Statement by H.E. Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh at the handover ceremony of the chairmanship of the Group of 77 & China 8 January 2015
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Excellencies, colleagues, let me wish you all a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous New Year 2015.
- Allow me to congratulate the Republic of South Africa, and in particular Your Excellency Luwellyn Landers, on assumption of the position of the Chair of the Group of 77 and China for the year 2015. My delegation is confident that South Africa, with its demonstrated role in protecting and promoting the interests of the developing world, will ably lead this diverse group of countries. Let me assure you and your delegation of my delegation’s full support and cooperation.
- I would also like to put on record the profound appreciation of my delegation for the delegation of the Plurinational State of Bolivia for the wonderful job they have done as the Leader of G77 and China in 2014., I would like to specifically refer to the role of Ambassador Sacha Llorentty Soliz during the difficult negotiation on troop cost reimbursement at the Fifth Committee and the High-Level Committee meeting of the South-South Cooperation for a consensus decision. It was his leadership that ensured solidarity of this Group during the long and protracted negotiations on the issues. He showed an exemplary mix of flexibility and firmness during the whole process. Amidst the impasse and approaching deadline, it was his resolute work and astute leadership that helped everyone find the common ground. Ambassador Llorentty of course has been really fortunate to have a team of highly dedicated and diligent diplomats in his Mission who literally worked round the clock to protect and promote collective interests of the global community. We are ever grateful to His Excellency President Evo Morales Ayma of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, whose personal interest in collective development made this Group more vibrant last year. The G77 50th Anniversary Summit that was organized at his initiative in Santa Cruz shows the commitment that Bolivia has for the cause of developing countries. We are thankful to his and his leadership. I also like to thank former President of Dominican Republic, His Excellency Mr. Lionel Fernández for his visionary role to regulate speculative pricing of commodities.
- Finally, Mr. Chair, as all my colleagues are aware, we will have a very busy year in 2015, with post 2015 development agenda taking the final shape, with the international conference on financing for development, and with the 2015 climate change conference in Paris. Considering the diversity of the Group, it is important that we are united, and use this diversity creatively to strengthen the bond within the Group. It is also important that the members of the Group continue to be sympathetic, considerate and provide meaningful support to the LDCs, to SIDS, the most vulnerable countries in this Group. We are confident that South Africa will lead us in the right direction to ensure the harmony within the Group to enhance “unity in diversity”, and will always strive to achieve the targets that are in our common interest. In your journey during the year, Mr. Chair, Bangladesh will always be with you to have a pro-people, pro-planet inclusive, peaceful and sustainable development for all.
I thank you, Mr. Chair.