Mr. Vesna Batistić Kos
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EXPERT GROUP MEETING FOR THE GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REPORT Dubrovnik, 21-22 October 2013
Opening statement
Vesna Batistić Kos
Assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs and Global Issues
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia
Having in mind the importance that is given to the Post-2015 Agenda in the current work of the UN, we have to express our satisfaction with recent developments on strengthening the institutional architecture for sustainable development. All institutional formats mandated by the Rio+20 conclusions have been successfully established during this year, including the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development which we have inaugurated during the 68th General Assembly ministerial week last month in New York.
We believe the Forum will provide a dynamic platform that will help to ensure sustainable development is given prominent attention, at the same time fostering the sustainability of the UN institutional framework itself. This complex task with many challenges, being both political and technical in their nature, should give impetus to implementation of commitments and be strongly focused on their follow-ups.
Post-2015 development agenda, as a truly global agenda, should ensure that no one is denied universal human rights and equal economic opportunities, as prerequisites for a life of dignity and a basic standard of wellbeing. We should unlock all available potentials to create environments supportive to building resilience to life’s uncertainties and tackle the causes of poverty, exclusion and inequality.
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As we know, sustainable development will not be brought about by policies only, but it needs to be taken up by the society, by our lifestyles and by daily choices each one of us makes. We need to work all together – scientists, private sector, civil society, policymakers and citizens.
And it is exactly by science-policy interface, together with the innovative partnerships it brings about, that we can truly contribute in responding the people’s calls for realizing their right to development and opportunities. This is the link we should strongly encourage.
It is a privilege that Croatia has joined the efforts with the UNDESA and that we are hosting this important Meeting here in Dubrovnik. And it is not Dubrovnik by chance. Dubrovnik is a symbol of uniting culture, history, economy and trade, water and sea. Therefore, we see Dubrovnik as an ideal place for reenergizing calls for preservation from overstepping the Planetary boundary.
We believe this Meeting will be an opportunity to launch the discussions on challenges of sustainable development and an opportunity to create the network of experts and scientist to develop scenarios for the forthcoming Global Sustainable Development Report.
We firmly believe this Meeting is a clear expression of Croatia’s strong commitment to the UN sustainable development agenda.
I wish all of you to have very fruitful discussions and to address some of the most important conclusions of this two-days Meeting into the future Global sustainable Development Report, reflecting the Mediterranean development perspectives.
EXPERT GROUP MEETING FOR THE GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REPORT Dubrovnik, 21-22 October 2013
Opening statement
Vesna Batistić Kos
Assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs and Global Issues
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia
Having in mind the importance that is given to the Post-2015 Agenda in the current work of the UN, we have to express our satisfaction with recent developments on strengthening the institutional architecture for sustainable development. All institutional formats mandated by the Rio+20 conclusions have been successfully established during this year, including the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development which we have inaugurated during the 68th General Assembly ministerial week last month in New York.
We believe the Forum will provide a dynamic platform that will help to ensure sustainable development is given prominent attention, at the same time fostering the sustainability of the UN institutional framework itself. This complex task with many challenges, being both political and technical in their nature, should give impetus to implementation of commitments and be strongly focused on their follow-ups.
Post-2015 development agenda, as a truly global agenda, should ensure that no one is denied universal human rights and equal economic opportunities, as prerequisites for a life of dignity and a basic standard of wellbeing. We should unlock all available potentials to create environments supportive to building resilience to life’s uncertainties and tackle the causes of poverty, exclusion and inequality.
2
As we know, sustainable development will not be brought about by policies only, but it needs to be taken up by the society, by our lifestyles and by daily choices each one of us makes. We need to work all together – scientists, private sector, civil society, policymakers and citizens.
And it is exactly by science-policy interface, together with the innovative partnerships it brings about, that we can truly contribute in responding the people’s calls for realizing their right to development and opportunities. This is the link we should strongly encourage.
It is a privilege that Croatia has joined the efforts with the UNDESA and that we are hosting this important Meeting here in Dubrovnik. And it is not Dubrovnik by chance. Dubrovnik is a symbol of uniting culture, history, economy and trade, water and sea. Therefore, we see Dubrovnik as an ideal place for reenergizing calls for preservation from overstepping the Planetary boundary.
We believe this Meeting will be an opportunity to launch the discussions on challenges of sustainable development and an opportunity to create the network of experts and scientist to develop scenarios for the forthcoming Global Sustainable Development Report.
We firmly believe this Meeting is a clear expression of Croatia’s strong commitment to the UN sustainable development agenda.
I wish all of you to have very fruitful discussions and to address some of the most important conclusions of this two-days Meeting into the future Global sustainable Development Report, reflecting the Mediterranean development perspectives.
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