Group of 77 & China
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Statement of the Group of 77 and China
delivered by
H.E. Mr. Youssef Hussein Kamal
Minister of Finance
of the State of Qatar
At
The High Level Meeting
of the twelfth session
of the Commission on Sustainable Development
New York, April 28 h, 2004
Mr. Chairman
Distinguished Delegates
On behalf of the G77 and China, I would like to extend to you
sincere thanks for affording us this opportunity, and congratulate you on
your assumption of the chairmanship of this committee . It gives me ;great
pleasure to welcome His, Excellency, the Secretary-General of the United
Nations at this meeting .
I am also happy to participate with you in this meeting which
affirms the commitment of the international community to the
advancement of humanity through achieving sustainable development for
all .
This session has provided the first opportunity to review and assess
in dealing with the challenges and difficulties facing developing countries
in the areas of water, sanitation and human settlements and the constraints
and obstacles they are encountering in implementing the JPOI .
The developing countries have taken significant steps to meet their
commitments for the achievement of sustainable development . As we
heard in the discussions last week, the developing countries have adopted
a range of domestic measures, including improved policy formulation and
coordination to enhance implementation . The international community
should live up to its own commitments to create an enabling international
environment at all levels, which has a critical importance for the
achievement to the goals and targets of the JPOI and, in meeting the
commitments to provide financing, capacity building, and technology
transfer.
Mr. Chairman
The lack of the means of implementation is a critical aspect of the
international environment that makes it difficult for developing countries
to fulfil their objectives . The commitment to provide new and additional
resources has not been fulfilled . The review also shows that only a few
developed countries have met the international target of providing 0 .7%
of GDP . This situation needs to be substantially improved in order to
meet the MDGs and the goals and targets set in Johannesburg .
Johannesburg recogni ed the crucial role of international trade for
sustainable development . From the review it is also clear that progress in
this area is still slow . The reports of the Secretary-General show that
since Johannesburg there has been no progress in market access and in
the removal of agriculture tariffs . The lack of market access is a major
constraint that denies developing countries important resources they
could earn through international trade . Subsidies applied in developed
countries also present an obstacle to the efforts of developing countries to
achieve sustainable development . These subsidies, which are used by
developed countries, cause a distortion of international prices thereby
making it difficult for developing countries to make gains from trade .
Mr. Chairman,
Developing countries have indicated the steps . that they are taking
to improve the provision of services and infrastructure for water,
sanitation and human settlements . However, the developing countries also
require capacity building and technology transfer .
Technology transfer, as agreed in Johannesburg, needs to be
improved to support these efforts . Without movement in these areas it
will be difficult for developing countries to fulfil their development
objectives .
CSD 12 should also identify the obstacles in this area and possible
approaches to improve the situation. During the first week we heard a lot
about what developing countries have been doing at the domestic level .
We should also hear from our development partners about what they are
doing to contribute to an enabling environment at the international level .
Development partners should also indicate the steps taken in the area of
improving consumption and production patterns .
Provision of water is critical for poverty eradication . The
challenges facing developing countries in this area include improving the
quality of drinking water, addressing causes of pollution and
contamination of water, water leakages, natural disasters, and drought .
Efforts of developing countries are constrained by the unavailability of
appropriate technologies . Furthermore due to the lack of financial
resources developing countries find it difficult to increase investment for
water.
Capacity building to improve planning and management is also
essential for developing countries. Capacity building can also contribute
to integrated water resources management, water efficiency, and
recycling of water and used water . There is also a need to enhance
cooperation between states sharing international watercourses, in
accordance with International Law .
Partnerships should be seen as complimentary and not a substitute
of intergovernmental efforts . We are concerned that the review so far
shows that they are still largely financed by Governments and have not
managed to mobilise resources from the private sector . We are concerned
that the reliance by partnerships on Government resources could see a
diversion of resources from the fulfilment of intergovernmental
commitments. This needs to be addressed . It was understood that
partnerships would attract the participation of other stakeholders such as
the private sector
We are also concerned that most partnerships are not yet demanddriven.
Partnerships need to reflect the priorities of the recipient
countries and not only those of the donors . CSDII adopted a set of
guidelines for partnerships . We suggest that future work on partnerships
should follow these guidelines .
Future reports on partnerships will need to be qualitative and also
reflect on the themes and partners involved in partnerships . The
information on partnership in which UN agencies and programmes are
involved in, should be provided to the CSD .
We also note that partnerships have not yet managed to achieve
wider geographical and sectoral balance . In our discussions let us reflect
how this could be achieved .
Mr. Chairman,
UN agencies and programmes have a critical role to play in the
implementation of Agenda 21 and the goals and targets of the JPOI . The
potential of the UN agencies and their comparative advantages needd to be
fully utili ed in the implementation of the JPOI . We need to ensure that
their programmes reflect the priorities set by Governments in the WSSD
and other intergovernmental meetings .
Coordination amongst agencies is also an important aspect that can
assist the developing countries, in particular, in reducing the burden of
reporting . Interagency coordination should follow the guidelines and the
mandates agreed by Governments . Reports on interagency coordination
should be consistent with the programme of work of the CSD, should not
go beyond the JPOI and the guidelines, deal with the relevant questions
identified by CSDII and also reflect the contribution of the Bretton
Woods Institution.
We should also affirm the central role of the CSD as the high-level
forum for coordination and responsible for monitoring the
implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the WSSD.
Mr. Chairman,
We would like to underscore the special conditions prevailing in
SIDS and in the African countries . The scarcity of water and natural
resources are chronic problems that impede the population movement and
the achievement of sustainable development . It is significant that in 2004
the International Meeting will be held in Mauritius to review the
implementation of the BPOA .
We believe that the International Meeting should result in a
practical and implementation oriented outcome to improve the sustainable
development in these countries . We urge the international community to
work for the success of the International Meeting .
The review of implementation shows that the SIDS and the African
countries are still in need of support to implement the goals and targets of
JPOI. In this context, the international community should support these
countries in their efforts to eradicate poverty .
Thank you Mr. Chairman
Statement of the Group of 77 and China
delivered by
H.E. Mr. Youssef Hussein Kamal
Minister of Finance
of the State of Qatar
At
The High Level Meeting
of the twelfth session
of the Commission on Sustainable Development
New York, April 28 h, 2004
Mr. Chairman
Distinguished Delegates
On behalf of the G77 and China, I would like to extend to you
sincere thanks for affording us this opportunity, and congratulate you on
your assumption of the chairmanship of this committee . It gives me ;great
pleasure to welcome His, Excellency, the Secretary-General of the United
Nations at this meeting .
I am also happy to participate with you in this meeting which
affirms the commitment of the international community to the
advancement of humanity through achieving sustainable development for
all .
This session has provided the first opportunity to review and assess
in dealing with the challenges and difficulties facing developing countries
in the areas of water, sanitation and human settlements and the constraints
and obstacles they are encountering in implementing the JPOI .
The developing countries have taken significant steps to meet their
commitments for the achievement of sustainable development . As we
heard in the discussions last week, the developing countries have adopted
a range of domestic measures, including improved policy formulation and
coordination to enhance implementation . The international community
should live up to its own commitments to create an enabling international
environment at all levels, which has a critical importance for the
achievement to the goals and targets of the JPOI and, in meeting the
commitments to provide financing, capacity building, and technology
transfer.
Mr. Chairman
The lack of the means of implementation is a critical aspect of the
international environment that makes it difficult for developing countries
to fulfil their objectives . The commitment to provide new and additional
resources has not been fulfilled . The review also shows that only a few
developed countries have met the international target of providing 0 .7%
of GDP . This situation needs to be substantially improved in order to
meet the MDGs and the goals and targets set in Johannesburg .
Johannesburg recogni ed the crucial role of international trade for
sustainable development . From the review it is also clear that progress in
this area is still slow . The reports of the Secretary-General show that
since Johannesburg there has been no progress in market access and in
the removal of agriculture tariffs . The lack of market access is a major
constraint that denies developing countries important resources they
could earn through international trade . Subsidies applied in developed
countries also present an obstacle to the efforts of developing countries to
achieve sustainable development . These subsidies, which are used by
developed countries, cause a distortion of international prices thereby
making it difficult for developing countries to make gains from trade .
Mr. Chairman,
Developing countries have indicated the steps . that they are taking
to improve the provision of services and infrastructure for water,
sanitation and human settlements . However, the developing countries also
require capacity building and technology transfer .
Technology transfer, as agreed in Johannesburg, needs to be
improved to support these efforts . Without movement in these areas it
will be difficult for developing countries to fulfil their development
objectives .
CSD 12 should also identify the obstacles in this area and possible
approaches to improve the situation. During the first week we heard a lot
about what developing countries have been doing at the domestic level .
We should also hear from our development partners about what they are
doing to contribute to an enabling environment at the international level .
Development partners should also indicate the steps taken in the area of
improving consumption and production patterns .
Provision of water is critical for poverty eradication . The
challenges facing developing countries in this area include improving the
quality of drinking water, addressing causes of pollution and
contamination of water, water leakages, natural disasters, and drought .
Efforts of developing countries are constrained by the unavailability of
appropriate technologies . Furthermore due to the lack of financial
resources developing countries find it difficult to increase investment for
water.
Capacity building to improve planning and management is also
essential for developing countries. Capacity building can also contribute
to integrated water resources management, water efficiency, and
recycling of water and used water . There is also a need to enhance
cooperation between states sharing international watercourses, in
accordance with International Law .
Partnerships should be seen as complimentary and not a substitute
of intergovernmental efforts . We are concerned that the review so far
shows that they are still largely financed by Governments and have not
managed to mobilise resources from the private sector . We are concerned
that the reliance by partnerships on Government resources could see a
diversion of resources from the fulfilment of intergovernmental
commitments. This needs to be addressed . It was understood that
partnerships would attract the participation of other stakeholders such as
the private sector
We are also concerned that most partnerships are not yet demanddriven.
Partnerships need to reflect the priorities of the recipient
countries and not only those of the donors . CSDII adopted a set of
guidelines for partnerships . We suggest that future work on partnerships
should follow these guidelines .
Future reports on partnerships will need to be qualitative and also
reflect on the themes and partners involved in partnerships . The
information on partnership in which UN agencies and programmes are
involved in, should be provided to the CSD .
We also note that partnerships have not yet managed to achieve
wider geographical and sectoral balance . In our discussions let us reflect
how this could be achieved .
Mr. Chairman,
UN agencies and programmes have a critical role to play in the
implementation of Agenda 21 and the goals and targets of the JPOI . The
potential of the UN agencies and their comparative advantages needd to be
fully utili ed in the implementation of the JPOI . We need to ensure that
their programmes reflect the priorities set by Governments in the WSSD
and other intergovernmental meetings .
Coordination amongst agencies is also an important aspect that can
assist the developing countries, in particular, in reducing the burden of
reporting . Interagency coordination should follow the guidelines and the
mandates agreed by Governments . Reports on interagency coordination
should be consistent with the programme of work of the CSD, should not
go beyond the JPOI and the guidelines, deal with the relevant questions
identified by CSDII and also reflect the contribution of the Bretton
Woods Institution.
We should also affirm the central role of the CSD as the high-level
forum for coordination and responsible for monitoring the
implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the WSSD.
Mr. Chairman,
We would like to underscore the special conditions prevailing in
SIDS and in the African countries . The scarcity of water and natural
resources are chronic problems that impede the population movement and
the achievement of sustainable development . It is significant that in 2004
the International Meeting will be held in Mauritius to review the
implementation of the BPOA .
We believe that the International Meeting should result in a
practical and implementation oriented outcome to improve the sustainable
development in these countries . We urge the international community to
work for the success of the International Meeting .
The review of implementation shows that the SIDS and the African
countries are still in need of support to implement the goals and targets of
JPOI. In this context, the international community should support these
countries in their efforts to eradicate poverty .
Thank you Mr. Chairman
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