High-level
Thematic Debate of the UN General Assembly on Achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals, New York, 21 April 2016
Statement
by Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis,
Special
Ministerial Envoy of the Republic of Cyprus
Mr
President,
Thank
you for convening this important high-level meeting, the first
following the adoption of the universal, transformative 2030 Agenda
and the Sustainable Development Goals last September.
The
implementation of this Agenda presents a multitude of challenges to
all countries irrespective of their development level. Commitments
must be honored. International public and private assistance and
support, domestic resources, technology, capacity-building and
especially statistical capacity, innovative finance schemes and
climate finance are integral for the implementation process in
developing countries and in particular the least developed and small
island developing states.
The
2030 Agenda together with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for financing
for sustainable development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change
are closely interlinked. Without adequate financing and without
tackling climate change, the Goals simply cannot be attained.
Our
world today is more than ever interconnected. National borders have
lost their meaning. Humanity is going through its worst humanitarian
refugee crisis with more than 60 million refugees having fled,
becoming involuntary fugitives in a human tragedy. In this landscape
we are called upon to implement the sustainable development goals for
a change of paradigm. The
achievement of sustainable development goals will address a plethora
of challenges facing humanity because they touch on the roots of
problems; poverty elimination, inequality, the building of just and
peaceful societies and strong institutions and upholding of the rule
of law and respecting human rights.
Mr
President,
In
Cyprus we have begun the implementation process of SDGs. Being
located in one of the most volatile areas in the world and having in
place a peace process of our own, we attach utmost importance in the
implementation of Goal 16 on peace and security.
As
a small island state in a geographic area that is most affected by
climate change, Goal 13 on Climate change is also a priority, as is
Goal 14 on the sustainable use of Oceans. Particular attention is
paid to target 14c which calls for the implementation of
international law as reflected in the UNCLOS which provides the legal
framework for the sustainable use of oceans. In this respect we
express the hope that current negotiations towards a new binding
legal instrument under UNCLOS for the protection of Biodiversity
Beyond areas of National Jurisdiction prove fruitful.
Gender
equality and women’s empowerment in Goal 5, is another priority
area because no society can have strong and healthy foundations if it
is built on gender inequalities and injustices.
Mr
President,
Involvement
in the implementation process of all stakeholders, both state and
non-state actors, is crucial. We have a framework that is rightly of
an integrated and intertwined nature, where implementation of one
goal facilitates the implementation of all the rest. The same
holistic approach must be followed when putting in place national
plans and actions.
We
are certain that we will leave from today’s dialogue richer. The
exchange of ideas and lessons learned are of great value to us. More
than ever, this is the time to work in synergy, complementarity and
in a dialectical interaction between the local and the global, the
individual and the collective effort.
Thank
You.
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22/4/2016
ΜΚΑ/EI
