Statement by Mr. Masud Bin Momen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh and Chair of the Least Developed Countries at the handover ceremony of the chairmanship of the Group of 77
Trusteeship Council Chamber, UNHQ, 13 January 2017, 3-5:30 pm
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
- It is my honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Least Developed Countries and also in my national capacity. At the beginning, let me wish you all a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous 2017
- At the outset, we would like to convey our deep respect to H.E. Mr. Rafael Correa, President of the Republic of Ecuador and Chair of the Group of the 77 and also to H.E. Mr. Guillaume Long, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ecuador.
- We would also like to express our appreciation for H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand for his delegation’s commendable efforts last year as the Chair of G77.
- We would also like to acknowledge the participation of both the Secretary General of the United Nations H.E. Mr. Antonio Guterres, and the Acting President of the General Assembly for its 71st session, H.E Ambassador Durga Prasad Bhattarai as well as the Chairs of the regional groups and the wider membership that comprise the G77.
- Allow me to congratulate Ecuador for taking up the chairmanship of the Group of 77. We are looking forward to working with the delegation of Ecuador and particularly with Ambassador and Permanent Representative H.E. Mr. Horacio Sevilla Borja. The delegation of Ecuador has a reputation of dealing with issues of interest of the developing countries in the United Nations with passion, knowledge and dedication. One of the most notable achievements of Ecuador in 2016 was to host the Habitat III Conference in Quito and steer the negotiation to a forward-looking New Urban Agenda in line with the 2030 Agenda. We are confident that under the leadership of Ecuador, the G77 would continue to defend the interest of the developing countries, particularly of the least developed countries, in the UN.
- I would also like to put on record the deep appreciation of the LDC group as well as my delegation for the accomplishment of the delegation of Thailand as the Chair of G77 in 2016. Led by Ambassador and Permanent Representative H.E. Virachai Plasai, the Thai delegation put up sincere efforts to make the group stronger, bolder and more dynamic. We are aware that the diversity within the Group makes the job of the Chair more difficult. However, supported by a group of diligent and devoted diplomats, Excellency Plasai did that job wonderfully. The Thai delegation demonstrated exemplary leadership marked by firmness as well as pragmatic flexibility in securing the collective interests of the G77 in the difficult negotiations of last year. It was also heartening to see the consideration that G77 as a group showed to protect and promote the interests of the most vulnerable countries in the Group. I would like to recall here with our sincere thanks to supporting of the G77 in incorporating LDC issues in different resolutions particularly on the QCPR and Technology Bank for LDCs.
- We would also like to take the opportunity to express our thanks to the Executive Secretariat of the Group of 77 for their efficient and timely support extended to all the Members throughout the year.
- Finally, Mr. Chair, we all are aware that 2017 will again be an equally busy year for us, if not more. We have before us the challenging task of implementing the 2030 Agenda to transform our world. Poverty, inequality, climate change, migration and refugees, natural and manmade disasters continue to threaten our efforts to attain peace, prosperity and sustainable development across the globe. In this context, collaboration among countries now is needed more than ever before. However, we observed last year the tendency in our development partners to dilute the commitments made in different global consensus agreements, documents and instruments adopted in 2015. It is rather disconcerting that robust international cooperation still remains elusive in a number of crucial areas. G77 as a group needs to work with greater efficiency and assertion to ensure that our engagements with our development partners lead to enhanced international cooperation. Let us also acknowledge that among us the weaker countries need more support so that we do not leave them behind. The diversity among us should give us the strength to demonstrate solidarity with the most vulnerable section of the Group.
- The LDC Group and Bangladesh as its Chair reaffirm its support to the G77 Chair in creating harmony in the Group as well as in pursuing its collective interests.
I thank you, Mr. Chair.