Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) and Timor-Leste
Pacific Troika Statement on behalf of Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) and Timor-Leste to the Closing Ceremony of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals Thirteenth and Final Session, 19 July 2014, New York
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Thank you Co-Chairs.
I am speaking on behalf of the Pacific troika of Nauru, Palau and my own delegation - Papua New Guinea - as well as for the 9 other Pacific SIDS represented here at the United Nations. We are also pleased to be joined by our neighbor Timor-Leste in this concluding remarks.
For our members who are G77 members, we associate with the statement made by Bolivia on behalf of G77 and China, however, we all align ourselves with our troika partner, Nauru’s remarks on behalf of AOSIS.
Let me join other delegations in sincerely commending both Co-Chairs for your astute leadership, sterling work and transparent, open and inclusive manner in which you conducted the important work of this inter-governmental process over the last 18 months.
We also enjoyed many jovial occasions, including at times the challenges some of us faced in correctly pronouncing certain delegation’s names, which made our meetings all the more lively and interesting.
We thank you also for your willingness to go out of your way, individually and together, to meet with different groupings in the OWG process, including with the Pacific SIDS when we requested.
We also thank all the delegations for the spirit of cooperation, flexibility and valued contributions throughout this inter-governmental process whilst also noting the challenges involved in accommodating the diversity of interests..
We agree with the Co-Chair’s views that in such a process that we have multilaterally undertaken, not every delegation’s specific views and interests, always finds itself in an outcome document. That is the reality we all recognize and this process is no exception but today is indeed a historic moment that we should all be proud of.
Speaking directly to the outcome document we have before us now, we are generally satisfied with the overall text that is fairly balanced whilst attempting to account for the diversity of interests.
We especially strongly welcome the inclusion of dedicated proposed goal areas 13, 14 and 16, which we have been staunch advocates. We thank all delegations for the spirit of compromise, flexibility and cooperation in making these possible. For us, they are fundamental cornerstones that will help shape the future we want.
However, there are equally certain areas we would have like to see differently. Specifically, we highly regret the omission of the key element of "management" in the proposed Goal 14 title, which we believe is a fundamental concept that is imperative for oceans and seas governance.
We also have concerns as it relates to MoI 14 c as it relates to UNCLOS.
Whilst we have taken note of the Co-Chair’s explanation provided earlier on this matter, we however, note the inconsistency in the application of UNCLOS in this important area.
In our consideration, the current formulation significantly weakens the application of UNCLOS, which is regrettable. We also firmly believe that 14.c, as it stands, also does not enjoy consensus.
Taking this into consideration, the Pacific SIDS supports the statement by the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) as well as others in this regard. We would prefer that 14.c. end after the word "UNCLOS." Accordingly, we therefore reserve our position on the remainder of that paragraph though we are receptive to the intent noted for existing regional and international regimes in support of the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources .
We however, look forward to the next phase of the post-2015 development agenda to address such concerns and we join other delegations in supporting the proposal to take this outcome document forward to the General Assembly at its 69th session for consideration. We, again, renew our pledge to continue working constructively with all other stakeholders.
In closing, we heartily congratulate both Co-Chairs and all delegations as well as the Secretariat staff for enabling us to collectively put forward a solid basis for the next set of a possible global post-2015 development agenda that is transformative to bring forth the future we all want.
I thank you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you Co-Chairs.
I am speaking on behalf of the Pacific troika of Nauru, Palau and my own delegation - Papua New Guinea - as well as for the 9 other Pacific SIDS represented here at the United Nations. We are also pleased to be joined by our neighbor Timor-Leste in this concluding remarks.
For our members who are G77 members, we associate with the statement made by Bolivia on behalf of G77 and China, however, we all align ourselves with our troika partner, Nauru’s remarks on behalf of AOSIS.
Let me join other delegations in sincerely commending both Co-Chairs for your astute leadership, sterling work and transparent, open and inclusive manner in which you conducted the important work of this inter-governmental process over the last 18 months.
We also enjoyed many jovial occasions, including at times the challenges some of us faced in correctly pronouncing certain delegation’s names, which made our meetings all the more lively and interesting.
We thank you also for your willingness to go out of your way, individually and together, to meet with different groupings in the OWG process, including with the Pacific SIDS when we requested.
We also thank all the delegations for the spirit of cooperation, flexibility and valued contributions throughout this inter-governmental process whilst also noting the challenges involved in accommodating the diversity of interests..
We agree with the Co-Chair’s views that in such a process that we have multilaterally undertaken, not every delegation’s specific views and interests, always finds itself in an outcome document. That is the reality we all recognize and this process is no exception but today is indeed a historic moment that we should all be proud of.
Speaking directly to the outcome document we have before us now, we are generally satisfied with the overall text that is fairly balanced whilst attempting to account for the diversity of interests.
We especially strongly welcome the inclusion of dedicated proposed goal areas 13, 14 and 16, which we have been staunch advocates. We thank all delegations for the spirit of compromise, flexibility and cooperation in making these possible. For us, they are fundamental cornerstones that will help shape the future we want.
However, there are equally certain areas we would have like to see differently. Specifically, we highly regret the omission of the key element of "management" in the proposed Goal 14 title, which we believe is a fundamental concept that is imperative for oceans and seas governance.
We also have concerns as it relates to MoI 14 c as it relates to UNCLOS.
Whilst we have taken note of the Co-Chair’s explanation provided earlier on this matter, we however, note the inconsistency in the application of UNCLOS in this important area.
In our consideration, the current formulation significantly weakens the application of UNCLOS, which is regrettable. We also firmly believe that 14.c, as it stands, also does not enjoy consensus.
Taking this into consideration, the Pacific SIDS supports the statement by the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) as well as others in this regard. We would prefer that 14.c. end after the word "UNCLOS." Accordingly, we therefore reserve our position on the remainder of that paragraph though we are receptive to the intent noted for existing regional and international regimes in support of the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources .
We however, look forward to the next phase of the post-2015 development agenda to address such concerns and we join other delegations in supporting the proposal to take this outcome document forward to the General Assembly at its 69th session for consideration. We, again, renew our pledge to continue working constructively with all other stakeholders.
In closing, we heartily congratulate both Co-Chairs and all delegations as well as the Secretariat staff for enabling us to collectively put forward a solid basis for the next set of a possible global post-2015 development agenda that is transformative to bring forth the future we all want.
I thank you.
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