Statement by H.E. Mr. Boubacar Boureima, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Niger Permanent Mission to the United Nations, on behalf of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries on the items “Integrating the SDGs into the post-2015 Development Agenda and the Declaration”.
New York, 20 January 2015.
Co- Facilitators,
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the 32 landlocked developing countries and on behalf of the Chair of LLDCs. I wish to thank the Co-Facilitators for giving me the floor.
I wish from the outset to state that, it is the understanding of the group of LLDCs that the 17 SDGs and 169 targets that were developed by the Open Working Group last year in July should be the basis for the integration into the Post-2015 Development Agenda and should not be re-opened for negotiations.
I also wish to indicate that for this process, the group of LLDCs wishes to reiterate the importance of efficient and regular follow-up mechanism at global, regional and national level for the post 2015 development agenda, that should consider the LLDCs need for strengthened statistical data system, for them to generate appropriate data. The UN system should be enhanced to particularly ensure that the UN institutions, in the Post 2015 development agenda period, the country level be supported in our countries to integrate advancement of LLDCs and priorities of the new programme of action as well as develop a criteria and indicators for measuring the progress of implementing the new development agenda and the Vienna Programme of Action in LLDCs for the decade 2014 to 2024.
I wish to emphasise therefore that the development of the indicators by the United Nations Statistical Commission should be undertaken in an open, transparent and inclusive manner that seeks to recognise special needs at national level and to improve capacity of regional commissions too.
As the global community charts a new path for development in the Post 2015 period with the overarching objective of ending poverty and giving a life of dignity to all, the Group of landlocked developing countries would like to reiterate the special development challenges faced by landlocked developing countries, as highlighted in the 10-year review conference on the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action, the adopted Vienna Programme of Action for the Decade 2014-2024 and the Vienna Declaration. I wish to emphasise that the special needs of LLDCs and priority actions to address these special needs should be reflected prominently in the post 2015 development agenda. Landlocked developing countries are among the poorest of developing countries, with limited capacities and dependence on a very limited number of commodities for their export earnings. Furthermore, their low productive capacities and structural weaknesses limit their ability to meaningfully add value to their exports and diversify both their exports and markets. Landlocked developing countries have indeed been experiencing a more rapid rate of deindustrialization, greater economic informality and unmitigated decline in the value of agricultural sector.
I wish to put forward that the political declaration should contain a section that will speak to the special needs of LLDCs and call for the differential and preferential treatment due to vulnerabilities. In the Vienna Programme of Action, it is recognized that landlocked developing countries deserve further global support if they are to fully benefit from globalization and achieve sustained and inclusive economic growth and development, poverty eradication, employment generation and structural transformation.
The group is therefore ready to engage and ensures that specific update on priorities for LLDCs are effectively incorporated in the post 2015 development agenda.
In order to have effective implementation, the Vienna Programme of Action should be integrated in this global process of the Post 2015 Development Agenda. The international community should enhance and increase its support through official development assistance, foreign direct investment, South-South and triangular cooperation and private sector investment. This is in view of additional priorities in the new VPoA and more ambitious actions that need to be undertaken by LLDCs and their partners.
It is also recommended that the Vienna Programme of Action be mainstreamed into global, regional and national development programmes. I therefore call for the support of the international community and your support in this process.
I thank you.
