Co-facilitators,
At the outset, the African Group wishes to express its thanks and gratitude for the sterling leadership with which you have steered the work of this intergovernmental negotiation process.
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group.
The African Group associates itself with the statements delivered by South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
Co-facilitators
On the Declaration: the African Group wishes to welcome the inclusions of several of the issues that we have constantly been advocating for. Amongst them, is the question of peace and security and its inextricable link to achieving development. In this context, paragraph 34 as it stands captures fully this idea.
The group welcomes the inclusion of paragraph 30 in the text. We would like to recall that this agreed language, contained Rio+20, deals with the issue of unilateral coercive economic, financial and trade measures that are not in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, and that impede the achievement of economic and social development in developing countries.
Furthermore, we also welcome the inclusion in paragraph 41 of the necessity to accelerate the implementation of regional development programs notably the Africa Union’s Vision 2063 and NEPAD as integral programs to the new Agenda.
Co-facilitators,
As expressed previously, the African Group wishes also to express its concern with the incorporation of issues of concern to the Group.
The reference to the outcome documents of the review conferences of ICPD and the Beijing Platform, in paragraph 12, is not acceptable for the Group. In this regard, while we are flexible to accept the reference to ICPD and the Beijing Platform of Action, we suggest deleting the mention “to the outcome documents of the review conferences”.
In addition, the African Group remains averse to paragraph 44 regarding the family. In the context, we propose replacing “all families” with “the family” or deletion of the paragraph.
Also, the Group proposes to amend paragraph 48 by adding the following sentence at the end of the paragraph: “We will work to strengthen national ownership and leadership over the operational activities for the UN Development System as well as their full alignment with national priorities of Program countries”.
Co-facilitators,
On the SDGs, the African Group welcomes the inclusion of the entire SDGs and targets as reflected OWG report. However, the Group remains averse to the re-opening of the agreed Report of the Open Working Group on SDGs.
On the revision of targets, in line with the G77 position, the African Group is willing to engage only in the replacement of “Xs” and “Ys” and in the inclusion of LLDCs. The Group rejects therefore any attempts to redefine any goals or targets. In sum, the African Group fully endorses the amendments proposed by the G77 and China
On the issue of reservations, as pointed out in our statement last week, there is no doubt that documents A/68/970 and A/68/970/Add.1 cannot be considered separately. Taking into account reservations remains a sine qua non for the universal acceptance of the outcome document. In that vein, the African Group strongly calls the following amendment to paragraph 56 which would therefore read as follows:
Following an inclusive process of intergovernmental negotiations, and based on the Proposal of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, contained in the Report of the Open Working Group, including its addendum, the following are the Goals and targets which we have agreed”. The footnote should contain both the document number of the OWG report and of the addendum with reservations.
In a spirit of constructive engagement, the African Group suggests two options, in addition to the amendment of paragraph 56. The first one would consist in the inclusion of the entirety of both documents in chapter 2. The second one would be to incorporate document A/68/970/Add.1 on reservations as an annex of the outcome document.
Co-facilitators,
The African group believes that the section on means of implementation and revitalized and enhanced global partnership is of the utmost importance in our agenda. We believe that the ambitious agenda we are currently negotiating needs a strong commitment on delivering ambitious means of implementation including sufficient, timely and predictable financial and non-financial resources, capacity building, technology, trade and other systemic issues.
The group welcomes the adoption of the Addis Ababa outcome document on the Third UN International Conference on financing for development and its endorsement by the General Assembly resolution (A/69/313). We believe the commitments contained in the Addis Ababa outcome document will support and complement the means implementation of our Agenda.
The group would like to re reiterate its position that Addis Ababa conference was an independent process built on the Monterrey consensus and the Doha conference. However, the interlinkages with the post-2015 Development Agenda, in a way, will provide support and contribute to the successful implementation of our Agenda. In this regard, the group would not support any proposal of annexation or integration of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda in the Post-2015 Development Agenda outcome document noting that such suggestions were introduced by delegation that have highlighted, repeatedly, to avoid redundancy in the text.
The group would like to reiterate that in accordance with GA resolution 68/309, the sustainable development goals and targets constitute the main basis of the Post-2015 Development Agenda. We reiterate our position not to reopen, renegotiate or tamper with the delicate political balance contained in the OWG report. The group rejects the proposals to separate the MOI specific targets and goal 17 from the all goals and targets contained in chapter 2 and move them to Chapter 3 of the draft outcome document.
Co-facilitator,
The African group would like to commend your work on the section on “means of implementation”, and would like to make some few amendments based on the above mentioned positions:
- First: Replace paragraph 40 with paragraph 19 of the Addis Ababa outcome document. Or, to align paragraph 40 with paragraph 19 of Addis Ababa Action Agenda in order to establish the complementarity of the FFD process with our Agenda.
- Second: Delete paragraph 64 and replace it with paragraph 123 of Addis Ababa outcome document. In this connection, we would like to stress the importance of the technology facilitation mechanism in the implementation and realization of the post-2015 development Agenda, especially for African countries. And we encourage all counties to honor the agreement reached with regard to issue of technology facilitation mechanism.
-Third: In response to some suggestions to streamline the means of implementation in the declaration section, the Group want to highlight the need to keep para 38, 39, 41, 42 and 45. Those are important references that give overview to the set of means of implementations while underscoring the special challenges faced by specific group of countries and region.
I thank you
