New York, 16 April 2024.
Dear co-facilitators,
At the outset, we would like to thank you for your continuous efforts and dedication to keep this process moving forward.
We align to the statements delivered by Uganda, on behalf of the G77 and China, and by Pakistan, on behalf of the LMG. We would like also to make some additional comments.
In first place, we would like to emphasize that regardless of the methodology that we might follow, this process has to provide credible commitments to solve the problems the humanity is facing. In this regard, we highlight that those affected the most are the countries from the South, therefore, the Pact needs to respond to our claims.
Following an approach where developing countries are not given fairer opportunities in the international order will just lead to an outcome not commensurate with the expectations of a Summit called to be future looking. We hope our colleagues across the room be aware of the damage that could be produced in terms of loss of trust if the mindset continues to be maintaining the status quo.
Secondly, we have been consistently advising against several of the proposals weakening the intergovernmental nature of the UN. This is a matter of principles that needs to remain untouched. Seeking to diminish the role of States in the conduct of international relations is something that could even lead to the collapse of an organization such as the UN.
Thirdly, we believe that our thinking heading to the next stage should be on how to go deeper in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. We recall that the Secretary General called on us to turbocharge the SDGs through the Summit of the Future. Hence, we need to identify concrete actions that allow keeping the track of the SDGs alive.
On the other hand, turbocharging the SDGs has nothing to do with diluting the content of the 2030 Agenda. We have seen several proposals in this regard during the first reading and we hope, dear co-facilitators, that you avoid this kind of ideas in the new document that you will produce.
Being guided by the 2030 Agenda also implies to acknowledge everything it was committed there. The call to refrain from the application of unilateral coercive measures was clearly laid out in the Agenda, which is why is unacceptable that some Member States refuse now to even recognize this matter. It is our hope as well that we keep a sense of justice when dealing with this issue.
To conclude, we would like to reassure you our interest to have an ambitious outcome. You can count on us.
I thank you.