Importance of South-South Cooperation, Official Development Assistance Focus, as Second Committee Continues Debate on Implementing 2030 Agenda

As the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) continued its general debate today, African Member States, both least developed and middle-income, stressed the need to implement a new development agenda “without the burden of the past”, as they called on wealthy nations to restructure debt.

The representative of Sudan said that debt limited the use of official development assistance (ODA) to properly finance development projects.  Financial and economic crises could be avoided with the establishment of shock-absorbing mechanisms, abolishing blockades and eliminating economic sanctions.  He called on multinational and commercial systems to be more inclusive and fair and for the lifting of obstacles that limit membership to the World Trade Organization (WTO).  Trade was an important element of development, and South-South cooperation had a significant role to play in encouraging trade among the global South.

The representative of Kenya echoed that sentiment pointing out that 70 per cent of those living in poverty lived in middle-income countries.  He cautioned against weaning those countries, including his, off concession support before they were ready to stand on their own.  “The rate at which external support drops exceeds the rate at which resource mobilization initially rises,” he said.

Nigeria’s delegate also called for special attention to be paid to middle-income countries, as well as least developed, landlocked and island nations, as they dealt with challenges exacerbated by the effects of climate change.

Several speakers discussed their unique circumstances, with Guinea’s delegate pointing out that the outbreak of Ebola in his country in 2013 “brutally” interrupted development progress in areas of gender equality, education, health and sanitation.  The representative of Yemen said that the conflict in his country had also reversed gains made in development.  In the same vein, Cameroon’s delegate pointed out that the terrorist activities of Boko Haram and the subsequent flow of migrants and refugees into his country had threatened progress made on the Millennium Development Goals.

All countries therefore must be included in implementing the 2030 Agenda, several delegations stressed with the representative from Argentina, urging structural change.  “We cannot all be responsible if decisions are made by the mere few,” she said, warning against “unscrupulous businessmen” that took advantage of the poor and vulnerable.

Along those lines, the representative of Australia said that achieving the Goals of the 2030 Agenda required countries to “think and act different” about development and finance.  Development challenges cannot be solved by Governments alone but rather through linking good governance, private sector investments, job growth and taxation.  That combination had mobilized trillions of dollars.

Canada’s delegate echoed that call, saying that projected ODA levels would fall well short of the trillions that would be required to implement the Sustainable Development Goals.  He called for the strengthening of domestic resource mobilization and finding new ways to blend financing from donors, foundations, the private sector and other sources to fill the gap.

Also speaking today were representatives of Ukraine, Malaysia, Singapore, Senegal, Ethiopia, New Zealand, Dominican Republic, Libya, Mongolia, China, Cuba, Israel, Botswana, Japan, Chile, Viet Nam, India, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Paraguay, Thailand, Honduras, Afghanistan, Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Rwanda, Bolivia, the United Republic of Tanzania, Nepal, Zimbabwe, Jordan, Montenegro, Kuwait, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Bhutan, Philippines, Liberia, Armenia, Serbia and the Holy See.  The representative of Syria also spoke, exercising the right of reply.

Statements

RAMIZ RAMAZANOV (Ukraine) said that despite challenging circumstances, in particular the provoked and supported insurgent activities breaching its territorial integrity, his State had managed to establish strong internal mechanisms and a trustful relationship with international partners in order to implement all aspects of the humanitarian response for the country.  His Government had also started the development and recovery plans for affected areas.  Noting the increased coordination and exchange of information among principal organs and with the Secretariat, as well as between the General Assembly and international or regional forums and organizations, he said such cooperation would allow those bodies to efficiently address gaps in finding solutions, accelerate the decision-making process and avoid duplication of work.  He welcomed continued efforts to reduce the number and length of draft resolutions adopted by the Committee in order to ensure coherence in its debates.  Also needed were more focused, action-oriented resolutions that would enhance the quality of and expedite its work.

RAMLAN BIN IBRAHIM (Malaysia) said that sadly not much had changed since the Second Committee met in 2014.  The global economy had further deteriorated requiring the world to unite to tackle myriad challenges.  The 2030 Agenda must take into account different national circumstances and address the root causes of development issues.  Enhanced efforts were needed in countries in special situations including least developed States.  Due attention should also be given to the Climate Conference in Paris to take place in December.  The great fragility of the global economic and financial recovery remained a matter of great concern as it continued to burden small economies.  In 2014 alone, world trade remained almost stagnant growing at only 2.3 per cent.  Developing countries which produced commodities were the most hit despite several interventions by developed States to strengthen the economic recovery.  He reaffirmed the importance of South-South cooperation for ensuring effective participation of developing countries in global growth.

SEEMA GAIL PARKASH (Singapore), associating herself with the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Alliance of Small Island States, said the Committee must consider how best to operationalize the outcomes contained in the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.  While that seemed a question of modalities, how those outcomes were operationalized would have a substantive impact on their implementation.  Her country believed that it was important to remain cognizant that all countries would have to select from “the menu” that was the 2030 Agenda to adapt solutions to their own national priorities and unique circumstances.  Further, the outcome of the 2015 Climate Conference in Paris would affect implementation of the three agreements.

GORGUI CISS (Senegal), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, noted with concern that millions of people in the world still suffered from poverty and hunger, while migratory flows, whether forced or voluntary, and natural disasters continued to pose problems.  Against that backdrop it was clear that the international community needed to act decisively.  Translating commitments into actions meant adopting appropriate strategies and mobilizing new partnerships while strengthening old ones.  Infrastructure development was indispensable to sustainable development and it was crucial to implement commitments and pledges to ensure predictable funding.  The Climate Conference in Paris must discuss technology transfers and capacity-building.

TEKEDA ALEMU (Ethiopia), associating himself with the African Group, the “Group of 77”, Group of Least Developed Countries and Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said it was imperative to maintain the political momentum of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and Sustainable Development Summit to agree on a universal and legally binding climate change deal at the Climate Conference in Paris.  Eradiating poverty was a matter of national survival for his country and the Government had implemented comprehensive national policies aimed at achieving inclusive sustainable development.  The transition to a green economy was not an option but a necessity and Ethiopia had implemented a climate-resilient green economy strategy with the vision of becoming a zero-carbon middle-income economy by 2025.  The world had the financial and technological capability to achieve the 2030 Agenda by mobilizing finances and allocating resources.

ANGELA HASSAN-SHARP (New Zealand) said that the agreements made this year formed a road map for the international community’s journey to sustainable development.  But agreement was just a start and her country looked forward to a productive session at the Second Committee.  It was important to ensure alignment between the different agreements and “what we agree in the Second Committee”.  As the number of resolutions grew, it was important to identify the most critical issues.  New Zealand called on the Committee to recognize the unique vulnerabilities faced by some Member States.  Also, the country stressed the importance of global partnerships as well as a follow-up mechanism.  It was important to maintain, rather than negotiate, the political balance that had been struck so far.

OMER DAHAB FADL MOHAMED (Sudan), associating himself with the Group of 77, African Group and the Group of Least Developed Countries, said the 2030 Agenda must be implemented “without the burden of the past”.  That included avoiding financial and economic crises through the establishment of shock absorbing mechanisms, and abolishing blockades and economic sanctions.  Foreign debt must be given prime importance as it posed obstacles and limited the use of (ODA) to finance development projects.  Foreign debt was a greater burden for developing countries, he stressed.  Implementation of the 2030 Agenda required the mobilizing of all resources, including technology, as well as continuing ODA.  Multilateral and commercial systems must be inclusive and fair, he said, calling for all obstacles that limit countries to join the (WTO) to be erased.  Trade was an important element of development, and South-South cooperation was vital to attaining sustainable development.  He also called for a global framework that would mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.  Sudan was rich in its ecosystems and had set up a national strategy to safeguard biodiversity.  Environment degradation was a driver of conflict, he said, pledging to support United Nations initiatives to continue to fight land degradation and desertification.

WAYNE SWAN (Australia) said that development challenges cannot be solved by Governments alone, and that engaging civil society and the private sector was vital.  Linking good governance, private sector investment, job growth and taxation provided a framework through which trillions of dollars could be mobilized.  Achieving the ambitious Goals of the 2030 Agenda required countries to “think and act different” about development and development finance.  It was important to promote innovation and collaboration in order to achieve impact.  In that regard, Australia looked for opportunities to innovate and collaborate with a range of actors, including Member States. It was time to determine how best the Second Committee could support this new agenda with “optimism and energy” to track progress of the sustainable development goals.

USMAN SARKI (Nigeria), associating himself with the African Group and the Group of 77, said that the 2030 Agenda gave hope to 800 million people still living in poverty.  ODA played a critical role in economic and social development and poverty eradication.  He reaffirmed that developing countries must honour their financial commitment and stressed that concerted efforts must be addressed of the financial flow especially to Africa.  Concerted action should be directed at the establishment of the global tax cooperation framework to address tax evasion of multinational cooperation and help Governments diversify their revenue base.  Trade was critical in catalysing economic development especially in developing countries.  He called on the adoption of policies conducive to developing countries in terms of South-South and Triangular cooperation.  He underscored the issue of desertification and drought.  The United Nations must sustain its efforts to organize political will and tackle challenges in the Sahel as well.  He also called on developed countries to reach the Green Climate Fund mark of $100 billion by 2020

MARCOS MONTILLA (Dominican Republic), associating himself with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Group of 77 and the Alliance of Small Island States, stated that the international community must arrive at an ambitious agreement on climate change that would include concrete commitments on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  “We are going to Paris convinced that global interests should prevail over self-interests,” he said, expressing the hope that the international community was approaching a new era.  Failure in that would result in increasing poverty and natural disasters on a horrifying scale, and failure was not an option for the Dominican Republic.  Calling for increased cooperation, especially with recognition for the vulnerability of small island developing States, he said that the creation of a plan of action for middle-income countries was essential.

IBRAHIM O. A. DABBASHI (Libya), associating himself with the African Group and the Group of 77 China, said that the eradication of poverty must remain the central objective of the 2030 Agenda.  The Addis Ababa Action Agenda must be implemented to promote international financial and technical cooperation.  The right to development and the principle of common but differentiated responsibility must remain the basis of sustainable development.  An international mechanism to facilitate the transfer of technology would enable the international community to bridge the gap between developed and developing countries.  Affirming the sovereign right of all States to make policies for their own socioeconomic progress, he added that restoring security and stability in countries witnessing turmoil was a fundamental component of sustainable development.

SUKHBOLD SUKHEE (Mongolia), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the Group of Landlocked Developing countries, said that the lack of direct territorial access to the sea and isolation from world markets made landlocked developing States especially vulnerable.  Further, sovereign debt concerned many developing countries including Mongolia, where debt had reached 58.3 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).  His country supported progress on debt sustainability.  Mongolia had experienced steadfast growth in the mining sector but the rise of the extractive industry had come at a social and environmental cost.  That experience proved that it was not an easy task for a developing country with a transition economy to reduce poverty.

WANG MIN (China), associating himself with the Group of 77, said the world had reached a “new milestone” in the history of international development.  He called for action to push Member States to implement the post-2015 Development Agenda.  Mobilizing domestic resources and accelerating economic growth would greatly benefit sustainable development.  Special attention must be paid to the development of poor populations, he said, calling for a balance between economic and social development and ensuring “stable development”.  North-South cooperation should be a reliable channel assisting the developed world in strengthening their aid to developing countries, especially in the area of technology transfer.  South-South cooperation was instrumental in achieving development and an opportunity to strengthen solidarity among the global South and consolidate trade.  The international community must strengthen cooperation in the name of fairness, respect and capacity-building.  The Chinese economy had entered a “new normal” and had moved from investment driven to innovation driven.  It had implemented reform to achieve a growth rate of 7 per cent in 2014.

The representative of Kenya, associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, said Member States had a responsibility to “lay the foundation and set the stage” of the implementation of important commitments.  Poverty and its “twin challenge” of inequality continued to elude many developing countries.  He expressed concern that 70 per cent of those living in poverty lived in middle-income States.  African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, must be given special attention.  “The rate at which external support drops exceeds the rate at which resource mobilization initially rises,” he said of low- and middle-income countries like Kenya being weaned off concession support before they were ready to stand on their own.  All parties must continue to work towards a multilateral legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring as it would increase the efficiency of the international financial system in accordance with national circumstances.  Technology had an important role to play in development as well, and he expressed hope that the Climate Conference in Paris would lead to a lasting solution to the problem of climate change.

MARÍA CRISTINA PERCEVAL (Argentina), associating herself with the Group of 77 and CELAC, said that this was a time of concern as the symptoms of the global economic system were not providing the solutions needed.  Millions still lived in poverty and hundreds risked their lives “just to live” and find safer ground.  She warned of “unscrupulous businessmen” that took advantage of the poor and vulnerable.  The work of the international community must be ethical and diplomatic, and there must be a focus on promoting sustainable development to eradicate poverty and achieve equality.  Structural changes were also needed.  “We cannot all be responsible if decisions are taken by the mere few,” she said.  Great importance must be given to financing for development and the restructuring of sovereign debt.  Such restructuring would send a clear message to speculators who allowed vulture funds to thrive due to a lack of international checks and balances.  Developed States had the greatest responsibility so that developing countries could achieve actions of adaptation and mitigation.  In relation to climate financing and the Green Fund, it was important for it to be consistent with the needs of developing countries.  She also stressed the need for national ownership and financing of the United Nations must be in accordance with national interests.

EMILIO GONZÁLEZ SOCA (Cuba), associating himself with the Group of 77, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Alliance of Small Island States, said that the Committee must not lose sight of the inadequate progress on the Millennium Development Goals.  The inequality between the North and South had increased, with the majority of the world’s population living in developing countries.  Without measurable commitments and timelines, it was not possible to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the international community must provide assistance for development and solve the problem of sovereign debt.  Development could not be achieved without also reducing annual military expenditures.  Further, the Committee must work efficiently but that should not affect the quality or substance of its discussions.  The reopening of contact between Cuba and the United States was important progress but the financial blockade against his country remained the main obstacle for its development.

NIZAR AMER (Israel) said successful implementation would provide the true litmus test of the 2030 Agenda.  Since its inception, his country had demonstrated its commitment to the development agenda through its International Agency for Development Cooperation (MASHAV).  The activities of the Agency had focused on capacity-building in areas in which Israel had a competitive advantage, such as agricultural technology, desertification, microenterprise development and the empowerment of women and youth.  Gender inequality was inextricably linked to sustainable development.  If the United Nations did not succeed in empowering women and failed to give them opportunities in their societies, it would never achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.  In November, the Agency had organized the International Women Leaders’ Conference, along with UN-Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to provide a platform by which policymakers could discuss and identify innovative approaches to gender equality through economic development, as well as strengthening global empowerment for women.

NKOLOI NKOLOI (Botswana), associating himself with the Group of 77, the African Group and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said that, being part of the latter group, the concerns of those countries would remain pivotal to his State throughout the session.  Landlocked developing countries faced high transport costs in comparison with coastal economies and their trade volumes continued to be low.  The agriculture sector in such States were threatened by land degradation, desertification and climate change.  Recalling the “transformative” Vienna Programme of Action, he called on all stakeholders to ensure that plan was fully implemented and given the necessary prominence during the session.  He reiterated his country’s call to explore mechanisms by which middle-income countries could be assisted in order to address the entrenched and widespread poverty they faced.  In that vein, it was critical to extend financing for development in order to address the specific needs and challenges of those countries rather than using a “one-size-fits-all” policy framework.  Finally, he looked forward to a legally binding agreement to emerge from the upcoming Climate Conference in Paris, and appealed for the strengthening and support to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

HIROSHI MINAMI (Japan) said that with the end of the negotiation phase, it was now time to realize the agreements.  The immediate implementation focus of his Government would be women, health, education, disaster risk reduction and quality growth to ensure that no one would be left behind.  It was also important to ensure that the Organization was fit for purpose.  While that applied to the whole United Nations, the Second Committee, which had started as the Economic and Financial Committee, had grown to promote the broader concept of sustainable development.  The holistic 2030 Agenda required the international community to be integrated and coherent in its work.  That provided an excellent opportunity to have a fresh and wider look at the work of the Committee to make it more relevant and functional.

SERGIO TORO MENDOZA (Chile) said that the language of the 2030 Agenda was direct and ambitious, taking into account the social, economic and environmental dimensions of development.  The Addis Ababa Action Agenda was another important effort which included specific commitments for least developed countries.  ODA continued to play an important role and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals would require mobilization of all resources available both domestically and internationally.  Among the important tasks of the Committee was to incorporate the norms of those agreements into all its resolutions.  Further, it was necessary to take into account the needs of the 104 middle-income countries.

NGUYEN PHUONG NGA (Viet Nam), associating herself with the Group of 77 and ASEAN, said that while poverty eradication was the overarching objective of the 2030 Agenda, many other challenges threatened the course of development.  Among those, peace and security constituted the foundation for an enabling environment for development.  Her delegation supported the United Nations central role in norm-setting and coordinating common efforts to tackle such global challenges.  In that regard, she could not overemphasize the important role and comparative advantage of an adequately resourced, relevant, coherent, efficient and effective United Nations system in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.  Stressing that strong political will would be needed to achieve the Goals, she went on to say that the new Agenda also called for the strengthening of the global partnership for development, in which developed States must take the lead to support developing countries particularly through capacity-building, technology transfer, trade facilitation and access to financial resources.

TALAL ALI RASHED ALJAMALI (Yemen), associating himself with the Group of 77, noting the 2030 Agenda responded to the aspirations of all countries, said that States must fulfil pledges made of providing 0.7 per cent of their GDP in ODA to least developed countries.  He underlined the importance of supporting each country through the transfer of technology.  The objective of eradicating poverty was one of the most important to preserve.  The majority of the poor lived in rural areas and their Governments had not lifted them out of poverty, he said, calling on the international community to unite to fight hunger and promote development.  The armed conflict “imposed” on Yemen’s people had taken the country backwards and all the progress had been squandered.  He called for South-South cooperation, transparency and rule of law as those items would contribute greatly to sustainable development.  Climate change was a major challenge facing the world today and must be addressed at the Climate Conference in Paris to preserve the planet’s biodiversity.

ASOKE KUMAR MUKERJI (India), said the Committee had a path-breaking template of action to guide its work in the 2030 Agenda, with three main opportunities and risks.  The first opportunity consisted of retooling the national systems of implementation, the operational machinery of the United Nations and the norm-setting deliberative organs of the Organization.  Secondly, the universality of the Agenda made clear it no longer solely applied to developing countries, which brought forth an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine international cooperation in order to maximize synergies.  Finally, the new Sustainable Development Goals integrated the development of instruments towards achieving the objectives in addition to the Goals themselves.  However, the 2030 Agenda presented hazards: “cherry-picking”, or selective importance given to one item over another; subjective interpretation to suit preferences; and a “silo mindset”, or mainstreaming smaller issues into larger ones.  On climate change, he noted that his country had just submitted an ambitious intended nationally determined contribution towards the Climate Conference in Paris, and while India was not part of the problem, it wanted to be part of the solution.  The success of the Conference would depend on the good-faith efforts of developed countries; they would have to “demonstrably move their societies onto a path of sustainable consumption”.

KIM UN CHOL (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) said a peaceful and sound environment for development should be guaranteed for all Member States for the implementation of the new 2030 Agenda.  There was no sustainable economic or social development without ending undemocratic, inhumane and criminal coercive measures which not only violated the right to sovereignty and development, but also suffocated peaceful sectors for civilian populations.  Certain States were forcing a unilateral economic embargo and blockade against individual developing countries for the unjustifiable reason that they differed from their ideology and system.  The implementation of the post-2015 development agenda should contribute to the independent policymaking processes of Member States, he stressed, adding that it should also focus on establishing a “new international economic order”, in order to abolish the old system of domination, subjugation and inequality in international relations.  A few countries’ “privileged positions” should no longer be tolerated, and the new order must be based on justice.

FEDERICO ALBERTO GONZÁLEZ FRANCO (Paraguay) expressed confidence in the Member States of the United Nations Secretariat working on the issue of development.  His delegation could be counted on to contribute to the work of the Committee.  Noting the challenges faced by Member States to translate the commitments made in the 2030 Agenda, he called on the international community to consider the special needs of landlocked developing countries.

VIRACHAI PLASAI (Thailand), associating himself with the Group of 77 and ASEAN, said peoples and communities held the key to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.  Therefore, they must be equipped with the necessary skills and resources to move towards meaningful and sustained economic development and to become immune to internal and external shocks.  Thailand had established a national Committee on Sustainable Development to ensure the seamless integration of the Sustainable Development Goals into the country’s national policies and plans.  It would ensure a strong foundation for robust economic growth and poverty eradication by providing access to financial resources, access to effective social protection floors and building resilience in communities.  In addition, software and hardware connectivity must be enhanced throughout the region, thereby bridging gaps between countries.  To support subregional plans, his State was in the process of developing “special economic zones” along its borders, allowing it to prosper together with its neighbours.

ALAIN WILFRIED BIYA (Cameroon), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, said that the implementation of the 2030 Agenda must be guided by the eradication of poverty.  It would be “illusionary” to think about general development and the development of Africa in particular without addressing employment, production capacity and access to global markets.  He underscored the need to reform global economic governance and to successfully conclude international trade negotiations with the Doha Round.  Cameroon had decided to move towards an efficient economy and the solid foundation of growth in areas of energy and modern agriculture.  To strengthen the inclusiveness and resilience of all populations, Cameroon was carrying out a number of social programmes and a huge increase of structural investment had been kick-started by a three-year programme to speed up growth.  Cameroon was working to strengthen its private sector for investment and ongoing dialogue between businesses and the public sector.  The terrorism of Boko Haram was driving an influx of migrants into his country, which was having a negative effect on all sectors, he said.

GUILLERMO RISHCHYNSKI (Canada) said that the successful achievement of the 2030 Agenda was due in large part to the participation of civil society and the private sector.   He welcomed the inclusion of maternal, newborn and child health in Agenda 2030.  As the international community commits to implementing the Agenda, one of the most critical questions was how to finance those Goals.  While current ODA would retain its important role, projected levels would fall well short of the trillions that would be required to implement the Goals.  He called for the strengthening of domestic resource mobilization and finding new ways to blend financing from donors, foundations, the private sector and other sources to fill the gap.  It would also be important to keep in consideration the outcomes of a range of other broader discussions and mechanisms in order to ensure complementary and avoid duplication.

ROBERTA MARIA ORDOÑEZ SOLANO (Honduras), associating her delegation with the Group of 77 and with CELAC, said that the 2030 Agenda was a historic opportunity to overcome global challenges and achieve prosperity.  The Goals of the Agenda must be viable.  On climate change, she said that Honduras had suffered its adverse effects.  Countries needed to apply common but differentiated responses for its mitigation.  Nations that had contributed more to the current situation should do more to address it.  Local authorities should also be involved by applying climate mitigation strategies based on diverse local realities.  There were economic challenges to the implementation of the Agenda so an alliance with the private sector was crucial.  The public-private sector alliance was an important instrument in that regard.  Private sector action could also reduce conflict and build peace and stability.

ALASSANE CONTE (Guinea), associating himself with the Group of 77, the African Group and the Group of Least Developed Countries, said that the ambitious 2030 Agenda was the outcome of political will and it had personified the voice of the poor and most vulnerable.  Rooting out poverty in all its forms was the biggest challenge and a prerequisite for sustainable development.  The gravity of the problem varies from one country to another.  “Relative poverty” can never be regarded as inevitable and adequate resources must be mobilized.  Progress on the Millennium Development Goals was unequal and some of those Goals had not been reached in many countries.  Before the appearance of Ebola in Guinea in 2013, results were encouraging in the areas of gender equality, education, health and sanitation.  But the development process was interrupted by the epidemic.  Investment needs in the affected areas were large and the epidemic’s impact could be seen everywhere, he said, calling on donors to mobilize resources.

MAHMOUD SAIKAL (Afghanistan), associating with the Group of 77, the Group of Least Developed Countries and the Group of Landlocked Countries, said he was pleased that the 2030 Agenda had recognized the special needs and challenges of the countries in special situations, as well as countries affected by conflict.  Underscoring several issues important to his country, he said that as a “prime victim” of international terrorism and the conflict resulting from it, Afghanistan was combating terrorism on a daily basis on behalf of the international community to ensure peace and stability in the country, the region and the world at large.  Among factors crucial to attainment of the Goals were ODA, South-South cooperation as a complement to North-South cooperation, and technology as a means of implementation.  Despite a mix of achievements and setbacks with respect to the Millennium Development Goals, his country would remain committed to developing strategies and policies to integrate the 2030 Agenda into its national development agenda.  Although it had begun to pursue the Millennium Development Goals almost half a decade later than other Member States, extending its deadline to 2020, his country remained committed to achieving the unfinished Goals.

ROLANDO CASTRO CORDOBA (Costa Rica), aligning himself with the Group of 77 and with CELAC, said that the mobilization of national and international resources must be adequately linked together and the means of implementation must demonstrate solidarity.  The Addis agreement must be adequately put into action and, more than ever before, the process must require total transparency.  Decisions must be based on honest and transparent thinking.  Discussions on the long-term positioning of the United Nations must also be had in order to create synergies.  It was not possible, however, to make progress in the implementation of the new Agenda without adequately addressing countries in special situations.  The 2030 Agenda should refer to those countries and their unique challenges.  However, the United Nations does not have a mechanism that addressed the unique issues of middle-income countries.  The most difficult part of the work was just beginning but there was willingness which was most important.

The representative of the United Arab Emirates stressed the need to have middle-income countries in the process to eradicate poverty and promote peace and development.  She invited the international community to set up real partnerships to finance development through the private sector, civil society and the encouragement of innovative approaches.  Enormous progress had been made in the United Arab Emirates in the area of informational technologies.  Sustainable development worked only if all sectors were involved, including women as partners.  Turning to climate change, she called for sustainable models for solar energy and reiterated the need for economic conferences in the margins of the General Assembly.  The Climate Conference in Paris must come up with a binding document that addresses challenges.  She also welcomed the decision of the Palestinian flag to be raised at the United Nations.

JEANNE D’ARC BYAJE (Rwanda) associating with the Group of 77 and the African group, said that the current session of the Second Committee was commencing at a turning point when the world endeavoured to resolve poverty in all its forms.  Global development was a shared responsibility.  The 2030 Agenda would require a holistic approach if it were to encompass the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.  She commended the Agenda’s inclusion of challenges faced by countries with special needs and their reliance on ODA.  On a national level, Rwanda had fulfilled all the Millennium Development Goals, and would integrate the global Goals into its national development plan.  Priority would be given to improved data collection to involve all actors in the tracking process.  It was imperative to respond to aspirations of people and ensure that they were in the driving seat in the implementation of the Agenda.  There should be renewed focus on gender equality, youth participation and inclusion of the most vulnerable.  There should be adequate financing and other enablers such as the use of technology and science.  The implementation of the Goals was only possible if the “business as usual mindset” was changed.

GILBERT ZACARIAS MAMANI PACO (Bolivia) associating with the Group of77 and with CELAC, said that the current time was one of war and crisis — crisis in the capitalist system and crisis in climate change, which was killing “mother earth”.  Bolivia’s vision of development was profoundly different from the western “competitive vision”.  He commended the 2030 Agenda for recognizing that each country had a different approach to achieving sustainable development.  Development should be based on human happiness for all including that of indigenous people.  That did not refer solely to “material prosperity” but to living in harmony with “mother earth”.  No one should be left behind in the 2030 Agenda, particularly refugees who were victims of circumstance.  The international financial system was undemocratic, he said, adding that the capitalist system was one of financial speculation that rewarded vulture funds, but punished regular people.

TUVAKO N. MANONGI (United Republic of Tanzania), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, expressed gratification that poverty eradication was a key objective of the 2030 Agenda.  A vital component of that Agenda was how developing countries were assisted in generating resources to fight poverty and achieving sustainable development.  If the Agenda were to be successful, the cycle of talk without action would have to be broken.  The Addis Ababa Action Agenda provided a valuable framework for all relevant stakeholders working as partners at all levels, and provided ideal mechanisms for follow-up to an implementation of the 2030 Agenda.  Serious commitment was critical to mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change which threatened to undo decades of development efforts.

SHATRUDHWAN PRASAD SHARMA POKHAREL (Nepal), associating himself with the Group of 77, the Group of Least Developed Countries, and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said that the Committee had commenced its work amidst the recent euphoria on the adoption of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  However, doubts remained as to its effective implementation.  That was best addressed through the international community’s strong political will and commitment.  Nepal had been integrating the Istanbul Programme of Action and the Vienna Programme of Action adopted in 2014 into its national programmes while seeking to align those priorities and programmes of action with the 2030 Agenda in a coherent and consistent manner.  The challenges in the implementation of the Agenda were huge. In view of the perceived gaps in resources and means of implementation there was a strong need for exploring new resources.  Immediate fulfilment of ODA commitments would be an important step in that regard.  In view of the growth and prosperity attained by some members of the South, South-South cooperation was full of potential for effective implementation of the Agenda.

FREDERICK MUSIIWA MAKAMURE SHAVA (Zimbabwe), associating himself with the Group of 77, the African Group and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said that most issues contained in the 2030 Agenda were reflected in his State’s national economic blueprint.  Its implementation should be guided by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in light of national circumstances.  He also stressed the importance of follow-up and review under the auspices of the high-level political forum, which required accurate data, and underscored the need for technical and financial support to improve statistical capacities in developing countries.  Noting the 2030 Agenda’s success would hinge on the availability of finance, technology and capacity-building support for developing countries, he called upon donor countries to fulfil their ODA commitments and put in place a supportive global financial, economic and international trade architecture that met the aspirations of developing countries, while permitting them to pursue their own economic policies and development strategies.  He stressed the need to secure a legally binding multilateral agreement at the Climate Conference in Paris that would address adaptation, mitigation, financing technology transfer and capacity-building in a balanced manner.

NOUR MAMDOUH KASEB ALJAZI (Jordan), associating herself with the Group of 77, said the Sustainable Development Goals must be achieved through an enhanced global partnership supported by policies outlined in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.  ODA and other official flows needed to be smarter to catalyse and leverage all sources of financing needed for the Goals, particularly towards more vulnerable middle-income countries or States in transition that were severely impacted by regional and humanitarian crises.  Additional resources that could contribute to the new model of development financing must also be explored.  On the issue of climate change, she said the agreement in Paris should not be a substitute to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and must also respect the principles of the Convention.

IVANA PAJEVIC (Montenegro) said that the international community was faced with an extremely demanding task in implementing, monitoring and reviewing the progress towards the 2030 Agenda.  Underscoring the importance of the principles of inclusiveness, empowerment, transparency and respect for human rights, she added that her country, despite severe challenges, was pursuing socioeconomic development while preserving its natural resources for generations to come.  Montenegro was among the first countries of Southeast Europe to establish a strategic and institutional framework for sustainable development in accordance with the standards of the developed countries of the European Union.

ABDULLAH A KH A KH ALSHARRAH (Kuwait) associating himself with the Group of 77, said that the 2030 Agenda reflected the most important needs of all countries and, along with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, provided a roadmap that should enable the international community to fulfil the development aspirations of all people, with the primary aim of eradicating extreme poverty.  Pursuit of sustainable development in all its aspects also involved addressing climate change through audacious decisions to mitigate the negative impact of global warming and emissions.  That should be done with the principle of “common but differentiated responsibility” in mind, meeting the requirements of States with unique vulnerabilities.  His country had provided assistance to developing countries through many mechanisms.

STEFANIE ULRIKE SCHMID-LUEBBERT (Germany), associating herself with the European Union, said that the Committee should engage in discussions now to embrace the 2030 Agenda and move beyond past practices.  The aim was to have a new Second Committee agenda for the next session in place that would correspond to the needs of an effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda.  She advocated for a robust, effective and efficient follow-up and review mechanism for the 2030 Agenda to work with and reinforce existing monitoring structures, track commitments, enable sharing of experience and reciprocal learning and focus development and transformation efforts.  Germany would contribute at the national and international level to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as well as the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

ANA CRISTINA RODRÍGUEZ PINEDA (Guatemala), associating herself with CELAC and the Group of 77, said that as a middle-income country, her country had redoubled efforts to eradicate poverty in all its dimensions.  Her country hoped that the outcome of the Climate Conference in Paris would be equal to the gravity of the problem.  Guatemala was extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as floods, landslides and other natural disasters, which were increasingly frequent and prolonged.  Her country was also increasingly urbanizing and stressed the need to strengthen organizations such as the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).  The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report published on 7 October pointed to the reforms necessary in the global financial system.  “We must be able to build on the small gains made,” she added.  By approving certain principles, the international community had taken the first step for debt restructuring but that was only the beginning.

GEORGE WILFRED TALBOT (Guyana), associating himself the Group of 77, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Alliance of Small Island States, said that there should be prompt action on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.  There should also be prompt action on preventing tax evasion, ending hunger and malnutrition and bridging the infrastructure gap.  Emphasizing the importance of the Economic and Social Council, he added that the 2030 Agenda should be a departure from the silo approach so far.  Many small States who had contributed beyond measure were impacted disproportionately and the international community should take into account the need of small island States, least developed countries, and landlocked developing countries.  Those countries should be able to make investments in infrastructure to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.  With the international community’s determined efforts much progress should be possible.

KUNZANG C. NAMGYEL (Bhutan), aligning with the Group of 77, the Group of Least Developed Countries and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said that having collectively defined development needs, the Committee must lay the groundwork for implementation of the 2030 Agenda, among other things, by ensuring effective follow-up on commitments made.  Due importance must be given to the group of countries in special situations.  The midterm review of the Istanbul Programme of Action in 2016 offered an opportunity to find synergies between the Programme and the 2030 Agenda.  Noting that Bhutan had been identified as a country eligible for graduation from least developed country status, she said it was important to ensure that least developed countries were able to graduate in a sustainable manner to avoid backtracking on hard-earned gains.  Towards that end, Bhutan would be organizing a national workshop next month to discuss the impacts of graduation, she said, emphasizing that proper mechanisms and strategies must be in place to ensure smooth graduation of least developed countries.

LOURDES ORTIZ YPARRAGUIRRE (Philippines), aligning herself with ASEAN and the Group of 77, said it was important to bring wider recognition to the positive contributions of migrants and migration as an enabler for development.  Migration should be mainstreamed into the development process and remittance costs must be reduced.  On disaster risk reduction and management, the Philippines supported the Sendai Framework, which recognized the primary role of States.  Climate change adaptation and mitigation measures should be put in place, particularly at the local level, and investments towards a climate-resilient economy increased.  As President of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and as one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, the Philippines would promote a meaningful outcome at the upcoming Climate Conference in Paris.  She went on to describe her country’s national and international efforts in the areas of gender equality and women’s empowerment and human rights, supporting middle-income countries, and South-South cooperation and capacity-building, was critical in the next phase of the global development Agenda.

REMONGAR T. DENNIS (Liberia) said that his country was pleased with the final outcomes of the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and was particularly encouraged by the reference made to the development programmes of Africa, such as New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).  The recent Ebola crisis in his country had reminded the international community of the importance of a strengthened health system.   While recognizing ODA as the main source of external financing flows to developing countries, he also emphasized that implementing strong international policies to halt illicit financial flows would provide much needed domestic revenue for countries to finance their national development programmes.  The huge infrastructure deficit across Africa was slowing economic growth and the continent needed energy for driving economic activities and industrialization.  Therefore, he called for support of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa.

SOFYA SIMONYAN (Armenia) said that her country had updated its strategy on poverty reduction, placing a greater focus on the development of human capital by gradually replacing monetary assistance with comprehensive packages of capacity-building services.   As a landlocked developing country, Armenia faced specific structural constraints, and she called for coherent steps to ensure a more efficient use of transportation networks and infrastructure to promote trade, facilitate investment and improve regional connectivity.  Turning to financing for development, she added that it was important to make the best use of existing external and local resources to leverage comparative advantage.  Therefore, she stated her support for discussions on new schemes that aimed at a better use of the potential of the private sector as well as public-private partnerships.

MILAN MILANOVIĆ (Serbia) said an intergovernmental body in his country, headed by a Deputy Prime Minister, would be established to follow, monitor and assess the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.  That body would formulate a new strategy for sustainable development and its financing for the next 15 years.  Further, the body would work with the United Nations country team on the realization of the Goals for the period 2016-2020.  To encourage society-wide cooperation, it was expected that meetings and exchanges of views with civil society, academia, business sectors and chambers of commerce would take place.  Noting the importance of subregional, regional and global cooperation, he said his country was planning to organize regional consultations with neighbouring partners to discuss ways for cooperation in fulfilment of the Goals.

BERNARDITO CLEOPAS AUZA, Permanent Observer of the Holy See, recalling Pope Francis’s words to the General Assembly, said that to empower men and women to escape extreme poverty, “we must allow them to be dignified agents of their own destiny”.  That required global and national policy decisions to be driven not merely by the maximization of profit but by promotion of integral human development.  Lifting people out of poverty did not just mean adequate food and water, basic health care and decent work; it also meant the fundamental rights to education, free speech, religious freedom and other fundamental human freedoms.  Pope Francis had reminded the international community that there were not two crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather one complex crisis that was both social and environmental.  That demanded an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the underprivileged and protecting nature.

Right of Reply

In exercise of the right of reply, the representative of Syria said that the representative of Israel had expediently forgotten that he represented the occupying Power.  Those who represented the occupation authorities did not have the authority to speak about the rights of Syrian people.  Furthermore, that representative had departed from the work of the Committee and had politicized the discussion.  The occupation was the major obstacle to development in his region.  Support by Israel to terrorist organizations was well-documented and various United Nations reports had condemned settlements and had called on Israeli authorities to put an end to that.  The ending of foreign occupation was an important prerequisite for development.