Belarus
BELARUS
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UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals
Tenth session
New York, 31 March – 4 April 2014
STATEMENTS
by the delegation
of the Republic of Belarus
Cluster 1
• Poverty eradication
• Promote equality
o All the previous sessions of our group, as well as different discussions in other formats have proved that there is clearly no opposition to the idea of having poverty eradication as an overarching imperative of the whole post-2015 development agenda. This is the issue the mere survival of mankind depends upon, and as such, should be clearly addressed by the future SDGs. If we chose to have “Eradication of Poverty” as a goal, a logical supporting target could be to reduce to zero by 2030 the proportion of people with income less than 1.25 US dollars a day. This would ensure the continuation of the new agenda vis-à-vis the Millennium Development Goal 1.
o The issue of promoting equality deserves to be mentioned as a separate goal in the future SDG architecture. Uneven globalization is one of the prominent reasons why the world has recently grown increasingly technologically sophisticated and prosperous, while the gap between the world’s rich and poor has become appallingly obvious. This has to be redressed in the next phase of global development agenda with a strong sustainable development goal dedicated to promoting equality. Statistical data such as Gini index could be used as a starting point to devise targets and/or indicators supporting such a goal.
Cluster 3
• Water and sanitation
• Sustainable agriculture, food security, and nutrition
o We see a clear consensus around having an SDG on water, including targets such as universal access and quality of safe drinking water, sanitation, water resources and wastewater management.
o The need to resolve water problems logically leads us to ensuring sustainable agriculture, food security and nutrition. Here, if we speak about a separate goal, we should keep in mind – as, in fact, in many other areas – the need to provide access to modern agriculture technologies for all interested countries, including middle- income countries and countries with economies in transition. Fair access to agricultural markets and finances, training, capacity building, knowledge sharing and innovative practices should also be taken into consideration under this very important item as a basis for possible targets. The holistic approach to the issue of agricultural production would allow us to take into account such interrelated components as climate change, water, energy, trade policies, population growth, research and development, which can make it sustainable, thereby ensuring global food security. We believe that exactly such holistic understanding should be reflected in the new global development agenda.
Cluster 4
• Economic growth
• Industrialization
• Infrastructure
• Energy
o Delegation of Belarus aligns itself with the statement made on behalf of the Group of Friends of Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development.
o Infrastructure development and industrialization will for sure remain an important foundation for economic growth in all countries. A goal on inclusive and sustainable industrial development could be elaborated taking into account possible targets concerning industrialization and infrastructure issues and economic growth.
o In this regard, I would like to stress that this thematic cluster needs for further development because of numerous duplications. This is actually a common problem for the text of focus areas as a whole. It is necessary to crystallize the key directions and elements that will reinforce each other and make the implementation process more productive. On the same go we will streamline the document and make clear and understandable rather for wide public than for small group of experts and key negotiators.
o Coming back to the focus areas under consideration, Belarus indicates that a strong and viable SDG on energy seems to be the prevailing attitude. Such a goal could be built around targets like universal access to modern energy services and energy technologies, improving global energy efficiency rate and widening the access and use of renewable energy. The goal on energy would benefit from having a strong component related to means of implementation, in particular, technology transfer.
o At the same time, the new sustainable development model conceived in its entirety could pave the way for an even more ambitious UN energy agenda. It seems evident that within the UN system, energy issues should be dealt with in a more systematic, coherent and effective manner under the ownership of all Member States.
Cluster 5
• Sustainable cities and human settlements
• Promote Sustainable Consumption and Production
• Climate
o A separate goal on sustainable cities could embrace different issues critical to development such as changing sustainable consumption and production patterns, sustainable waste management, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promotion of climate and disaster resilient practices.
o Besides, we should not forget the significance of transport related areas when it comes to the future SDG architecture. It would be wise to have a substantial sustainable transport goal, which would embrace a number of issues, including road safety.
Cluster 6
• Conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, oceans and seas
• Ecosystems and biodiversity
o My delegation supports the ideas presented by the Co-chairs on possible targets priority directions on seas and oceans, as well as marine resources. The proposed vision could be easily translated into practical terms.
o Having said that, however the areas under this cluster could be grouped to form a strong ecology-related sustainable development goal with several targets dedicated to climate change, biodiversity, forests, oceans, etc.
Cluster 7
• Means of implementation/Global partnership for sustainable development
o We see a great deal of merit in the idea of having means of implementation integrated throughout the future sustainable development goals. This would at the outset help to ensure that attainment of the SDGs is supported though much needed financial resources, development assistance or technology access.
o At the same time we have to be realistic and think about a possibility of having a stand-alone goal on science and technology bolstered by a number of targets such as universal access to sustainable technologies.
o The proposed language relating to support and technological transfer seems to be over prescriptive. We should be consistent with what we said during the previous phases of consideration. In particular, at previous session we establish a number of countries that face specific problem in the sphere of development and need international support. So we in our text on means of implementation should use the language that will cover all countries that need assistance. That is why we propose to use term “countries in need” in subitem (f) instead of developing countries to cover all Member States that are subject to international assistance, including LDCs, LLDCs, SIDs, developing countries, as well as, middle-income countries.
o We should reflect in SDG framework the practical steps how to engage not just traditional players, which are states and international organizations, but also civil society and private sector. The idea of a Global Partnership was present in the MDG agenda, even as a separate goal, but we think the tool has not been utilized to the full. This must be rectified in the context of the post-2015 agenda. As a matter of fact, a Global Partnership that brings together global stakeholders with their assets will be among the means of the future agenda’s implementation.
Cluster 8
• Peaceful and non-violent societies, rule of law and capable institutions
o Among other topics and issues this focus area seems to enjoy less universal support, as it was stated by several delegations at the previous session. We believe that although the issues related peace, rule of law and capable institutions are important to the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda, we should refrain from having them as a separate goal.
o Here, however, one should acknowledge that international cooperation on sustainable development requires a solid judicial basis that provides the equality of all subjects of international law, strict observance of their obligations under international law and the legal framework of their activities. My delegation would like to underline once again that unilateral coercive economic, financial or trade measures which bypass the UN Security Council are contrary to international law and the UN Charter. They not only undermine the authority of the only body competent to impose sanctions, but also impede the full achievement of the objectives of socio- economic development. Thus, the new sustainable development agenda should be based on a pattern that renounces any unilateral actions, sanctions and coercive measures violating the UN Charter and undermining international law.
Please check against delivery
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals
Tenth session
New York, 31 March – 4 April 2014
STATEMENTS
by the delegation
of the Republic of Belarus
Cluster 1
• Poverty eradication
• Promote equality
o All the previous sessions of our group, as well as different discussions in other formats have proved that there is clearly no opposition to the idea of having poverty eradication as an overarching imperative of the whole post-2015 development agenda. This is the issue the mere survival of mankind depends upon, and as such, should be clearly addressed by the future SDGs. If we chose to have “Eradication of Poverty” as a goal, a logical supporting target could be to reduce to zero by 2030 the proportion of people with income less than 1.25 US dollars a day. This would ensure the continuation of the new agenda vis-à-vis the Millennium Development Goal 1.
o The issue of promoting equality deserves to be mentioned as a separate goal in the future SDG architecture. Uneven globalization is one of the prominent reasons why the world has recently grown increasingly technologically sophisticated and prosperous, while the gap between the world’s rich and poor has become appallingly obvious. This has to be redressed in the next phase of global development agenda with a strong sustainable development goal dedicated to promoting equality. Statistical data such as Gini index could be used as a starting point to devise targets and/or indicators supporting such a goal.
Cluster 3
• Water and sanitation
• Sustainable agriculture, food security, and nutrition
o We see a clear consensus around having an SDG on water, including targets such as universal access and quality of safe drinking water, sanitation, water resources and wastewater management.
o The need to resolve water problems logically leads us to ensuring sustainable agriculture, food security and nutrition. Here, if we speak about a separate goal, we should keep in mind – as, in fact, in many other areas – the need to provide access to modern agriculture technologies for all interested countries, including middle- income countries and countries with economies in transition. Fair access to agricultural markets and finances, training, capacity building, knowledge sharing and innovative practices should also be taken into consideration under this very important item as a basis for possible targets. The holistic approach to the issue of agricultural production would allow us to take into account such interrelated components as climate change, water, energy, trade policies, population growth, research and development, which can make it sustainable, thereby ensuring global food security. We believe that exactly such holistic understanding should be reflected in the new global development agenda.
Cluster 4
• Economic growth
• Industrialization
• Infrastructure
• Energy
o Delegation of Belarus aligns itself with the statement made on behalf of the Group of Friends of Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development.
o Infrastructure development and industrialization will for sure remain an important foundation for economic growth in all countries. A goal on inclusive and sustainable industrial development could be elaborated taking into account possible targets concerning industrialization and infrastructure issues and economic growth.
o In this regard, I would like to stress that this thematic cluster needs for further development because of numerous duplications. This is actually a common problem for the text of focus areas as a whole. It is necessary to crystallize the key directions and elements that will reinforce each other and make the implementation process more productive. On the same go we will streamline the document and make clear and understandable rather for wide public than for small group of experts and key negotiators.
o Coming back to the focus areas under consideration, Belarus indicates that a strong and viable SDG on energy seems to be the prevailing attitude. Such a goal could be built around targets like universal access to modern energy services and energy technologies, improving global energy efficiency rate and widening the access and use of renewable energy. The goal on energy would benefit from having a strong component related to means of implementation, in particular, technology transfer.
o At the same time, the new sustainable development model conceived in its entirety could pave the way for an even more ambitious UN energy agenda. It seems evident that within the UN system, energy issues should be dealt with in a more systematic, coherent and effective manner under the ownership of all Member States.
Cluster 5
• Sustainable cities and human settlements
• Promote Sustainable Consumption and Production
• Climate
o A separate goal on sustainable cities could embrace different issues critical to development such as changing sustainable consumption and production patterns, sustainable waste management, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promotion of climate and disaster resilient practices.
o Besides, we should not forget the significance of transport related areas when it comes to the future SDG architecture. It would be wise to have a substantial sustainable transport goal, which would embrace a number of issues, including road safety.
Cluster 6
• Conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, oceans and seas
• Ecosystems and biodiversity
o My delegation supports the ideas presented by the Co-chairs on possible targets priority directions on seas and oceans, as well as marine resources. The proposed vision could be easily translated into practical terms.
o Having said that, however the areas under this cluster could be grouped to form a strong ecology-related sustainable development goal with several targets dedicated to climate change, biodiversity, forests, oceans, etc.
Cluster 7
• Means of implementation/Global partnership for sustainable development
o We see a great deal of merit in the idea of having means of implementation integrated throughout the future sustainable development goals. This would at the outset help to ensure that attainment of the SDGs is supported though much needed financial resources, development assistance or technology access.
o At the same time we have to be realistic and think about a possibility of having a stand-alone goal on science and technology bolstered by a number of targets such as universal access to sustainable technologies.
o The proposed language relating to support and technological transfer seems to be over prescriptive. We should be consistent with what we said during the previous phases of consideration. In particular, at previous session we establish a number of countries that face specific problem in the sphere of development and need international support. So we in our text on means of implementation should use the language that will cover all countries that need assistance. That is why we propose to use term “countries in need” in subitem (f) instead of developing countries to cover all Member States that are subject to international assistance, including LDCs, LLDCs, SIDs, developing countries, as well as, middle-income countries.
o We should reflect in SDG framework the practical steps how to engage not just traditional players, which are states and international organizations, but also civil society and private sector. The idea of a Global Partnership was present in the MDG agenda, even as a separate goal, but we think the tool has not been utilized to the full. This must be rectified in the context of the post-2015 agenda. As a matter of fact, a Global Partnership that brings together global stakeholders with their assets will be among the means of the future agenda’s implementation.
Cluster 8
• Peaceful and non-violent societies, rule of law and capable institutions
o Among other topics and issues this focus area seems to enjoy less universal support, as it was stated by several delegations at the previous session. We believe that although the issues related peace, rule of law and capable institutions are important to the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda, we should refrain from having them as a separate goal.
o Here, however, one should acknowledge that international cooperation on sustainable development requires a solid judicial basis that provides the equality of all subjects of international law, strict observance of their obligations under international law and the legal framework of their activities. My delegation would like to underline once again that unilateral coercive economic, financial or trade measures which bypass the UN Security Council are contrary to international law and the UN Charter. They not only undermine the authority of the only body competent to impose sanctions, but also impede the full achievement of the objectives of socio- economic development. Thus, the new sustainable development agenda should be based on a pattern that renounces any unilateral actions, sanctions and coercive measures violating the UN Charter and undermining international law.
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