Statement by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Ambassador Kairat Abdrakhmanov
at the sixth session of the intergovernmental negotiations
on the Post-2015 development agenda
(Declaration)
22-25 June 2015
Distinguished Co-facilitators,
Since this is the first time I am taking the floor, I would like to commend you for your able leadership and guidance through this process, which is now at a critical juncture. We thank the Co-facilitators for a comprehensive and balanced “zero draft’. In our view the proposed paper reflects well the messages delivered by the delegations during the intergovernmental negotiations on post 2015 development agenda.
Kazakhstan aligns itself with the statement made by Zambia on behalf of LLDCs and also support the interventions made by the representatives of LCDs and SIDS yesterday and today. We share concerns of the countries in special situations with regard to official development assistance as well as climate change and oceans in the proposed declaration.
In our view, the presented draft does not include strong recognition of the vital role and responsibility of parliaments in the implementation of the SDGs. Parliaments are mentioned in a very general way as part of an enumeration of various non-state actors, such as local authorities, business and the private sector, civil society, academia, philanthropic organizations, voluntary groups and others.
We therefore support the delegations who are calling for stronger and more specific language relating to the role of parliaments and of the IPU in implementing the SDGs.
We suggest that a stand-alone paragraph be incorporated in the Declaration, which introduces the UN Summit outcome, under the section referring to the Implementation of the SDGs.
Such a paragraph would read as follows:
"We take note of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, held at UN Headquarters in the lead up to our Summit. We acknowledge the essential role of national parliaments in providing ownership to the sustainable development goals, enacting legislation and adopting budgets thereof and ensuring accountability for the effective implementation of our commitments. We pledge to work closely with our national parliaments and with the Inter-Parliamentary Union in furthering the achievement of our transformative Agenda”.
This would build on the agreed language from previous UN Summit outcomes, including the Millennium Declaration and the 2010 UN Summit Outcome, as well as on General Assembly Resolution 68/272, which acknowledges the importance of the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, including in terms of maximizing political support for the post-2015 development agenda.
Kazakhstan stands ready to engage in further multilateral discussions on defining Post-2015 development agenda.
Thank you.
