Honourable Co-Chairs,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
As Secretary-General of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, it is my honour to be with you at the closing of the first meeting of its Preparatory Committee.
This week marked a significant milestone on the road to SIDS4.
Congratulations on a successful first reading of the text.
You’ve embarked on a mission to deliver a new multilateral agreement that will set the course for transformative change in SIDS, over the next ten years.
SIDS have put forward innovative proposals to address their most pressing challenges, including the Centre of Excellence and the Debt Sustainability Support Service, which merit discussion and debate.
I was inspired by the political commitment and unwavering support for the development aspirations of SIDS expressed by many Member States this week.
The international community recognizes clearly that SIDS remain a special case for sustainable development. Their vulnerability, particularly to external shocks, has consistently compromised their development progress, – despite their best efforts.
But you’ve also determined that these challenges can be overcome.
You recognized that SIDS need targeted assistance to move from vulnerability towards a most resilient future by revitalizing their economies; enhancing their environmental resilience; promoting equity, inclusion, peaceful societies and safe communities; and by strengthening their institutional and statistical capacity.
In this regard, you’ve noted the importance of providing the means of implementation to help SIDS achieve their development objectives, underpinned by capacity-building and genuine and durable partnerships.
Colleagues,
At the start of the week, the Chair of AOSIS, Ambassador Luteru asked us all to decide that the development of SIDS and their resilient prosperity provide a collective good, and to act on that decision in the months ahead. Likewise Conference Host, Ambassador Webson called for bold action, to fortify our commitments and catalyse change.
I encourage you to be guided by these words as we move towards a transformational, action-oriented outcome. Let us recall our collective commitment to leave no one behind and protect the most vulnerable. You are already off to a great start.
At this moment, I want to recognize the Member States that are already demonstrating their support through financial pledges to support conference preparations.
There has been strong support from civil society to the process, with organizations working on the ground to bring valuable insights, including on the most pressing gaps and challenges. With thanks to the host, we expect that civil society will have a dedicated forum to engage in the Conference.
The strong commitment of the UN system has also been evident in supporting your efforts.
I will conclude with thanks to the co-chairs Ambassador Schwalger of New Zealand and Ambassador Mohamed of the Maldives for their able stewardship of the process thus far. We can all agree that we are in very good hands.
I also thank the Bureau for their support and planning and to Ambassador Webson and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda for their tireless dedication.
My team and I look forward to working with you all over the coming months, as we translate our collective ambition into a transformative outcome that will help SIDS chart the course toward resilient prosperity.
I thank you.