Thank you, Mr co-facilitator. The implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has already been taking place at the national level, the most crucial level, in many of the member states. Our task here is to ensure that the follow-up and review process at the global level will be prepared in time to effectively underpin such efforts.
In doing so, let me stress that we should avoid duplication of discussions with other processes so that the follow-up process will be a holistic and integrated one. Last year, we went through the unprecedented parallel negotiations of FfD and 2030 Agenda, which led to duplicative discussions on a number of issues that drained our resource and energy. This should not be repeated this year.
Several issues were raised by the PGA in the meeting on 5th February as the issues to be discussed under this current process. We believe the best way to move forward is as follows:
1) Let us first separate the discussions about this year and beyond. The HLPF in 2016 will be of transitional nature and in that sense special. It is happening in less than 4 months from today. Therefore we cannot afford to have new negotiations regarding the structures of 2016 HLPF. On the 2016 HLPF, we should provide ideas and support to the ECOSOC Presidency who is preparing the session as a transitional meeting without prejudice to future meetings. We trust that the President of ECOSOC and the bureau will carry out this task with maximum transparency.
2) Focusing on the HLPF in 2017 and beyond, let us next consider the scope of this process. We should keep in mind the other relevant processes, in particular the discussion on the 2016 HLPF ministerial declaration as well as the review of the HLPF modalities. In our view, this current process should focus on a limited number of issues that is absolutely necessary for starting the 4-year cycle of HLPF and the result should be pasted into the 2016 HLPF ministerial declaration. The rest of the issues can be discussed in the review of the HLPF modalities scheduled for 73rd session, learning
from the experiences of the initial part of the HLPF cycle. There will be relevant discussions at the QCPR process as well as the review of the ECOSOC reform.
3) As for the “limited number of issues” to be discussed in this current process, we could suggest the followings: how the theme for 4-year cycle should be decided and what is should be; how to treat the 17 goals in the thematic reviews; how regular reviews should be structured, among others. The status and usage of GSDR is under discussion in a separate track, but its outcome should be fed into this process.
4) According to the road map provided by the co-facilitators, which we have received just before today’s informal meeting, this process assumes the adoption of the GA resolution. On the other hand, whether or not adoption of the resolution is necessary depends on the scope of this process. Therefore, at this stage we do not prejudge the discussion on the necessity of the GA resolution.
We are confident that the confusion among the various processes can be avoided under your able guidance, co-facilitators, and that we can reach a common understanding on the scope and the substance in a short time.
