H.E. Mr. Norachit Sinhaseni, Vice-President of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
1
Remarks
by
H.E. Mr. Norachit Sinhaseni
Vice-President
on behalf of
H.E. Mr. John W. Ashe
President of the 68th Session of the United Nations
General Assembly
General Assembly Structured Dialogues
on Technology Facilitation Mechanism
Opening Session, Dialogue I
New York
29 April 2014
Please check against delivery
2
Excellencies,
Secretary-General,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the President of the General Assembly, I am pleased to open the first of a series of four structured dialogues on technology facilitation as requested by Member States in Resolution 68/210. In collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, we will dedicate this time to looking at possible arrangements for a mechanism that will ensure that benefits of clean and environmentally sound technologies are widely – if not universally – available.
This is a crucial and complementary next step in our work to elaborate a post-2015 development agenda, and the PGA has entrusted two very able Ambassadors with the task of guiding these dialogues: H.E. Ambassador Paul Seger, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN and H.E. Mr. Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota, Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the UN. By the end of these dialogues, we should be able to identify recommendations to be submitted for consideration and appropriate action by the General Assembly at its 69th session. The PGA is confident that, under the leadership of these two Ambassadors, we will make significant progress that leads to a successful outcome.
We already have reason for cautious optimism as we are building upon previous work. This series, which begins today and concludes in July, benefits from the outcomes of four workshops held during the previous General Assembly session, as well as two rounds of discussions, which took place in the Second Committee during the 67th and 68th sessions. These workshops and discussions enriched our dialogue and have prepared us to move forward.
At the fourth workshop we made a cautious start toward having an interactive debate among Member States and stakeholders, going a step further than the practice of delivering prepared statements. I suggest we scale this up and make it our modus operandi for all four of these structured dialogues. This would allow for a more meaningful, high-quality exchange.
3
Our four structured dialogues will also be informed by the reports of the Secretary-General on technology facilitation, the first of which was mandated by the Rio+20 outcome document, The Future We Want, and the second by the 67th General Assembly. These two substantive reports by the Secretary-General have been received by the Assembly and remain available for our use.
Based on these reports and last year’s workshops, the first two dialogues will essentially constitute a stocktaking of what specific countries, groups, and other participants are calling for in relation to a technology facilitation mechanism. We will look at where we are in terms of technology transfer; how mechanisms function that are already in place; how we can improve existing mechanisms and processes; and if and how we can bridge gaps.
We would like to hear your arguments on additional actions with respect to technology transfer. To ensure these first dialogues are fruitful, we offer you the opportunity to provide your recommendations in response to the presentations delivered by those with technical expertise and responsibility from various sectors. We would like to hear your explanation of the “why” behind any wish lists and proposals, and we would even like to hear the argument behind your silence, where applicable.
This will help us in coming up with preliminary concrete recommendations on the potential for development, transfer and dissemination of clean and environmentally sound technologies and identifying options for the way forward. And we intend to present these in preliminary form by the third dialogue.
As for the fourth dialogue, it is hoped that it will be an occasion for constructive debating, narrowing in on priorities, and developing some concrete ideas and actions that can be translated into recommendations. These recommendations will then be used to inform the synthesis report that the Secretary-General presents at the start of the 69th session, as well as the deliberations that will take place among Member States.
4
Excellencies,
What is it we hope to achieve through these four structured dialogues? Let me put forth some important areas for consideration as we proceed.
First and foremost, we need to consider whether the existing multilateral, bilateral and national institutions, networks and mechanisms for generating and diffusing science, technology and innovation globally are up to the task. Are they leaving important needs unmet? Are some countries and potential beneficiaries of technology being left out in the cold? If so, can we begin to devise remedies, find ways to fill gaps and make existing institutions and programmes work more effectively together?
Second, we need to ask ourselves whether and how we can foster more effective international technology cooperation for sustainable development in the post-2015 period. Is there a need for anything more than what we currently have in place? If not in the form of a new institution, then perhaps is it a forum for fostering ongoing dialogue, accountability and tracking of progress on technology facilitation and cooperation for sustainable development?
Last but not least, we need to consider the possible role and contributions of the international community, of multilateral and regional organization, and of the UN system in facilitating technology cooperation, dissemination and transfer for sustainable development. The UN is both the custodian of the global development agenda, including the MDGs, as well as the leader of the international community’s efforts to grapple with big sustainable development challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation and desertification. Therefore, it is essential that the UN is in a position to foster the development and diffusion of the technologies that help humankind eradicate poverty and disease, and tackle climate change and other global threats to our collective well-being.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
5
These four structured dialogues on technology transfer are an opportunity to take a leap forward in creating a post-2015 world that is sustainable, just, equitable, and prosperous.
When presenting your views and aspirations, as States, groups of States or representatives of the UN system and stakeholders, it is very important that we debate on the basis of substantive issues, and suggest avenues for compromise and consensus. On behalf of the PGA I therefore ask you to approach these dialogues with an open mind, in a constructive way aimed at concrete results. With the assistance of the moderators, the PGA and his team stand ready to support you.
Thank you.
***
Remarks
by
H.E. Mr. Norachit Sinhaseni
Vice-President
on behalf of
H.E. Mr. John W. Ashe
President of the 68th Session of the United Nations
General Assembly
General Assembly Structured Dialogues
on Technology Facilitation Mechanism
Opening Session, Dialogue I
New York
29 April 2014
Please check against delivery
2
Excellencies,
Secretary-General,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the President of the General Assembly, I am pleased to open the first of a series of four structured dialogues on technology facilitation as requested by Member States in Resolution 68/210. In collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, we will dedicate this time to looking at possible arrangements for a mechanism that will ensure that benefits of clean and environmentally sound technologies are widely – if not universally – available.
This is a crucial and complementary next step in our work to elaborate a post-2015 development agenda, and the PGA has entrusted two very able Ambassadors with the task of guiding these dialogues: H.E. Ambassador Paul Seger, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN and H.E. Mr. Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota, Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the UN. By the end of these dialogues, we should be able to identify recommendations to be submitted for consideration and appropriate action by the General Assembly at its 69th session. The PGA is confident that, under the leadership of these two Ambassadors, we will make significant progress that leads to a successful outcome.
We already have reason for cautious optimism as we are building upon previous work. This series, which begins today and concludes in July, benefits from the outcomes of four workshops held during the previous General Assembly session, as well as two rounds of discussions, which took place in the Second Committee during the 67th and 68th sessions. These workshops and discussions enriched our dialogue and have prepared us to move forward.
At the fourth workshop we made a cautious start toward having an interactive debate among Member States and stakeholders, going a step further than the practice of delivering prepared statements. I suggest we scale this up and make it our modus operandi for all four of these structured dialogues. This would allow for a more meaningful, high-quality exchange.
3
Our four structured dialogues will also be informed by the reports of the Secretary-General on technology facilitation, the first of which was mandated by the Rio+20 outcome document, The Future We Want, and the second by the 67th General Assembly. These two substantive reports by the Secretary-General have been received by the Assembly and remain available for our use.
Based on these reports and last year’s workshops, the first two dialogues will essentially constitute a stocktaking of what specific countries, groups, and other participants are calling for in relation to a technology facilitation mechanism. We will look at where we are in terms of technology transfer; how mechanisms function that are already in place; how we can improve existing mechanisms and processes; and if and how we can bridge gaps.
We would like to hear your arguments on additional actions with respect to technology transfer. To ensure these first dialogues are fruitful, we offer you the opportunity to provide your recommendations in response to the presentations delivered by those with technical expertise and responsibility from various sectors. We would like to hear your explanation of the “why” behind any wish lists and proposals, and we would even like to hear the argument behind your silence, where applicable.
This will help us in coming up with preliminary concrete recommendations on the potential for development, transfer and dissemination of clean and environmentally sound technologies and identifying options for the way forward. And we intend to present these in preliminary form by the third dialogue.
As for the fourth dialogue, it is hoped that it will be an occasion for constructive debating, narrowing in on priorities, and developing some concrete ideas and actions that can be translated into recommendations. These recommendations will then be used to inform the synthesis report that the Secretary-General presents at the start of the 69th session, as well as the deliberations that will take place among Member States.
4
Excellencies,
What is it we hope to achieve through these four structured dialogues? Let me put forth some important areas for consideration as we proceed.
First and foremost, we need to consider whether the existing multilateral, bilateral and national institutions, networks and mechanisms for generating and diffusing science, technology and innovation globally are up to the task. Are they leaving important needs unmet? Are some countries and potential beneficiaries of technology being left out in the cold? If so, can we begin to devise remedies, find ways to fill gaps and make existing institutions and programmes work more effectively together?
Second, we need to ask ourselves whether and how we can foster more effective international technology cooperation for sustainable development in the post-2015 period. Is there a need for anything more than what we currently have in place? If not in the form of a new institution, then perhaps is it a forum for fostering ongoing dialogue, accountability and tracking of progress on technology facilitation and cooperation for sustainable development?
Last but not least, we need to consider the possible role and contributions of the international community, of multilateral and regional organization, and of the UN system in facilitating technology cooperation, dissemination and transfer for sustainable development. The UN is both the custodian of the global development agenda, including the MDGs, as well as the leader of the international community’s efforts to grapple with big sustainable development challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation and desertification. Therefore, it is essential that the UN is in a position to foster the development and diffusion of the technologies that help humankind eradicate poverty and disease, and tackle climate change and other global threats to our collective well-being.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
5
These four structured dialogues on technology transfer are an opportunity to take a leap forward in creating a post-2015 world that is sustainable, just, equitable, and prosperous.
When presenting your views and aspirations, as States, groups of States or representatives of the UN system and stakeholders, it is very important that we debate on the basis of substantive issues, and suggest avenues for compromise and consensus. On behalf of the PGA I therefore ask you to approach these dialogues with an open mind, in a constructive way aimed at concrete results. With the assistance of the moderators, the PGA and his team stand ready to support you.
Thank you.
***