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REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
STATEMENT BY THE HON. WITTEN T. PHILIPPO
MINISTER IN ASSISTANCE TO THE PRESIDENT
TO THE UN COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
HIGH LEVEL SEGMENT
NEW YORK, 30 APRIL 2004
Mr. Chairman,
My delegation associates itself with the previous statements made on behalf
of the Group of 77 and China and the Alliance of Small Island States.
Mr. Chairman,
We are pleased that CSD 12, under your able leadership, has convened the
Small Island Developing States Preparatory Meeting for the ten-year review
of the Barbados Programme of Action, culminating in the International
Meeting to be held in Mauritius later this year. We consider this an
important step towards reinvigorating support for the implementation of the
BPOA for the sustainable development of SIDS, including my own country
the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Through our own national efforts we
have developed the Marshall Islands ?Vision 2018? as our guide to
formulating national sustainable development strategies, based on the ideals
of the BPOA and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.
My Government fully supports the review process and we earnestly hope
that with the support of our development partners and the international
community, the Mauritius meeting will produce the necessary impetus
required to achieve the sustainable development of SIDS.
Mr. Chairman,
Over the last 10 years, we have faced many challenges that have greatly
hindered the implementation of the BPOA. For example, our vulnerabilities
to climate change have increased while our ability to cope and build
resilience has not kept pace. New and emerging issues will further constrain
our efforts to implement the BPOA, if not effectively addressed. We
therefore seek the understanding and support of our development partners in
addressing the challenges that have emerged over the last decade.
The full implementation of the BPOA requires the strengthening of the
partnership between SIDS and the international community and the
fulfillment of the commitments made by the international community to
assist SIDS with their national efforts towards sustainable development.
The current draft G77 Strategy that was the subject of negotiation during the
SIDS Prepcom includes those crosscutting issues of crucial importance to us
as a means for implementing the BPOA. We hope these issues are given
adequate attention in the outcome document from Mauritius.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, I wish to express our appreciation to the international
community for their contributions to assist SIDS participation in the
preparatory meetings and the Mauritius Meeting.
