Guatemala
Distinguished representatives,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to be among you today, and to open the Small Island Developing
States (SIDS) Day during the 18th session of the Commission on Sustainable
Development. This year, SIDS Day will serve a dual purpose, offering an integrated
review of the thematic cluster of the 18th session of the Commission also acting as
the preparatory committee for the high level five-year review of the Mauritius
Strategy (MSI+5) for the further implementation of the Barbados Programme of
Action (BPOA), which will be held during the 65th session of the General Assembly,
on 24 and 25 September 2010.
It should be recognized that SIDS have assumed their commitments under the
Barbados Programme of Action and the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation with
seriousness and a sense of ownership, and that even under difficult conditions and
despite recent global crises, have made considerable efforts to implement them. The
high level five-year review of the Mauritius Strategy for the further implementation
of the Barbados Programme of Action will offer the international community with an
opportunity to collectively consider what else can be done to fill important gaps in
implementation and to effectively help SIDS meet continuous and new sustainable
development challenges based on a better understanding of their special economic
and ecological vulnerabilities of the SIDS in changing global setting.
Climate change is increasing the vulnerabilities of SIDS and will magnify the risks.
There is an ethical responsibility to provide financial support for adaptation and
mitigation needs.
There has been a thorough five-year review and high-level preparatory processes at
national, regional and inter-regional levels in the last many months leading up to the
global review process that we are launching today. The SIDS-led process of informal
consultations is underway to ensure that the five year review process will add value
and achieve concrete outcomes to help advance further implementation of the
Mauritius Strategy.
The Commission on Sustainable Development has long recognized the special
circumstances of the SIDS in promoting sustainable development, and has thus
instituted a devoted SIDS Day in its programme of work for the last several years.
In accordance with such an established tradition, we will have later this afternoon, a
round table discussion on CSD-18 themes from SIDS perspectives. A special focus
will be given there on ways and means of overcoming key implementation
challenges faced by SIDS in relation to the themes.
As said his Excellency the Honourable C. Peter David, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Grenada last Saturday ?the future successful implementation of the Mauritius
Strategy of Implementation requires renewed commitments and effective
partnerships at all levels. Coordination of activities, including donor initiatives, is
essential. New and additional resources are critical to making the difference?.
I look forward to a fruitful and constructive discussion.
Thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to be among you today, and to open the Small Island Developing
States (SIDS) Day during the 18th session of the Commission on Sustainable
Development. This year, SIDS Day will serve a dual purpose, offering an integrated
review of the thematic cluster of the 18th session of the Commission also acting as
the preparatory committee for the high level five-year review of the Mauritius
Strategy (MSI+5) for the further implementation of the Barbados Programme of
Action (BPOA), which will be held during the 65th session of the General Assembly,
on 24 and 25 September 2010.
It should be recognized that SIDS have assumed their commitments under the
Barbados Programme of Action and the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation with
seriousness and a sense of ownership, and that even under difficult conditions and
despite recent global crises, have made considerable efforts to implement them. The
high level five-year review of the Mauritius Strategy for the further implementation
of the Barbados Programme of Action will offer the international community with an
opportunity to collectively consider what else can be done to fill important gaps in
implementation and to effectively help SIDS meet continuous and new sustainable
development challenges based on a better understanding of their special economic
and ecological vulnerabilities of the SIDS in changing global setting.
Climate change is increasing the vulnerabilities of SIDS and will magnify the risks.
There is an ethical responsibility to provide financial support for adaptation and
mitigation needs.
There has been a thorough five-year review and high-level preparatory processes at
national, regional and inter-regional levels in the last many months leading up to the
global review process that we are launching today. The SIDS-led process of informal
consultations is underway to ensure that the five year review process will add value
and achieve concrete outcomes to help advance further implementation of the
Mauritius Strategy.
The Commission on Sustainable Development has long recognized the special
circumstances of the SIDS in promoting sustainable development, and has thus
instituted a devoted SIDS Day in its programme of work for the last several years.
In accordance with such an established tradition, we will have later this afternoon, a
round table discussion on CSD-18 themes from SIDS perspectives. A special focus
will be given there on ways and means of overcoming key implementation
challenges faced by SIDS in relation to the themes.
As said his Excellency the Honourable C. Peter David, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Grenada last Saturday ?the future successful implementation of the Mauritius
Strategy of Implementation requires renewed commitments and effective
partnerships at all levels. Coordination of activities, including donor initiatives, is
essential. New and additional resources are critical to making the difference?.
I look forward to a fruitful and constructive discussion.
Thank you.
Doc Esp
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