called on it to honour its international obligations, and cease those practices immediately.  Peace, stability and sustainable development were closely interlinked, and together could contribute to development and prosperity.

BELAL ABDO (Yemen), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, and the Group of Least Developed Countries, said poverty eradication should be among the highest priorities.  The lack of security and political stability had negatively affected his country’s progress in achieving development goals.  Drawing from that experience, he underscored that the goals could only be achieved with good governance and security.  He also highlighted the importance of providing assistance to the least developed countries to develop their productive capacities, and called for the revitalisation of the Istanbul Programme of Action.  On climate change, he said it represented a threat to many countries’ survival, and had become one of the factors for conflict, violence and the lack of security.

EMMANUEL OLUWADARE OGUNTUYI (Nigeria), associating himself with the African Group and the Group of 77 and China, said that access to decent housing, health care, education, clean water and food should be rights.  Acknowledging the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals, it was necessary to relentlessly pursue the “unfinished business”.  Eradicating poverty remained the most significant challenge for developing countries, especially in Africa, with sound, practical and achievable poverty reduction strategies needed.  Official development assistance (ODA) was vital to development, especially for countries in special situations, and States should double contributions.  Political will and adequate resources were essential to fulfilling the global development agenda.  The international community needed to find innovative financing measures.  Nigeria’s national transformation agenda focused on capacity expansion to enable marketing of products abroad and to attract foreign direct investment, and also noted the challenge desertification posed to achieving sustainable development.

ELIZABETH COUSENS (United States) said it was an “electrifying time” to work on development issues.  Diligence would be required in the coming weeks to ensure the Committee avoided duplicating efforts, with several other processes ongoing.  Reaffirming the development priorities of the United States, she called for accelerated efforts to complete the Millennium Development Goals, and prioritization of issues like poverty and access to water and sanitation in the post-2015 agenda.  In the agenda, more focus should also fall on gender equality, inclusive growth, peace, institution building and sustainability of seas and oceans.  Climate change threatened the world’s shared vision of inclusive development.  The upcoming conference on financing for development could be a powerful platform for agreeing on a modernized approach by mobilizing new and larger sources of financing, including remittances, domestic resources and South-South cooperation.  She supported the provision of credit to pursue development, stressing that sovereign debt distress should be resolved without creating market uncertainties.  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Capital Markets Association were the best places to resolve such debt issues.  She underlined her Government’s commitment to countries in special situations, especially those in Africa, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States.

HASSAN HUSSAIN SHIHAB (Maldives), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, and the Alliance of Small Island States, urged the Committee to come up with an action plan for the full implementation of the Samoa Pathway outcome document.  As a small island developing State facing unique vulnerabilities in its sustainable development, Maldives had graduated from the least developed countries status in 2011, but the inherent structural challenges of being an archipelago of small, low-lying and remote islands remained.  As for his country, sustainable development was inherently about oceans, providing livelihood to its people.  As such, he was delighted to see their conservation as a stand-alone goal in the new agenda.  On climate change, global action was a prerequisite for sustainable development, he stressed, referring to estimates predicting that, in the relatively short span of 10 years, his country would need to invest $1.5 billion in climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.

KHANIM IBRAHIMOVA (Azerbaijan) underlined the need for alternative forms of cooperation in boosting development.  The proposed sustainable development goals would provide steady ground on which countries could build their development strategies.  She reaffirmed her commitment to the outcomes of conferences in the social, economic and environmental fields.  The proper means of implementation were essential to translating sustainable development commitments into tangible outcomes.  Countries in special situations faced particular challenges.  Her own country had made remarkable progress on renewable energy, and aimed to ensure that 9.7 per cent of its total energy consumption came from wind and solar power by 2020.  Such a policy was rare for an oil and gas rich country.  Regional cooperation had proceeded on the Southern Gas Corridor, a $15 billion pipeline that allowed gas to flow to Europe, and on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line linking Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

DER KOGDA (Burkina Faso), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China and the African Group, called on the international community and the United Nations to respond to the aspirations of the many people worldwide living in destitution.  Efforts to eliminate poverty and other scourges that assailed billions had to be redoubled.  Firm commitments were needed, as were reforms of the international trade and economic systems, with priority going to the weakest and those in special situations.  For capacity building in developing countries, more effort needed to be expended on alternative forms of assistance, such as South-South and triangular cooperation.  Climate change posed a major threat to the future of humanity, and resilience capacities needed to be built, and technology transfer was important to that.  Commitment was needed, including an agreement in Paris in 2015 in order to achieve “the future we want” and to ensure the development and survival of humanity.  Commitment was needed to cooperate, and the United Nations needed to play its role in creating a world that was more “fair, prosperous and stable”.

RUBÉN IGNACIO ZAMORA RIVAS (El Salvador), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, said the international community must build a common framework for trade and transfer of technology, tackle the economic crisis, speed up recovery, and build a more inclusive society.  On implementing the post-2015 development agenda, he underscored the importance of financing for development, with ODA playing a central role.  He suggested the concept of middle-income countries be redefined, taking into account factors such as inequality, poverty, investment, gender issues, education and environment.  Although his country was not responsible for climate change, it was the first to suffer.  El Salvador was focusing its efforts on adaptation measures to those changes, which would reduce the loss of human life and financial losses due to natural disasters.  In that context, he called on the international community to address the questions of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change.

BHAGWANT SINGH BISHNOI (India), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, said that inequality had to be addressed by promoting robust and sustained inclusive growth, expanding investments in social infrastructure, ending the rampant energy poverty in developing countries, and correcting the inequities and imbalances in the global governance system.  While his country did not necessarily agree with each and every element of the final package, the proposal of the Open Working Group provided a sound basis for integrating sustainable development goals into the post-2015 development agenda.  The ambition of the agenda must be matched by the ambition of the means of implementation for developing countries.  There must be a holistic approach to finance to address issues such as falling ODA, volatile capital flows, continued debt problems, trade-distorting agricultural subsidies by developed countries and non-tariff barriers.

JUAN MANUEL GONZÁLEZ DE LINARES PALOU (Spain) urged States to follow his country’s example by complying with their commitments to the global development agenda, ensuring the most vulnerable and neediest outside their own borders were not left behind.  Financing was one of the main challenges to be negotiated in developing the post-2015 agenda.  In that context, his country had established the first fund devoted to sustainable development goals.  Spain also had been the first to contribute to the adaptation fund, and the first country in the world where wind energy had been the primary source of electricity for an entire year.  Reflecting upon the thousands of people suffering from Ebola and hundreds of children not being able to go to school, he recalled that behind every goal they negotiated, they must aspire to a dignified life for every human being.

ABDUL MOMEN (Bangladesh) aligned himself with the statements made by Bolivia on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and with that made by Benin on behalf of the Group of Least-Developed Countries.  He questioned whether the base of the Millennium Development Goals was strong enough on which to build the post-2015 development agenda, and urged all States to address that task by focusing on the eradication of poverty.  Looking forward to next year’s conference on financing for development in Addis Ababa, he noted his Government’s willingness to contribute to discussions regarding migration.  On poverty, he said nearly three-fourths of the population in least-developed countries lived below the poverty level, and those countries’ share in global trade had not changed in the last four decades.  As long as least-developed countries existed, the international community had to work even harder to ensure that no one was left behind.

MARCOS MONTILLA (Dominican Republic), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Alliance of Small Island States, emphasized international efforts towards fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in relation to drafting the sustainable development goals and the post-2015 development agenda.  The eradication of poverty and hunger needed special attention, and the revitalization of agriculture would be essential if hunger were to be halved by 2015.  Most municipalities in the Dominican Republic depended on agriculture, and the Government worked to boost rural employment, ensure access to credit and address issues including reforestation and improving living conditions.  The poverty index had been reduced by 6 per cent, lifting millions from that scourge.  Access to technology was important if results were to be achieved, as was development financing.  A global consensus was needed, and he reiterated his Government’s political will in pursuit of sustainable development.

AMAN HASSEN BAME (Ethiopia), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, the Group of Least Developed Countries and the African Group, welcomed the fact that the conclusions of the Open Working Group would form the basis for integrating the sustainable development goals into the post-2015 development agenda.  The goals should be universal, but account for national policies and priorities.  Climate change remained a major threat to humanity, especially to Africa, a continent that contributed “almost nothing” but suffered its effects most.  The Paris conference should bring a major breakthrough in reaching a legally binding climate agreement, with resources vital.  Without them, developing countries could not adapt.  ODA to Africa had declined, and action was needed to reverse that.  Ethiopia would host the third conference on Financing for Development and he hoped a robust, sustainable agreement would emerge from it.  He made note of his country’s climate resilient green growth strategy and efforts to build infrastructure and improve the business environment.

RICHARD NDUHUURA (Uganda) associated himself with the Group of 77 and China, the Group of Least Developed Countries, the African Group, and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries.  The session took place as several processes came to an end and it was necessary to embark on negotiations for a transformative post-2015 agenda.  The Millennium Development Goals had galvanized action to build an inclusive agenda, and significant progress had been made.  Uganda had reached the international poverty target, together with several other targets.  Many other developing countries were unlikely to meet the Goals, however, despite their best efforts, and that was due mainly to the failure to fulfil Goal 8.  Going forward, harnessing partnerships would be critical, and it was the responsibility of Governments to lead the charge against poverty.  For the least developed countries, sustainable development required technology, peace and security, unrestricted access to markets, infrastructure, partnerships, financing and measures to combat climate change.

RAMADHAN M. MWINYI (United Republic of Tanzania), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China and the African Group, said climate change was “unmistakably one of the greatest challenges of our time”.  Following the recent Climate Summit, momentum had to be sustained.  The aim after the Lima and Paris conferences was a legally binding agreement under the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  Sustainable, inclusive agriculture was also crucial, as it provided food and livelihood to Tanzanians, and he welcomed the Open Working Group’s proposal to include a goal on ending hunger and ensuring nutrition.  Work under the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development’s (NEPAD) Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme was proceeding, with the Programme reinvigorated through the Malabo Declaration.  His country had launched several initiatives to transform its agriculture sector, including a food security investment plan.  Welcoming the outcome of the conference on small island developing States and looking forward to the conference on landlocked developing countries, he noted the importance of partnerships to realizing development aspirations.

HAU DO SUAN (Myanmar), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Group of Least Developed Countries, said that his country was putting poverty alleviation at the centre of its development policy, with special emphasis on income generation and employment.  For the first time in 30 years, it had successfully conducted a nationwide population and housing census, the results of which would enable better planning, development, and improvement of the Myanmar people’s quality of life.  With the Government’s reforms and gradual lifting of economic sanctions from the West, ODA flows to the country had started to increase.  Moreover, market access had been improving with rising exports and growing foreign direct investments, and debt sustainability had improved with largest creditor countries’ cancellation of nearly half of its total debt.  As a result of its economic reforms, Myanmar had achieved GDP growth rates of 5.6, 7.3 and 8.7 per cent in the past three consecutive years, and had, as a result, decided to take the necessary steps to graduate from the least developed countries status.

SHARMAN STONE (Australia) said that sustainable development relied on investing in the development of people and societies, adding that as innovative solutions were looked for, new partnerships with the private sector should be sought.  Gender equality was critical to development, which also must reach people with disabilities.  Located in a region with many small island developing States, her country understood that healthy oceans underpinned efforts to eradicate poverty.  Economic growth was “essential” to sustainable development, global trade should be boosted, and as Chair of the G20 in 2014, her country was committed to raising collective economic growth, improving tax cooperation, facilitating investment in infrastructure and mobilizing financial resources.

OH JOON (Republic of Korea) said that the post-2015 development agenda should be built on the Millennium Development Goals.  Welcoming the adoption of the report of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, he suggested that the 17 goals therein should be the international community’s basic guidelines for sustainable development.  A more holistic and integrated approach was needed, however, and the 2014 agenda should be built on more “concrete” and “action-oriented” partnerships.  Only efficient monitoring, however, would guarantee the realization of new goals, and his delegation hoped that the Busan Global Partnership, which had already been joined by 46 countries, might serve as a useful tool in that regard.

GEORGE TALBOT (Guyana), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Alliance of Small Island States, said that a satisfactory post-2015 agenda must be premised on sustainable development that was bold and ambitious, as well as universally relevant and inclusive.  Moreover, the requisite means for its implementation and an enabling environment for its realization must be ensured.  The agenda must also be flexible enough to address the peculiar needs of countries in different circumstances, such as small island developing States, whose progress could far too often be speedily reversed due to the impacts of climate change, natural disasters and external economic shocks.  He welcomed the highly indebted small island developing States’ initiative, which would bring relief to small island developing States, whose average public debt had been pegged at more than 80 per cent of GDP this year, to help them build their resilience in dealing with climate change and natural disaster impacts.

MICHEL TOMMO MONTHE (Cameroon), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, and the African Group, emphasized that the Open Working Group was the sole forum mandated to define the sustainable development goals.  Its intergovernmental nature and openness to civil society gave it “unquestioned legitimacy”, and its report on the goals should not be reopened or renegotiated.  Another important report was that of the Panel of Experts on Financing for Development, while negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda had to include a plan for technology transfer, and the agenda’s overall aim had to be the elimination of poverty through economic transformation of countries of the South.  African countries needed special assistance, particularly in improving productive capacities and gaining better access to markets.  Cameroon sought to become an “emerging economy” by 2035, and was making progress.  Growth was increasing yearly, and public investment accounted for 30.2 per cent of the State budget.  A major challenge was employment, which remained a decisive factor in eliminating poverty and providing stability.

C. T. NTWAAGAE (Botswana), aligning himself with the statements delivered by Bolivia on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, as well the statement delivered by Malawi on behalf of the Africa Group, welcomed the outcome of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals.  Addressing the concerns of landlocked developing countries would be “pivotal” during the session, as many of those countries’ economies were not well diversified.  Their agricultural sectors were also threatened by land degradation, desertification and climate change.  His country looked forward to the upcoming Second United Nations Conference of the Landlocked Developing Countries to be held in Vienna.  Other upcoming conferences, those to be held in Lima and in Paris, respectively, on the topic of climate change, would also add impetus to the ongoing negotiations under the UNFCCC process.

EUGENE NG (Singapore), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, ASEAN, and the Alliance of Small Island States, said that the Open Working Group report should be the main basis for integrating the sustainable development goals into the post-2015 development agenda.  He hoped for a pragmatic, outcome-based and quantifiable approach to targets to be adopted for the agenda.  His country would focus on urbanization, water, and sanitation, he said, stressing the means of implementation, in particular partnerships, as another area which must be given more attention.  For the partnerships to work, the United Nations must play an enhanced role in coordinating them, as well as in ensuring the implementation of their commitments.

FREDERICK MUSIIWA MAKAMURE SHAVA (Zimbabwe), aligning his statement with that made by Bolivia and by Malawi on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said that rising income and wealth disparities would have a negative impact on the world economy if concerted mitigating measures were not taken now.  Poverty eradication and sustainable development should remain the central goal of the post-2015 development agenda.  It was imperative to put into place a multilateral legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring that would regulate the international regime for such debt.  He touched upon issues such as technology transfer, international trade, and climate change, concluding that his country believed a world without poverty was possible.

JEANNE D’ARC BYAJE (Rwanda), associating herself with the Group of 77 and China, Group of Least Developed Countries, and the African Group, said that her country was committed to expediting the remaining work on the Millennium Development Goals to meet its targets.  Furthermore, priorities were being set to address the gaps and challenges towards achieving global sustained economic growth and financial stability for the post-2015 development agenda.  In a global quest for poverty eradication, every nation must invest in its people by providing a good social protection system, geared at improving their well-being.  Moreover, sustainable development could not be achieved without peace and security, without adequate means of implementation, or without enhanced international cooperation based on a renewed global partnership.

LEIVA ROESCH (Guatemala), associating herself with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Group of 77 and China, was pleased that the final report gave priority to eradicating poverty and hunger, and included goals on climate change and peaceful society.  She called for strengthening of the means of implementation, and for deepening of financial mechanisms crucial for achieving the goals.  Her country supported the establishment of a facilitation mechanism, which could be the key platform to ensure the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.  Moreover, her Government believed that the agenda should reflect the human rights of the most vulnerable populations, particularly migrant women and children.

AUGUSTO THORNBERRY (Peru), associating himself with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Group of 77 and China, said they aimed to free mankind of hunger and fear by prioritizing social inclusion.  The post-2015 development agenda should facilitate the transfer and access to technology.  Belonging to the most unequal region in the world, Peru had, in only one generation, managed to decrease the proportion of those living in poverty from over a half to less than a fifth of its population.  It also had achieved the Millennium Development Goals earlier than planned.  A priority must be given to the legitimacy and effectiveness of the United Nations system and international financial institutions, he said, which must provide for the participation of all stakeholders — public and private, national and international — in a new global partnership for development.

TALAIBEK KYDYROV (Kyrgyzstan), stressing the importance of reaching “harmony between the environment and human activities”, described his country’s National Strategy for 2013-2017, which integrated principles of sustainable development in the Government’s national policies.  One of the main reasons for extreme poverty was geographical disadvantage, and Kyrgyzstan was characterized by remoteness, isolation, inaccessibility and high living costs.  Mountain ecosystems were sensitive to global warming, so a high priority was attached to climate change adaptation and mitigation.  Ice cover in Kyrgyzstan was expected to decrease 40 per cent by 2025, resulting in a one-third reduction in regional availability of water.  Hydropower development would help provide affordable energy and solve a number of problems related to seasonal flooding, balanced water use and downstream irrigation.  He stressed the importance of intensified international activity on restoring and securing uranium tailings in Kyrgyzstan, noting that many were in densely populated areas and exposed to the threat of landslides and floods.

NGUYEN TRAC BA (Viet Nam), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, and ASEAN, noted major increases in international trade between 2013 and 2014, although pre-crisis rates had not yet been reached.  The Bali Package represented moderate progress on international trade; nonetheless, implementation remained a concern, particularly for developing countries.  Development gains were consistently under threat from climate change, epidemics like Ebola, and instability and conflict.  He stressed the importance of peace and security to creating an enabling environment for development, underscoring that the United Nations was vital to norm-setting and coordination of common efforts to tackle global challenges.  He welcomed results of the Climate Summit and Conference on small island developing States, and looked forward for a meaningful agreement on climate change in 2015.  With his country on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, he welcomed the outcome of the Open Working Group on sustainable development goals, particularly its stronger focus on economic development and more robust goals.

MWABA PATRICIA KASESE-BOTA (Zambia) spoke on behalf of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, describing the comparative disadvantages they faced on issues such as trade.  Their geographical situations hampered progress, with no access to the sea, and the need to pay multiple customs duties when crossing borders.  That made exports uncompetitive and made imports too expensive for locals.  The Almaty Programme of Action sought to address the issues those countries faced.  She pointed to gains made by landlocked developing countries in transport and trade infrastructure, and to improvements in their share of trade over the previous decade, despite the disadvantages.

Work to implement the Millennium Development Goals was uneven, slow and incomplete, she said, pointing to the increased susceptibility of landlocked countries to shocks, and to the heightened effects such shocks  had because of a lack of mitigation capacity.  She looked forward to the upcoming conference in Vienna, and expressed optimism about the outcome document intended to tackle landlocked countries’ problems, building on the Almaty Programme of Action.  A realistic Programme was needed and expectations were high.  Information and communications technology was an enabler for investment and growth, and it should be made affordable to landlocked developing countries.  Structural transformation was needed to improve competitiveness.

ALASSANE CONTE (Guinea) aligning with the Group of 77 and China, the African Group and the Group of Least Developed Countries, noted that when the Millennium Development Goals were negotiated, no thought was given to the idea of evaluating implementation at the end of the process.  Despite progress on education, gender, nutrition and the campaign against HIV/AIDS, numerous challenges remained related to employment, economic growth and inequality.  Progress was uneven between countries.  Guinea had been making progress on poverty eradication, infant mortality, combating diseases, providing water access and gender equality prior to the outbreak of Ebola.  The international community failed to acknowledge the threat posed by the outbreak when it first occurred, but then reacted in panic, closing borders and applying restrictions.  That had slowed trade, reduced productivity and hampered sectors like tourism, as well as caused a reduction in the growth rate of about 1.5 per cent.  The international community had since recognized the need for robust support to combat what was one of the worst epidemics of the century.  But he called for increased efforts.

ZAHIR TANIN (Afghanistan) associated himself with the Group of 77 and China, and the Group of Least Developed Countries, citing his country’s particular concerns.  Those included the need for ODA to support development efforts, and the importance of technology and financing to implementing the sustainable development goals.  He looked forward to the outcome of the landlocked developing countries’ conference and to negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda, hoping that the results of United Nations conferences would guide deliberations.  He welcomed the first meeting of the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, emphasized the importance of South-South and triangular cooperation, and stressed the vulnerability of least developed countries to climate change.  Several national policies aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2020, and the country was on track to achievement of many targets.

E. COURTENAY RATTRAY (Jamaica), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, CARICOM, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Alliance of Small Island States, said that for his country it was imperative that the post-2015 agenda deliberations resulted in outcomes improving its citizens’ quality of life.  Moreover, the agenda must provide developing countries with opportunities to access and harness technologies that were the key enablers of sustainable development.  Jamaica had had first-hand experience with the damaging effects of natural hazards, including hurricanes, the frequency and severity of which had been exacerbated by climate change.  Therefore, it expected the new framework to improve upon the provisions of the Hyogo Framework for Action, and support vulnerable countries in their efforts to build resilience to natural hazards.  The issue of debt was of paramount importance to the small CARICOM economies, many of which continued to carry unsustainable debt burdens.

XAVIER LASSO MENDOZA (Ecuador), associating himself with the Group of 77 and China, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, urged the international community to reflect on the issue of sovereign debt, and stressed the importance of promoting financial cooperation.  The main challenge of the post-2015 development agenda would be the effectiveness of its implementation means, he said, calling for the agenda to recognize countries’ different challenges.  Moreover, urban development must be in line with the concept of living well and living peacefully with nature.  Finally, he highlighted the need to continue fighting for climate justice, and the importance of international migration and its undeniable link to development.

The representative of Kuwait, supporting the statement made by Bolivia, said that drawing up the post-2015 development agenda could lead to the creation of partnerships that strengthened the spirit of the sustainable development goals.  Kuwait was one of the high revenue developed countries, and, as such, attached great importance to providing assistance to developing countries and least developed countries.  The Kuwait Fund for Development was one tool reflecting his country’s position, contributing to stabilization and cooperation between Kuwait and other countries.  Economic and investment cooperation was a pillar for cooperation and partnership in the area of development.  Participation by the private sector and civil society was also needed to make progress in the development process.

MAUREEN FRANCELLA STRICKLAND-SIMONET (Samoa), associating herself with the Group of 77 and China, Alliance of Small Island States, Pacific Small Island Developing States, and CARICOM, said the primary goal of hosting the third small island developing States’ conference was the opportunity to draw international attention to those countries and their challenges and realities.  She called the Samoa Pathway the blueprint for sustainable development of those States.  Her country looked forward to a renewed global partnership that would help small island developing States manage a multitude of risks, so that they could pursue inclusive economic growth, social development and environmental sustainability.  Moreover, she stressed the importance of establishing a robust global monitoring system that would strengthen the accountability at all levels, and ensure adequate and timely analysis and update of the Samoa Pathway implementation.

FRED SARUFA (Papua New Guinea) spoke on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States, and associated himself with the Alliance of Small Island States and the Group of 77 and China.  He said that the challenge for small island developing States was first and foremost to take ownership and strengthen leadership in the implementation of the Samoa Pathway.  That document must serve as a blueprint if those States were to achieve sustainable development in the post-2015 era.  Given those States’ lack of resources and other constraints, they would require assistance with the means of implementation.  Member States should be mindful of those countries’ development priorities, such as climate change, sustainability of fishing, conservation of marine biodiversity, and sustainable energy.

Climate change remained a serious threat to small island developing States, he said, expressing his country’s concerns about the rapidly rising sea levels and greenhouse emissions.  He called for the application of the Rio principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and for a full capitalization of the Green Climate Fund.  Finally, oceans and seas played a key role in the development of small island developing States, he said, calling for their health and productivity to be restored, and their sustainability included in the final framework.

HELEN BECK (Solomon Islands) associated her statement with the Group of 77 and China, the Alliance of Small Island States, the African Group, and the Group of Pacific Small Island Developing States.  Welcoming the adoption of the Open Working Group’s report containing 17 “balanced” sustainable development goals, she noted that the document should not be renegotiated.  For sustainable development to grow roots, it must be nurtured with an inclusive international financial process.  Those most lagging behind must be given preferential treatment, and economic systems must work for all.  Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals remained unfinished business for many least developed countries.  Mitigation and adaptation to climate change must be inclusive and respond to the special needs of small island developing States and least developed countries.  Climate change had to remain at the forefront of the sustainable development path.

KHALIL MOHAMAD (Lebanon) said that since the Rio +20 conference, the international community had highlighted the need for sustainable development goals to focus on environmentally responsible growth.  There were three main challenges and priorities of sustainable development, namely good governance, technological improvement, and public awareness.  Noting his country’s achievements on reaching economic equality, he added that Lebanon was witnessing mass migration of youth to cities.  Those remaining faced high unemployment, and that issue must be a crucial part of the post-2015 development agenda.  Touching on the impact of the Syrian conflict in his country, he noted the continuing impact of a marine oil spill in 2006 caused, he said, by Israel, adding that Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian territory hindered human development there, which was unacceptable.

BERNARDITO AUZA, Observer for the Holy See, welcomed progress to reduce poverty and child and maternal mortality.  Poverty eradication was the most important development goal to the Holy See, and he was concerned that extreme poverty remained widespread, despite recent progress.  Around 15 per cent of the world’s population lived on less than $1.25 per day.  To fight the structural causes of extreme poverty, each person had to be provided with the minimum wherewithal to live in dignity and freedom from want.  Climate change, rising inequality, employment, and the promotion of peaceful societies had to be part of the sustainable development goals, particularly as they affected people in extreme poverty the most.