Italy
INFORMAL MEETINGS OF THE PLENARY ON THE PROCESS OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATION ON THE POST-2015
DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
STATEMENT FOR GENERAL DISCUSSION
(17 February 2015)
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
www.italyun.esteri.it @ItMissionUNNY 2
Mr. President / Distinguished Co-Chairs,
• We would like to associate ourselves with the expressions of sympathy and
solidarity with the nations recently affected by hideous terrorist attacks and
wish to align ourselves with the statement made on behalf of the EU and its
member states.
• Co-Chairs, we completely share earlier comments on the character of the
declaration which should be concise, visionary, actionable, communicable,
simple.
• We would like to thank you for the Elements Paper. It is a balanced document,
a good recollection of UN member-states views, expressed in particular during
the Stocktaking Session last month, and an excellent basis for discussion at
today’s meeting.
• Allow me a few initial specific remarks: we agree in general with your
document. We especially like the accent on fighting inequalities, addressing
vulnerability and exclusion, completing the MDGs agenda, the multistakeholder
nature of the Global partnership (that should fully include all
actors of development), a concept to which we would like to add also the
multi-level dimension, from local to global. We also do agree with the specific
mention, for its relevance, of gender equality among the common values. We
would however have appreciated a specific reference to the importance of
integrating economic growth, equity and social justice.
• At the same time, when you speak of “strong economic foundations”, we
would rather prefer to qualify these foundations: as an example, it could be
used the expression contained in the UNSG Report “promote sustained,
inclusive and sustainable economic growth”. Furthermore, the limit of “planet
boundaries” should always be coupled with the economic growth and “the
well-being for all”, otherwise, in the long run, there will simply not be any
well-being at all. And speaking about the planet, we would rather prefer to use
the expressions “environmental sustainability” and “ecosystem protection”
instead of the “environmental stewardship” contained in your document.
• And last but not least, Co-Chairs, nobody disputes that Poverty eradication is
the overarching objective of our action, just like the importance of completing
the MDGs Agenda. However, poverty eradication should always be declined 3
with Sustainable Development which, in itself, it is not a limitation, but,
rather, an enabler for reaching that objective.
• Having said this, with a view to try to respond to the questions you asked in
your letter regarding our vision and on the transformative character of the
future agenda, we are of the opinion that “transformation” implies a
fundamental change. What do we need to change? The Post 2015 Agenda
gives us the opportunity to change the way we look at and do things, and, for
that purpose, I would like to put forward for everybody’s reflection a couple of
concepts.
• First of all, Italy is of the view that we should acknowledge (and, believe me,
we have listened carefully to the discussion) the emergence of a “further
transversal dimension” of sustainable development, encompassing peace,
rule of law, promotion of Human Rights and effective governance and
institutions, as an essential pillar for the construction of a sustainable future for
all. We think it would be an important element of the Declaration and it would
clearly give the idea of the kind of integrated vision we want to propose for
the post-2015.
• In this context, a good example of a more integrated vision of sustainable
development was recently offered by the open debate of the Security Council
on Inclusive Development and Peace, at the initiative of the Chilean
Presidency of the Council. In our interpretation, the debate showed a pretty
wide convergence of the membership on the important inter-linkage
existing between inclusive development and the construction of peaceful
and stable societies. In the words of the Secretary General opening that
meeting, and I quote, “We now have an important opportunity to broaden the
development agenda and highlight the fundamental importance of inclusive
societies in building a more peaceful world”. It would be important to take that
opportunity. After all, distinguished co-Chairs, as the Austrian Ambassador
said earlier, the same UN Charter, that you rightly cite in the first place as a
reference of our commitment, in its very first few lines, puts together Peace,
Human Rights, Justice and Development.
• The second reflection I’d like to put on the table pertains to the concept of a
renewed, strengthened, more accountable and inclusive Global Partnership.
The broad range of challenges we face requires, in our view, a truly New Deal
for sustainable development which should be affirmed with the abundant use
of the words “Share”, “Common” and “All”. This words should be at center 4
of our Declaration. Let me quote again the Secretary General who in his report,
The Road to Dignity, says “Implementation is not just about quantity. It is also
about doing things together, uniting around the problem”.
• In defining “a revitalized Global Partnership”, we should therefore make clear
that we should share not only challenges and responsibilities, we share first and
foremost MoI, capabilities, resources, technologies and know-how, cultures of
doing resulting from individual experiences. At the same time, in the
Declaration we should also try to reinforce the political message of a real shift
towards a new paradigm of development with the concept of “common action”.
A common action by all actors, each one according to his own capabilities,
for the common endeavor of attaining a truly sustainable development. This is
what we really need for realizing the “tomorrow we want”.
Thank you.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATION ON THE POST-2015
DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
STATEMENT FOR GENERAL DISCUSSION
(17 February 2015)
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
www.italyun.esteri.it @ItMissionUNNY 2
Mr. President / Distinguished Co-Chairs,
• We would like to associate ourselves with the expressions of sympathy and
solidarity with the nations recently affected by hideous terrorist attacks and
wish to align ourselves with the statement made on behalf of the EU and its
member states.
• Co-Chairs, we completely share earlier comments on the character of the
declaration which should be concise, visionary, actionable, communicable,
simple.
• We would like to thank you for the Elements Paper. It is a balanced document,
a good recollection of UN member-states views, expressed in particular during
the Stocktaking Session last month, and an excellent basis for discussion at
today’s meeting.
• Allow me a few initial specific remarks: we agree in general with your
document. We especially like the accent on fighting inequalities, addressing
vulnerability and exclusion, completing the MDGs agenda, the multistakeholder
nature of the Global partnership (that should fully include all
actors of development), a concept to which we would like to add also the
multi-level dimension, from local to global. We also do agree with the specific
mention, for its relevance, of gender equality among the common values. We
would however have appreciated a specific reference to the importance of
integrating economic growth, equity and social justice.
• At the same time, when you speak of “strong economic foundations”, we
would rather prefer to qualify these foundations: as an example, it could be
used the expression contained in the UNSG Report “promote sustained,
inclusive and sustainable economic growth”. Furthermore, the limit of “planet
boundaries” should always be coupled with the economic growth and “the
well-being for all”, otherwise, in the long run, there will simply not be any
well-being at all. And speaking about the planet, we would rather prefer to use
the expressions “environmental sustainability” and “ecosystem protection”
instead of the “environmental stewardship” contained in your document.
• And last but not least, Co-Chairs, nobody disputes that Poverty eradication is
the overarching objective of our action, just like the importance of completing
the MDGs Agenda. However, poverty eradication should always be declined 3
with Sustainable Development which, in itself, it is not a limitation, but,
rather, an enabler for reaching that objective.
• Having said this, with a view to try to respond to the questions you asked in
your letter regarding our vision and on the transformative character of the
future agenda, we are of the opinion that “transformation” implies a
fundamental change. What do we need to change? The Post 2015 Agenda
gives us the opportunity to change the way we look at and do things, and, for
that purpose, I would like to put forward for everybody’s reflection a couple of
concepts.
• First of all, Italy is of the view that we should acknowledge (and, believe me,
we have listened carefully to the discussion) the emergence of a “further
transversal dimension” of sustainable development, encompassing peace,
rule of law, promotion of Human Rights and effective governance and
institutions, as an essential pillar for the construction of a sustainable future for
all. We think it would be an important element of the Declaration and it would
clearly give the idea of the kind of integrated vision we want to propose for
the post-2015.
• In this context, a good example of a more integrated vision of sustainable
development was recently offered by the open debate of the Security Council
on Inclusive Development and Peace, at the initiative of the Chilean
Presidency of the Council. In our interpretation, the debate showed a pretty
wide convergence of the membership on the important inter-linkage
existing between inclusive development and the construction of peaceful
and stable societies. In the words of the Secretary General opening that
meeting, and I quote, “We now have an important opportunity to broaden the
development agenda and highlight the fundamental importance of inclusive
societies in building a more peaceful world”. It would be important to take that
opportunity. After all, distinguished co-Chairs, as the Austrian Ambassador
said earlier, the same UN Charter, that you rightly cite in the first place as a
reference of our commitment, in its very first few lines, puts together Peace,
Human Rights, Justice and Development.
• The second reflection I’d like to put on the table pertains to the concept of a
renewed, strengthened, more accountable and inclusive Global Partnership.
The broad range of challenges we face requires, in our view, a truly New Deal
for sustainable development which should be affirmed with the abundant use
of the words “Share”, “Common” and “All”. This words should be at center 4
of our Declaration. Let me quote again the Secretary General who in his report,
The Road to Dignity, says “Implementation is not just about quantity. It is also
about doing things together, uniting around the problem”.
• In defining “a revitalized Global Partnership”, we should therefore make clear
that we should share not only challenges and responsibilities, we share first and
foremost MoI, capabilities, resources, technologies and know-how, cultures of
doing resulting from individual experiences. At the same time, in the
Declaration we should also try to reinforce the political message of a real shift
towards a new paradigm of development with the concept of “common action”.
A common action by all actors, each one according to his own capabilities,
for the common endeavor of attaining a truly sustainable development. This is
what we really need for realizing the “tomorrow we want”.
Thank you.
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