Madam President,
It gives me a great pleasure and honour to congratulate you on behalf
of the Group of 77 and China for the exemplary and able manner in which
you steer the works of the ECOSOC towards the achievement of the laid-out
objectives of this session which is convened in the context of discussing
the issues related to resources mobilization and enabling environment
for poverty eradication in the context of the implementation of the Programme
of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010.
On this occasion, I would like to present on behalf of the Group of
77 and China, our sincere thanks and appreciation to H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan,
the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the comprehensive report
he submitted to the high level segment of this session in which he laid
out the principal plans for the ECOSOC joint work in the area of the
implementation of the Programme of Action for the mentioned decade.
Madam President,
The importance of this session stems from the fact that, it has been
convened in the context of the implementation of the goals and the commitments
made at the major UN summits and conferences for LDCs including the Programme
of Action for the Decade on the assistance for these countries. In this
regard, the Group of 77 and China welcomes the positive steps through
which the ECOSOC urges the specialized agencies of the UN system and
the relevant multilateral organizations to mainstream the implementation
of the Declaration and the Brussels Prgaramme of Action into their programmes
of work and in any other steps undertaken by them at the intergovernmental
level. The Group of 77 and China emphasizes the necessity of taking further
initiatives based on the enhancement of cooperation between LDCs and
other countries at regional and international levels, and through the
establishment of effective mechanisms to assess the economic and social
performance in LDCS, as well as to monitor the implementation of the
commitments contained in the Programme of Action, along with the need
to review and follow up the performance of the mechanism of implementation
and policy developments and to assess the extent of the effect such mechanisms
and policy may reflect on the course of the implementation of the programme
of assistance for LDCs.
Madam President,
The Group of 77 and China attaches paramount importance to the implementation
of the measures contained in the Brussels Programme of Action and putting
such measures into tangible deeds and in coherence with the national
development policy framework of the LDCs in an effort to eradicate poverty
and to achieve socio-economic development in LDCs. The ECOSOC, pursuant
to the broad mandate entrusted to it, can play a major role in mobilizing
the international potentials and exploring the best avenues for the implementation
of the goals laid out in the Brussels Programme of Action and addressing
the challenges that hinder the achievement of the objectives contained
therein, in a timely manner.
The Programme of Action for the LDCs for the Decade 2001-2010 embodies
a global commitment to address widespread poverty in LDCs, through the
mobilization of greater domestic and international resources for meeting
the goals of development in LDCs and addressing the structural challenges
these countries face, domestically, and constraints to their effective
participation in the global economy.
Madam President,
While welcoming some improvement in terms of ODA flows to the LDCs,
and the initiatives made to enhance global markets access for LDCs exports,
the Group of 77 and China believes that the prospects of such improvement
will fall short in light of the persistently negligible share of LDCs
in world trade, the insufficient FDI flows, the overreliance on basic
commodities and the limited external debt relief which together, have
posed challenges to the achievement of sustainable economic growth in
LDCs. Therefore, the Member States of the Group of 77 and China reaffirm
the significance of the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action
and other internationally agreed development goals, including those contained
in the Millennium Declaration, the Monterry Consensus and the Doha Conference.
Madam President,
The achievement of the goals laid out in the Brussels Progaramme of
Action requires the implementation of the commitments made by the LDCs
and their development partners in terms of building human and institutional
capacities, fostering a people-centered policy framework, promoting good
governance, building productive capacities and mobilizing more financial
resources, through the private trust funds and from external sources
other than the budget, as well as multiplying the basic resources, especially
for Africa where the majority of countries is LDCs. The problem of a
high level of external indebtedness continues to hinder economic performance
in many LDCs, as debt services payments drain the limited development
resources in these countries.
From this perspective, the Group of 77 and China emphasizes the necessity
of assisting the LDCS to take some necessary measures in order to meet
the goals set out in the Brussels Programme of Action and, in the meantime,
commends the sincere efforts by the office of the High Representative
for LDCs, Landlocked Countries and Small Developing Island States (SDIS)
towards conducting numerous consultations with LDCs, and their national
partners from civil society and the private sector as well as multilateral
organizations and donors, for exploring the best avenues to further the
implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action.
Madam President,
While recognizing the responsibility of LDCs for articulating and following
up their development strategies, the Group of 77 and China, meanwhile
acknowledges the importance of promoting genuine development partnerships
including with civil society and the private sector. Such partnerships
are considered one of the important steps towards removing the obstacles
that challenge the implementation of the decade programme of action for
LDCs.
In this context, and in coherence with the spirit of the Brussels Programme
of Action the Group of 77 and China urges donor countries to continue
their efforts in terms of providing free market access to the products
of LDCs, removing tariff barriers and clearing the way for these countries
to compete with others on an equal footing. The Member States of the
Group of 77 and China underscore the significance of the continuation,
by donor countries, of according the LDCs the technological and technical
support including other resources necessary for assisting LDCs to meet
the goals of the Brussels Programme of Action.
Madam President,
The Group of 77 and China spares no efforts in supporting the international
endavours to assist the countries emerging from armed conflicts, ensuring
external debt relief for the heavily indebted poor countries and increasing
FDI flows in consistence with the international initiatives taken in
these areas in addition to creating an enabling environment with peaceful
solutions of conflicts and respect for internationally recognized human
rights including the right to development.
I would, also, like to take this opportunity to underscore the importance
of the active and effective participation of the Group of 77 and China
in the negotiations related to the integrated and coordinated review
of the implementation and follow-up to the major UN summits and conferences
including the Brussels Programme of Action, for assisting the LDCs to
eradicate poverty and to achieve economic growth for their people.
Madam President,
Least developed countries continue to face numerous challenges in mobilizing
resources for poverty eradication, and for the overall implementation
of the Brussels Programme of Action. To ensure the success of the international
endavours towards addressing such challenges, it would be necessary for
the member states and other partners to reinforce their political will
vis-a-vis the implementation of the governmental commitments and the
initiatives of partnerships, through enhancing the channels of cooperation
among the UN agencies, Bretton Woods institutions and World Trade Organization.
In closing, I assure you, Madam President, of the perseverance of the
Group of 77 and China towards the realization of the goals and the objectives
of the Brussels Programme of Action, which are, undoubtedly, envisioned
by the Group as instrumental, practical and conducive to the realization
of the hopes and aspirations of the people in developing countries and
LDCs in terms of poverty eradication and the achievement of economic
and social development.
Thank you, Madam President.
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