6th Session of Intergovernmental Negotiations on Post-2015 Development Agenda
Intervention by Mr. Amit Narang, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of India to United Nations
June 22, 2015
Mr. Co-Facilitator,
Let me start by expressing our sincere appreciation to both of you, your able team members and the Secretariat for the painstaking hard work that undoubtedly went into producing this zero draft.
We are tempted to say 'Well begun is half done' but will not say so because it may connote that the glass is fuller than it is. It isn't.
We clearly will need more work to get to the final outcome. But this document in our view is a good starting point for discussions. It is concise, well structured, more or less balanced, adequately visionary while keeping our feet grounded in reality.
It speaks to our world and the world that we all want. It identifies our problems well, confronts the challenges boldly and tells the story of the SDGs lucidly.
We endorse the statement made by the distinguished Ambassador of South Africa on behalf of Group of 77.
Let me at this stage, make the following seven points on the overall document. We will revert with our comments separately on the individual sections as you have requested. We may also take the floor to address some of the overarching issues.
First, we note the potential of a short communication tool to accompany the agenda. We can accept your suggestion of the 5 Ps - People, Planet, Prosperity, Partnership and Peace as part of this tool. We also like the title, although it could be a bit more catchy. Development Agenda for People and Planet, or DAPP, for example?
Secondly, as emphasized by the G77, we are not convinced that we need the Preamble, particularly the way it is crafted. We do not think that the idea of condensing the SDGs into a shorter list of 9 'ideas' is a good one. Several important SDGs, not least Energy is missing from this list and in our view any re-prioritization of the SDGs - we know that is not the intention here - is simply avoidable.
Third, we are reasonably pleased with the tone and visionary tenor of the Declaration. While we will revert with our ideas on the Declaration later, we strongly support the notion of poverty eradication being the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development and would respectfully insist on retaining this reference going forward. We also support the notions of ending poverty and healing the planet, living in harmony with nature and of leaving no one behind.
The noble ideal of ending poverty and hunger must continue to be our core objective to be pursued with single-minded dedication. To be meaningful to the lives of billions of us denied a life of dignity, this agenda must inspire us to redouble political will for the upliftment of the poorest and the most downtrodden. Nothing less will suffice.
Fourth, we also strongly support the affirmation of the all the Rio principles in particular the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. We cannot imagine a universal agenda which is not founded on this core creed of international cooperation. For us however, far from being a call for non-action by some, this principle is a clarion call for joint action by all in pursuit of our common objectives. Time permitting our delegation may wish to address this issue separately during the week.
Fifth, we are happy that you have integrated the full component of SDGs as agreed by the OWG in section One of the document.
We are not convinced however with relegation of the Chapeau of the SDGs to the Annex. We would like to remind everyone that the SDGs were adopted together with the Chapeau. In fact the Chapeau was a key part of political understanding which enabled the agreement on the SDGs. It is therefore patently unfair to now integrate the goals and targets but leave the Introduction behind. We would strongly urge therefore that the OWG Chapeau is integrated in full in the outcome document.
Sixth, we are also very grateful that you have correctly included all the means of implementation targets of the SDGs in section II. This is in line with our firm belief that we already have the core of the MOI for the agenda with us in the form of the SDG MOI targets and that the Addis Ababa outcome will only reinforce and complement these targets. This section will be comprised of these two elements taken together. The additional element will be the Technology Facilitation Mechanism, on which we understand there have been some positive discussions in the context of FfD.
We are not very sure whether the narrative text that you have added in this section is at all needed, since the Addis Ababa outcome will speak to these issues with greater clarity.
Seventh, we feel that the section on Follow-up and Review (or Review and Follow-up) will need careful re-balancing as in our view it seeks to go a bit beyond the nature of discussions we had on this issue last month. We prefer a less detailed and less prescriptive approach to this issue which also takes fully into account the national and regional particularities.
Finally Mr. Co-Facilitator,
The famous musical composer Leonard Bernstein said that to achieve greatness, two things are needed - a plan and not enough time. Conditions are therefore just right. We clearly do not have the time, and we are sure you have a plan! In other words, stars are truly aligned for us to achieve greatness, to achieve a great agenda that all of us want.
So, let's work together and lets get this done by 31st of July!!
I thank you.
*****
