Statement by H.E. Mr. Masud Bin Momen, Ambassador & Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to UN, on behalf of the Group of Least Developed Countries, at meeting of National Focal Points from Least Developed Countries Conference Room 7, UNHQ, 27 March 2016
Thank you for giving me the floor.
Your Excellency, Ambassador Gyan Chandra Acharya, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS,
Ambassador Cardi of Italy,
Distinguished National Focal Points of the LDCs,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning to all of you on the Easter Sunday morning.
First of all, I would like to thank UN-OHRLLS, and the representatives of the Member States for gathering here today. I must also thank Ambassador Cardi, and the Government of Italy, for supporting in organization of this meeting today. This demonstrates your commitment to the causes of the least developed countries.
2. This meeting of National Focal Points is of special importance to us, as tomorrow the four-day preparatory meeting for the Comprehensive High-level Midterm Review of the Istanbul Programme of Action will begin at the UN Headquarters.
3. The Midterm Review that will take place in Antalya, Turkey on 27 – 29 May 2016 will provide us with the opportunity for stocktaking of the achievements, and the challenges faced by LDCs while implementing the IPoA in the first half of its mandated duration. We also need to draw clear roadmap for ensuring that we fulfill the targets of the Istanbul Programme of Action within the stipulated timeline of 2020, including the key goal of halving the number of LDCs by the end of this decade. The discussions today, where the National Focal Points will participate, will provide us with these two important steps – analyzing the steps that we have taken so far, and repositioning for the future actions.
4. I would like to remind the National Focal Points of the importance of engaging substantively in the next four days of consultations on the draft political declaration. It is important that the LDCs speak in one voice. You are kindly aware that LDCs, as a Group, have already submitted a position paper to the Co-Facilitators for the MTR, that will work as our base of consultations and negotiations. This paper was prepared after collecting inputs from the LDCs. I understand copies of that paper are again being distributed here for your ease of reference.
5. You are also kindly aware that in UN negotiations, LDCs participate under the umbrella of Group of 77 & China. I would therefore request you to coordinate with LDC Chair who will liaise with G77 on any issue that you feel needs to be addressed in the political declaration. I would also suggest that while participating in the consultations, the LDC delegates may like to take into account the major recent developments in multilateral platform, including the 2030 Agenda, Addis Ababa Action Agenda, Sendai Framework, and the Paris Agreement as useful tools for implementing the IPoA.
Finally, I wish you successful meeting today and also during the next week.
Thank you, Mr. Under-Secretary-General.