Dominican Republic
14th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14)
Statement by the Representative of the Dominican Republic
Date: 8 May 2006
Session: SIDS Day
Delivered by: John R. Gagain Jr., Executive Director, Presidential Commission on the Millennium
Development Goals and Sustainable Development (COPDES)
www.copdes.gov.do
Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations ● 144 East 44th Street, 4th Floor ● New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212-867-0833/34 ● Fax: 212-986-4694 ● Web www.un.int/dr ● Email: drun@un.int 1
PERMANENT MISSION OF
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
(Translated from Spanish to English)
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
I want to thank you Mr. President for your leadership as well as thank the panelists for their presentations,
particularly the representative of the United States of America for presenting an initiative that is definitely a great
contribution to the sustainable development process in the Dominican Republic.
We have heard today, in the first session that Official Development Assistance (ODA) has decreased by 50% for
Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Additionally, we have been witnesses to the statement of the European
Union, where they have highlighted their commitment to international financial cooperation for the energy crisis.
Recently, the Director General of Development of the European Union, Mr. Stefano Manservisi and the European
Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Assistance, Mr. Louis Michel, visited our President, Dr.
Leonel Fernández, in the Dominican Republic, were they asked him ?how could we help you achieve the
MDGs??. To this, President Fernández answered ?help us with our energy problem?.
On that note, we support the ACP/European Union Summit that will take place in Papua New Guinea and the fact
that it will focus on energy and the MDGs.
You asked today, Mr. President, ?Why some developing countries have mentioned that there is not enough
financial assistance available for energy and development, while developed countries say that SIDS do not ask for
funds for energy and development?.
Mr. President I have four points that I would like to share with you:
1. Donors have to bear in mind that in order to achieve the MDGs we need to ?chronologically front-load?
financial assistance for alternative and renewable energy solutions. We need to scale-up funds for energy
if we are to achieve the MDGs.
14th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14)
Statement by the Representative of the Dominican Republic
Date: 8 May 2006
Session: SIDS Day
Delivered by: John R. Gagain Jr., Executive Director, Presidential Commission on the Millennium
Development Goals and Sustainable Development (COPDES)
www.copdes.gov.do
Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations ● 144 East 44th Street, 4th Floor ● New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212-867-0833/34 ● Fax: 212-986-4694 ● Web www.un.int/dr ● Email: drun@un.int 2
PERMANENT MISSION OF
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
2. Mr. President, we need overcome the ?ideology? that renewable energy initiatives ?are to be? financed
exclusively by the private sector. For example, more than 60% of our national budget is dedicated to
important of petroleum and debt servicing, and this does not include the key public investments that we
have to make in sectors including health, education, and environment in order be able to achieve the
MDGs. Mr. President, where can we find government funds to contribute to and promote incentives for
the private sector for energy initiatives?
3. Mr. President, the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) cannot afford to wait for the private sector to
take the leadership to finance renewable energy technologies. And donors cannot continue to treat
renewable and alternative energy initiatives as special or side projects of the private sector.
4. Mr. President, we need ?leadership?, we need ?financial assistance directed toward these initiatives?, we
need ?concrete action?, or regrettably, Mr. President, the energy challenge before us presently, will not
allow us to achieve the MDGs.
Thank you Mr. President
***
(Texto Original)
Quiero agradecerle señor presidente por su liderazgo y a través del suyo, a los miembros de los paneles hoy,
particularmente la representante de los Estados Unidos por presentar una iniciativa que definitivamente es un gran
aporte al proceso de desarrollo sostenible de nuestro país,
Hemos escuchado hoy, en la primera sesión, que la Asistencia Oficial para el Desarrollo (AOD) ha decrecido en
un 50% para los Pequeños Estados Insulares para Desarrollo (SIDS). Hemos sido testigos hoy de las
declaraciones de la Unión Europea donde se destacan su compromiso a la cooperación internacional financiera
para el problema energético.
14th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14)
Statement by the Representative of the Dominican Republic
Date: 8 May 2006
Session: SIDS Day
Delivered by: John R. Gagain Jr., Executive Director, Presidential Commission on the Millennium
Development Goals and Sustainable Development (COPDES)
www.copdes.gov.do
Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations ● 144 East 44th Street, 4th Floor ● New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212-867-0833/34 ● Fax: 212-986-4694 ● Web www.un.int/dr ● Email: drun@un.int 3
PERMANENT MISSION OF
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Pues, recientemente, cuando el Director General de Desarrollo de la Unión Europea, Sr. Stefano Manservisi y el
Comisario Europeo de Desarrollo y Ayuda Humanitaria, Sr. Louis Michel visitaron a nuestro Presidente de la
República Dominicana, el Dr. Leonel Fernández, le han preguntado ?cómo lo pueden ayudar a cumplir con los
ODM.? El Presidente Fernández respondió, ?ayúdennos con nuestro problema energético?.
Apoyamos al Foro de los países ACP/Unión Europea que se celebrará en Papua Nueva Guinea y el hecho de que
estará enfocado en Energía y los ODM.
Usted preguntó Señor Presidente, ?porque algunos países en desarrollo mencionan que no hay suficiente
financiamiento, mientras los países desarrollados dicen que los SIDS no piden fondos para la energía y el
desarrollo?.
Señor Presidente, tengo cuatro puntos que me gustaría compartir:
1. Los donantes tienen que tomar en cuenta que para poder cumplir con los ODM tenemos que ?adelantar
cronológicamente? la asistencia financiera para soluciones energéticas alternativas y renovables.
Necesitamos un ?escalonamiento? de los fondos.
2. Señor Presidente, tenemos que declinar la ?ideología? de que iniciativas de energía renovable ?son para
ser? financiadas por el sector privado exclusivamente. Por ejemplo, más de 60% de nuestro Presupuesto
Nacional esta dedicado a la importación de combustibles y servicios a la deuda y esto no incluye las
inversiones públicas claves que tenemos que hacer en los sectores salud, educación, medioambiente para
poder cumplir con los ODM. ¿Dónde hay fondos del gobierno para incentivar las iniciativas de esta
índole?
3. Señor Presidente, los Pequeños Estados Insulares en Desarrollo (SIDS) no pueden sentarse a esperar el
liderazgo del sector privado para facilitar el financiamiento. Y los donantes no pueden seguir tratando
estas iniciativas de energía renovable y alternativa como ?proyectos? (especiales) y/o ?proyectos?
(paralelos) del sector privado.
14th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14)
Statement by the Representative of the Dominican Republic
Date: 8 May 2006
Session: SIDS Day
Delivered by: John R. Gagain Jr., Executive Director, Presidential Commission on the Millennium
Development Goals and Sustainable Development (COPDES)
www.copdes.gov.do
Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations ● 144 East 44th Street, 4th Floor ● New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212-867-0833/34 ● Fax: 212-986-4694 ● Web www.un.int/dr ● Email: drun@un.int 4
PERMANENT MISSION OF
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
4. Necesitamos ?liderazgo?, necesitamos ?financiamiento dirigido a estas iniciativas?, necesitamos ?acción
concreta? o lamentablemente señor Presidente, por el reto presentado por la situación energética, no
vamos a poder cumplir con los ODM.
Muchas gracias Señor Presidente.
Statement by the Representative of the Dominican Republic
Date: 8 May 2006
Session: SIDS Day
Delivered by: John R. Gagain Jr., Executive Director, Presidential Commission on the Millennium
Development Goals and Sustainable Development (COPDES)
www.copdes.gov.do
Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations ● 144 East 44th Street, 4th Floor ● New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212-867-0833/34 ● Fax: 212-986-4694 ● Web www.un.int/dr ● Email: drun@un.int 1
PERMANENT MISSION OF
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
(Translated from Spanish to English)
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
I want to thank you Mr. President for your leadership as well as thank the panelists for their presentations,
particularly the representative of the United States of America for presenting an initiative that is definitely a great
contribution to the sustainable development process in the Dominican Republic.
We have heard today, in the first session that Official Development Assistance (ODA) has decreased by 50% for
Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Additionally, we have been witnesses to the statement of the European
Union, where they have highlighted their commitment to international financial cooperation for the energy crisis.
Recently, the Director General of Development of the European Union, Mr. Stefano Manservisi and the European
Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Assistance, Mr. Louis Michel, visited our President, Dr.
Leonel Fernández, in the Dominican Republic, were they asked him ?how could we help you achieve the
MDGs??. To this, President Fernández answered ?help us with our energy problem?.
On that note, we support the ACP/European Union Summit that will take place in Papua New Guinea and the fact
that it will focus on energy and the MDGs.
You asked today, Mr. President, ?Why some developing countries have mentioned that there is not enough
financial assistance available for energy and development, while developed countries say that SIDS do not ask for
funds for energy and development?.
Mr. President I have four points that I would like to share with you:
1. Donors have to bear in mind that in order to achieve the MDGs we need to ?chronologically front-load?
financial assistance for alternative and renewable energy solutions. We need to scale-up funds for energy
if we are to achieve the MDGs.
14th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14)
Statement by the Representative of the Dominican Republic
Date: 8 May 2006
Session: SIDS Day
Delivered by: John R. Gagain Jr., Executive Director, Presidential Commission on the Millennium
Development Goals and Sustainable Development (COPDES)
www.copdes.gov.do
Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations ● 144 East 44th Street, 4th Floor ● New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212-867-0833/34 ● Fax: 212-986-4694 ● Web www.un.int/dr ● Email: drun@un.int 2
PERMANENT MISSION OF
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
2. Mr. President, we need overcome the ?ideology? that renewable energy initiatives ?are to be? financed
exclusively by the private sector. For example, more than 60% of our national budget is dedicated to
important of petroleum and debt servicing, and this does not include the key public investments that we
have to make in sectors including health, education, and environment in order be able to achieve the
MDGs. Mr. President, where can we find government funds to contribute to and promote incentives for
the private sector for energy initiatives?
3. Mr. President, the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) cannot afford to wait for the private sector to
take the leadership to finance renewable energy technologies. And donors cannot continue to treat
renewable and alternative energy initiatives as special or side projects of the private sector.
4. Mr. President, we need ?leadership?, we need ?financial assistance directed toward these initiatives?, we
need ?concrete action?, or regrettably, Mr. President, the energy challenge before us presently, will not
allow us to achieve the MDGs.
Thank you Mr. President
***
(Texto Original)
Quiero agradecerle señor presidente por su liderazgo y a través del suyo, a los miembros de los paneles hoy,
particularmente la representante de los Estados Unidos por presentar una iniciativa que definitivamente es un gran
aporte al proceso de desarrollo sostenible de nuestro país,
Hemos escuchado hoy, en la primera sesión, que la Asistencia Oficial para el Desarrollo (AOD) ha decrecido en
un 50% para los Pequeños Estados Insulares para Desarrollo (SIDS). Hemos sido testigos hoy de las
declaraciones de la Unión Europea donde se destacan su compromiso a la cooperación internacional financiera
para el problema energético.
14th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14)
Statement by the Representative of the Dominican Republic
Date: 8 May 2006
Session: SIDS Day
Delivered by: John R. Gagain Jr., Executive Director, Presidential Commission on the Millennium
Development Goals and Sustainable Development (COPDES)
www.copdes.gov.do
Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations ● 144 East 44th Street, 4th Floor ● New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212-867-0833/34 ● Fax: 212-986-4694 ● Web www.un.int/dr ● Email: drun@un.int 3
PERMANENT MISSION OF
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Pues, recientemente, cuando el Director General de Desarrollo de la Unión Europea, Sr. Stefano Manservisi y el
Comisario Europeo de Desarrollo y Ayuda Humanitaria, Sr. Louis Michel visitaron a nuestro Presidente de la
República Dominicana, el Dr. Leonel Fernández, le han preguntado ?cómo lo pueden ayudar a cumplir con los
ODM.? El Presidente Fernández respondió, ?ayúdennos con nuestro problema energético?.
Apoyamos al Foro de los países ACP/Unión Europea que se celebrará en Papua Nueva Guinea y el hecho de que
estará enfocado en Energía y los ODM.
Usted preguntó Señor Presidente, ?porque algunos países en desarrollo mencionan que no hay suficiente
financiamiento, mientras los países desarrollados dicen que los SIDS no piden fondos para la energía y el
desarrollo?.
Señor Presidente, tengo cuatro puntos que me gustaría compartir:
1. Los donantes tienen que tomar en cuenta que para poder cumplir con los ODM tenemos que ?adelantar
cronológicamente? la asistencia financiera para soluciones energéticas alternativas y renovables.
Necesitamos un ?escalonamiento? de los fondos.
2. Señor Presidente, tenemos que declinar la ?ideología? de que iniciativas de energía renovable ?son para
ser? financiadas por el sector privado exclusivamente. Por ejemplo, más de 60% de nuestro Presupuesto
Nacional esta dedicado a la importación de combustibles y servicios a la deuda y esto no incluye las
inversiones públicas claves que tenemos que hacer en los sectores salud, educación, medioambiente para
poder cumplir con los ODM. ¿Dónde hay fondos del gobierno para incentivar las iniciativas de esta
índole?
3. Señor Presidente, los Pequeños Estados Insulares en Desarrollo (SIDS) no pueden sentarse a esperar el
liderazgo del sector privado para facilitar el financiamiento. Y los donantes no pueden seguir tratando
estas iniciativas de energía renovable y alternativa como ?proyectos? (especiales) y/o ?proyectos?
(paralelos) del sector privado.
14th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14)
Statement by the Representative of the Dominican Republic
Date: 8 May 2006
Session: SIDS Day
Delivered by: John R. Gagain Jr., Executive Director, Presidential Commission on the Millennium
Development Goals and Sustainable Development (COPDES)
www.copdes.gov.do
Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations ● 144 East 44th Street, 4th Floor ● New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212-867-0833/34 ● Fax: 212-986-4694 ● Web www.un.int/dr ● Email: drun@un.int 4
PERMANENT MISSION OF
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
4. Necesitamos ?liderazgo?, necesitamos ?financiamiento dirigido a estas iniciativas?, necesitamos ?acción
concreta? o lamentablemente señor Presidente, por el reto presentado por la situación energética, no
vamos a poder cumplir con los ODM.
Muchas gracias Señor Presidente.
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