A/67/PV.91 General Assembly

It is my sad duty to inform members of the General Assembly of the passing away, on 1 July, of His Excellency Mr. Stoyan Ganev, President of the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session. Mr. Ganev was a remarkable man of peace who served his country and the international community as a politician, diplomat and jurist. As President of the General Assembly, Mr. Ganev played an outstanding role in the Organization and made a major contribution towards the achievement of the objectives set out in the Charter of the United Nations. On behalf of the General Assembly, I should like to convey our deepest condolences to the Government and people of Bulgaria and to Mr. Ganev’s bereaved family. Mr. Ganev’s was an illustrious career, both within and outside the United Nations. As President, he guided the Assembly of 179 Member States, tackling a diverse range of issues facing the globe in the last decade of the twentieth century. By all accounts, he was an astute diplomat, capable of facilitating the building of consensus on topics that included regional disarmament, the establishment of a fund to protect the environment, humanitarian aid to Somalia and United Nations peacekeeping. Stoyan Ganev was born in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria, in 1955. He studied at Sofia University’s Faculty of *1338654* 13-38654 (E) Law and went on to serve as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs in his country’s first democratic Government. He diligently and expertly negotiated Bulgaria’s treaty of accession to the European Union in 2005. Above all, Mr. Ganev was respected by Member States as a fair and productive President of the General Assembly, a man who will always be remembered for his commitment to the founding principles of the United Nations. I now invite representatives to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of His Excellency Mr. Stoyan Ganev, former President of the General Assembly. May he rest in peace.

I now give the floor to the Secretary-General.

I would like to offer my condolences to the family of His Excellency Mr. Stoyan Ganev, President of the General Assembly at its forty- seventh session, and to all his friends and loved ones in Bulgaria and around the world, on his untimely passing earlier this month. He died young, aged only 57. But he was here at the United Nations as a young man, too  — one of the youngest ever to hold the post of President of the General Assembly. As such, he brought welcome energy to our work at a time of particular challenge and hope for the Organization. The historic United Nations Conference on Environment and Development  — the Earth Summit — had just taken place, and he helped to steer our follow-up on the original road from Rio de Janeiro. The Balkans were in turmoil, and his regional knowledge brought a useful perspective to that challenge. Most of all, his tenure coincided with a period when the United Nations, freed from the constraints of the Cold War, was able to act and engage in new ways to address global problems. Mr. Ganev, a skilled jurist and politician, used his tenure to advance that work, and today we continue to build upon his contributions. I had the great pleasure of meeting him several times over the years. He participated actively in the Council of Presidents of the General Assembly. I feel a certain kinship with his service in that capacity, given my own experience here during the Republic of Korea’s presidency of this body. May all who knew Stoyan Ganev take some solace in knowing that he is remembered here as someone who believed in the great power and potential of the General Assembly. May he rest in peace and eternity. Or, as they say in Bulgarian, Bog da go prosti — God rest his soul.

I thank the Secretary-General for his statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt, who will speak on behalf of the Group of African States.

I have the honour to speak today on behalf of the Group of African States to express our deepest and most sincere condolences to the people and Government of the Republic of Bulgaria following the death of His Excellency Mr. Stoyan Ganev. former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, and President of the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session. Mr. Ganev dedicated the greater part of his life to enhancing the welfare of his people and the people of his region. His role in achieving economic reforms in Eastern Europe and implementing regional security structures as part of overall security in Europe will not be forgotten. He also contributed to Bulgaria’s accession to the Council of Europe and the European Union. He was 37 years old when he assumed the presidency of the Assembly, the youngest-ever President at the time. He will nevertheless be remembered as one of the Assembly’s great Presidents. His contribution to international peace and security was widely recognized. In 1992, the first African Secretary-General of the United Nations, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, awarded Mr. Ganev the United Nations Gold Medal of Peace for his contributions to preserving peace and security on our planet. The African Group will always remember Mr. Ganev’s contribution to the work of the United Nations and to making it more effective in finding solutions to political, economic and social issues of concern to all Member States. May God Almighty rest his soul in eternal peace.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Solomon Islands, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Asia-Pacific States.

It is an honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Asia- Pacific States. It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of His Excellency Mr. Stoyan Ganev, President of the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session. On behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group, we offer our deepest condolences to his bereaved family and friends and to the Government and people of the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as his many admirers. On this occasion, we pay tribute to the memory of Mr. Ganev and his distinguished service to the United Nations and humankind. We remember and acknowledge him for the work he did to consolidate world peace and security through his presidency of the General Assembly by finding solutions to political, socioeconomic and environmental problems. The late Mr. Ganev, a highly regarded leader of his country, had been Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, and held a variety of portfolios in his country’s service. He worked tirelessly to promote democracy and economic reform in Eastern Europe and to address security and cooperation in Europe overall. He was instrumental in furthering a number of peace and cooperative initiatives, such as the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1991. His service to the United Nations and the global community will be remembered in years to come. May he rest in peace.

I now give the floor to the representative of Poland, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.

On behalf of the Group of Eastern European States, let me extend my sympathies on the occasion of the death of Mr. Stoyan Ganev, President of the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session, and to convey my sincere condolences to his family and to the people and Government of Bulgaria. Mr. Stoyan Ganev will be remembered as an extraordinary personality who was active in the international arena. As the President of the Assembly at its forty-seventh session, he supported the enhancement of the role of the United Nations in consolidating world peace and security and making it far more effective in finding solutions to political, socioeconomic, environmental and other problems. His death is a great loss to the United Nations. He will always be remembered as a strong advocate of multilateralism and friendship among nations.

I now give the floor to the representative of Uruguay, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the States members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States to pay tribute to the memory of Mr. Stoyan Ganev, President of the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session. To his family and his country, we convey our deepest condolences for this untimely loss. After having been Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Mr. Ganev presided over the General Assembly at a critical time when a number of countries joined the United Nations and a number of conflicts affected international and regional peace and security. During his presidency, the Assembly achieved significant progress in such crucial areas as the situation of women, climate change and the fight against apartheid, inter alia. Those achievements benefited millions of people, and their effects can still be felt today. Mr. Ganev was the President of the General Assembly at a time when the peace processes in our region and others enjoyed priority on the United Nations agenda. It was under his presidency and through his leadership that this body was able to lend its crucial support to lasting peace and development in various countries of my regional group. We will therefore always be grateful to him.

I now give the floor to the representative of Iceland, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Western European and other States.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the members of the Group of Western European and other States. I would like to convey our deepest condolences to the people and Government of the Republic of Bulgaria on the sad passing away of their former Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, who was also President of the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session, His Excellency Mr. Stoyan Ganev. As Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Ganev made history by serving in Bulgaria’s first non-Communist Cabinet in 47 years, during an important and historic period in the region. At the same time, he became President of the General Assembly at a crucial time for the Organization. In that capacity, Mr. Ganev’s support for an enhanced role for the United Nations in consolidating world peace and security and for making the United Nations more effective in finding solutions to political, social, economic, environmental and other problems served us well. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the family and friends of Mr. Ganev.

I now call on the representative of Bulgaria.

Allow me to first convey the profound gratitude of the Government of Bulgaria for this tribute to the memory of the late President of the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session and former Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Stoyan Ganev. I thank Assembly members for all the warm words of condolence on the demise of Mr. Ganev. On a personal note, I would like to say that I had the privilege of working as First Deputy to Mr. Ganev in his capacity as Foreign Minister, so for me this tribute has even greater significance. Today we mourn the premature loss of a top- level and outstanding Bulgarian diplomat, and we bow in tribute to his memory. Mr. Stoyan Ganev was a politician who was emblematic of the democratic change in Bulgaria. His work as a member of the Seventh Grand National Assembly, as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1991 and 1992, and as the President of the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session left an indelible mark on our recent history. As a Bulgarian politician, he contributed to the building of our democracy. He carried this commitment throughout his life. He stood for a set of principles and a belief that individuals should be free to determine their own destiny and live with liberty, dignity and justice. Lecturing on constitutional law at Sofia University after his term the United Nations, and at universities in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and New York, he was devoted to one of the most important missions of the United Nations — promoting the rule of law at both the national and the international levels. Mr. Ganev’s one year as the President of the General Assembly corresponded to a deeply challenging time in the world and in the life of the Organization. The world looked very different when he took office, with the Cold War having just come to an end. Mr. Ganev saw the United Nations as an indispensable forum for advancing the common goals of humankind, and believed in the power of multilateral diplomacy. When he left office, in 1993, the world had undergone profound changes that could hardly have been imagined 10 years before. Mr. Ganev was deeply invested in the international cooperation that the United Nations represents. In 1992, Mr. Ganev was awarded the Secretary-General’s Gold Medal for Peace for his contributions to the preservation of peace and security on the planet. He remained committed to the cause of the United Nations throughout his life and followed with keen interest all major developments in the world Organization. I believe that Mr. Ganev’s contribution will be remembered as meaningful, and he will remain in the Organization’s collective memory.

Members will recall that the Assembly held its debate on sub-item (b) of agenda item 118 at its 82nd plenary meeting, on 17 May. It is my honour to preside over today’s meeting of the General Assembly in which Member States will consider two draft resolutions that I believe will greatly advance the cause of sustainable development. The outcome document (resolution 66/288, annex) of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) mandated the General Assembly to oversee the three important workstreams of the post-2015 agenda. During the resumed part of the sixty-seventh session, progress has been made with regard to each of them. Last January, the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was finally constituted; it has since held four clusters of productive meetings. Last month, Member States established the 30-person Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing. I will announce the precise date of its first meeting shortly. Most likely, it will be at the end of August. In a few moments, the General Assembly will adopt a draft resolution that establishes the institutional foundation for a high-level political forum to follow up on the implementation of sustainable development (A/67/L.72). I take today’s opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to Ambassador Cesare Maria Ragaglini, Permanent Representative of Italy, and Ambassador Luis Alberto Figueiredo Machado, Permanent Representative of Brazil, as well as his predecessor, Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, for their tireless efforts over several months of intensive consultations. The forum will conduct regular reviews on the follow-up and implementation of the SDGs. It will also serve, according to the draft resolution, as a dynamic platform for regular dialogue, stocktaking and agenda- setting to advance sustainable development. Beginning with the sixty-eighth session, the forum will convene quadrennially in the General Assembly at the level of Heads of State and Government and will be chaired by the President of the General Assembly. Its annual meetings, comprising a ministerial segment as well, will be held under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council and chaired by the Council’s President. Allow me to take this opportunity to remind the Assembly that we still need to reach an agreement on the concluding text of the special event to follow up on efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which will be held on 25 September during the high-level segment of the general debate of the sixty-eighth session. I believe that its outcome document should provide a clear road map for how to effectuate a smooth transition from the MDGs to the SDGs. In my view, the MDGs need to fold into the emerging SDGs framework. By 2015, we should have a single integrated development agenda, not two parallel tracks. I am confident that those and other deliberations to come will be enriched by the expected adoption of the other draft resolution on today’s schedule, which lays the foundation upon which coordination on global economic, financial and trade issues can be built up in the time ahead. Before proceeding, allow me to thank Ambassador Octavio Errázuriz, Permanent Representative of Chile, together with his hard-working staff, for the leading role they have played in achieving consensus on the text before us. For several years, the Global Governance Group, chaired by Singapore, has been helping to generate momentum for just that sort of endeavour. I am indebted to them for the support they gave to the idea of regularizing interaction with the Group of 20 (G-20), especially during the thematic debate we held on 15 April on the United Nations and global economic governance. I believe that we are taking a very significant step today. For the first time, an act of the Organization grants that intergovernmental groupings such as the G-20 may take policy decisions with global implications and recognizes the importance and benefits of continuing flexible and regular interaction between them and the United Nations. The draft resolution establishes a link between the two without infringing on any established prerogatives. The General Assembly is now understood to be the pre-eminent venue in which the G-20 and non-G-20 Member States communicate with each other as sovereign equals. Henceforth, it will serve as an inclusive consultative platform for countries to reflect on common concerns, share information and present their respective views on global economic, financial and trade issues. The draft resolution includes provisions that welcome informal engagement between the United Nations and the G-20 through a set of briefings organized by the President of the General Assembly. He or she is invited to continue the practice of enabling representatives of the G-20 presidency to take part in an interactive dialogue with the General Assembly membership with a view to promoting transparency and coherence and to strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation in global economic governance matters. It also calls on the President of the General Assembly to continue to convene informal meetings of the plenary at which the Secretary-General would consult with Member States before attending G-20 summits and brief them afterwards. Moreover, a clause in the draft text invites the President of the General Assembly to convoke thematic debates together with the President of the Economic and Social Council, encompassing G-20 and non-G-20 priorities. Finally, the draft resolution envisages that the Secretary-General shall submit a report to the General Assembly assessing whether its provisions have been implemented, while taking into account the post-2015 agenda. In my view, that last provision is of immense importance; it goes beyond regularization by assigning a role to the G-20 in the achievement of sustainable development. That reinforces the terms of the Rio+20 outcome document, which indicates that the SDGs should be global in nature and universally applicable to all countries. As we look ahead to the many steps that still need to be taken, we should try to remember that the Organization was founded not simply to prevent the slide backwards into warfare, but also to strengthen the bonds of trust between peoples and States. That is why I remain hopeful that the boldness and vision needed to take the post-2015 agenda to the next stage can be brought to the surface in the period ahead. That would further reinforce the General Assembly’s status as what the Charter terms a “centre for harmonizing the actions of nations”, and thereby advance the efforts of generations to entrench sustainable peace, security and prosperity across the globe. I now give the floor to the representative of Chile to introduce draft resolution A/67/L.73.

I have the honour to introduce to the General Assembly for adoption the draft resolution entitled “The United Nations in global economic governance” (A/67/L.73). The draft resolution is sponsored by approximately 80 Member States, including developing and developed States from all continents and regional groups, large countries and small. That broad backing reflects the cross-cutting support in the Organization for the central role played by the United Nations system in the field of global governance. The draft resolution is the outcome of a broad, three-month negotiating process. It includes proposals and suggestions made by diverse countries and groups that were added to an initial text drafted by my country with the assistance of Singapore and Switzerland, as well as of many other sponsors that worked on the first draft. The text recognizes that, in a world changed by globalization, the agenda of all of our countries contains global challenges in particular in the sphere of international economic relations that cannot be addressed appropriately unless agreed actions are implemented by the entire international community. In that regard, the text acknowledges “the vital importance of an inclusive, transparent and effective multilateral system in order to better address the urgent global challenges of today, recognizing the universality of the United Nations” [and] “reaffirms the central role of the United Nations system in ongoing efforts to find common solutions to such challenges”. Moreover, as was indicated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile when he spoke to the General Assembly on 15 April, “multilateralism must be an international instrument for addressing global challenges in an inclusive manner with the participation of all. However, at times it has not been possible to resolve global economic difficulties at the multilateral level in inclusive mechanisms and forums, and many key decisions have been taken in more restricted multilateral forums”. The draft resolution I am introducing today provides a constructive response to the situation by serving to strengthen mechanisms for cooperation and interaction with the United Nations and intergovernmental groupings, such as the Group of 20, that formulate policy recommendations or adopt decisions with global implications for economic governance, thereby underlining the value of inclusive multilateralism and seeking to conserve the central role of the United Nations in global governance. In that regard, we would underscore paragraphs 12, 13 and 14 of the draft resolution. The first “[r]ecognizes the importance and benefit of continuing interaction between the United Nations, in particular the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, with international and regional forums, organizations and groups dealing with global matters of concern to the international community, as appropriate”. Paragraph 13 “welcomes the practice of informal engagement between the United Nations and intergovernmental groupings ... including the Group of 20, through informal briefings organized at the initiative of the President of the General Assembly ... in an interactive dialogue with the membership of the General Assembly”. And paragraph 14 “recognizes the importance of the interaction between the Secretary-General and the Member States of the General Assembly regarding the participation of the Secretary-General in summits of intergovernmental groupings ... and invites the President of the General Assembly to continue organizing informal meetings for that purpose”. In this manner, efforts have been made to affirm and reinforce a constructive practice of the Organization. We believe that the draft resolution provides a valuable contribution to that end, from the perspective of the United Nations commitment to multilateralism and the role it plays in global economic governance. The draft resolution also, most essentially, includes a recognition of the importance of coordination and complementarity among the universal mechanisms for global economic governance and the regional and subregional mechanisms. The text clearly refers to the fact that regional and subregional forums are essential to ensuring good global economic governance. In that regard, it specifically underscores regional, interregional and subregional initiatives and agreements, including integration processes to promote development and cooperation among their members, reaffirming the need to ensure that the regional and subregional organizations and agreements are better integrated in the context of global economic governance. To that end, the draft resolution recognizes the importance of global economic governance in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals and to ensure the success of national development efforts. In that regard, it underscores the importance of international trade and of a system that is based on standards and on the necessary political will in order to conclude the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations. In the same vein, it reaffirms the importance of strengthening and increasing the participation of developing countries in the adoption of decisions and the establishment of international norms and standards, emphasizing that the economic and financial crisis has highlighted the need for reforms and the significant measures that have recently been taken by the Bretton Woods institutions to ensure that those institutions better reflect the current reality. Finally, I wish to underscore, as a key component of the draft resolution, the clear recognition of the leadership role played by the United Nations in the promotion of development and the need to continue improving global economic governance and further strengthening the role of the United Nations in this regard, recognizing the functions of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. I would conclude by thanking you, Mr. President, for your interest in this issue, and all delegations that participated in the negotiations for their generosity and contributions to the text, as well as for their flexibility in listening to and understanding the concerns raised by the various negotiators in what is undoubtedly a sensitive but fundamental area for the Organization. We sincerely thank delegations for their cooperation in our country’s facilitation of an exercise that we have tried to carry out in a way that avoids confrontation. In that regard, allow me to make the following particular comment. I would like to thank the Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of my country, Ambassador Eduardo Gálvez, who led this exercise with the support of our delegation. We believe the outcome is substantial and well-balanced when it comes to the various perspectives. We all welcome the understanding of the meaning and the positive spirit of the draft resolution that is before the General Assembly today, for which we seek adoption by consensus.

The Assembly will now take action on A/67/L.73, entitled “The United Nations in global economic governance”. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of the draft resolution and in addition to those delegations listed in the document, the following countries have become sponsors of draft resolution A/67/L.73: Andorra, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and United Arab Emirates.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/67/L.73?

Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of position, may I remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

I thank you, Mr. President, for recognizing the work of the Global Governance Group (3G). Allow me to make a few comments on behalf of the 30 members of the 3G. The 3G welcomes the adoption of resolution 67/289 by consensus and congratulates the Chilean delegation. The 3G emphasizes that the United Nations system must remain the cornerstone of global governance, in recognition of the universal membership and unquestioned legitimacy of the United Nations. The 3G has consistently highlighted that global standard-setting exercises must take place in formal organizations with universal membership, such as the United Nations. The 3G has also consistently called for the strengthening of the engagement between the United Nations and the Group of 20 (G-20) through such measures as the Secretary-General’s participation in G-20 summits and interactive dialogues between the G-20 and the Assembly. We therefore welcome the resolution’s elaboration on those points.

The United States joined the consensus on resolution 67/289. We would like to highlight our support for the current interaction that exists between the Group of 20 (G-20) and United Nations States Members, as indeed this dialogue began under the United States presidency of the G-20. In the resolution just adopted, Member States took an important step in recognizing the outreach of successive G-20 presidents with the United Nations membership. The resolution sends the right signal of encouragement to continue this useful dialogue, which can help ensure that the United Nations plays a complementary and collaborative role in other international processes and forums. The resolution also offers views on the governance and operational aspects of the international financial institutions, and the Bretton Woods institutions in particular. Of course, any decisions on reform of the international financial institutions or the manner in which they conduct their business are the prerogative of their shareholders and their respective boards of governors. The United States does not interpret the language in this document as endorsing a formal United Nations role in decisions affecting the international financial institutions. At the same time, Member States must act upon our responsibility to improve the work of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. That requires serious scrutiny of the quality of our own debate. As a first step, we must look to reduce duplicative and contradictory processes across the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. In that regard, we note that the Second Committee is charged with considering economic and financial matters, and this plenary resolution addresses those issues without proper scope or context.

Following the adoption of resolution 67/289, my delegation would like first of all to congratulate the delegations that sponsored it, in particular the delegation of Chile for its outstanding, balanced and impartial conduct of the informal consultations. My delegation has always championed and promoted the strengthening of the role and authority of the General Assembly, which is the most universal and inclusive world forum and humankind’s parliament. Today’s resolution recognizes repeatedly the role and authority of the General Assembly, which is, at the same time, prepared to interact with all intergovernmental stakeholders and groups in the international community. Our delegation stresses that there are no intergovernmental groups with special privileges. The equality of sovereign States is a fundamental principle in line with the spirit of the United Nations. No meeting of an intergovernmental group can threaten the role of the General Assembly. Venezuela is particularly grateful for the General Assembly’s stressing once again of the urgency of responding in a united manner to the current global financial crisis and its serious effects. A reform of the global financial and economic architecture is urgent, as recognized in the resolution. The importance of regional and subregional economic and financial cooperation systems has been recognized by the Assembly once again. Venezuela believes that the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America - Peoples’ Trade Agreement, the Common Market of the South, the Union of South American Nations and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States are key expressions of that importance, and their role and contribution continue to increase. International solidarity and cooperation are one of the pillars of our foreign policy.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 118.

Members will recall that, at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 21 September 2012, the General Assembly allocated sub-item (a) of agenda item 20 to the Second Committee. Members will also recall that, at its 63rd plenary meeting, on 22 January 2013, the Assembly agreed to consider the sub-item directly in plenary meeting, proceeded immediately to its consideration, and adopted decision 67/555, entitled “Open Working Group of the General Assembly on Sustainable Development Goals”. Members will further recall that, at its 89th plenary meeting, on 21 June 2013, the Assembly adopted decision 67/559, entitled “Intergovernmental committee of experts on sustainable development financing”. The Assembly will now take action on draft resolution A/67/L.72, entitled “Format and organizational aspects of the high-level political forum on sustainable development”. In that connection, I would like to draw the Assembly’s attention to the statement regarding programme budgetary implications, contained in document A/67/927. The Fifth Committee will examine, during the sixty-eighth session of the Assembly, the programme budget implications arising from the draft resolution and the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions thereon. Consequently, the financial provisions, as appropriate, will be considered in the budget appropriations to be adopted for the biennium 2014-2015. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/67/L.72?

Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of position, may I remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

I have the honour to deliver these remarks on behalf of the 14 States members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CARICOM has attached great importance to the process of determining the organization and format of the High-level Political Forum and appreciates the consultative approach that was taken throughout. We congratulate you, Sir, on having appointed as co-facilitators the Permanent Representative of Brazil, Mr. Luis Alberto Figueiredo Machado, and his predecessor, Mrs. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, and the Permanent Representative of Italy, Mr. Cesare Maria Ragaglini, whose steadfast and astute guidance of the informal consultations led us to the finalization of resolution 67/290. CARICOM delegations wish to place on record our sincere appreciation for the work of the Chair of the Group of 77 and China, and particularly to Ms. Natalia Novoa of Uruguay and Mr. Mohamed Khalil of Egypt, who negotiated on behalf of the Group. The decision taken by the Heads of State and Government in Rio de Janeiro to create the Figh-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to replace the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was aimed at drawing greater high-level attention to the global sustainable development agenda. Indeed, the idea was to move away from the business-as-usual mindset, which, it was generally agreed, had become unacceptable. The finalization and adoption of resolution 67/290 will not in and of itself fulfil the aspirations that the Heads of State and Government expressed in Rio de Janeiro. Indeed, while we have arrived at agreement on a framework that could lead to greater attention being paid to sustainable development, ultimately the true measure of our success will be the level and quality of our participation in the work of the forum. It is imperative that the Heads of State and Government meet at regular intervals to provide guidance in advancing the sustainable development agenda and to pronounce themselves on emerging issues requiring urgent attention. It is also of the utmost importance that we make effective use of the preparatory process. Throughout the process, CARICOM and the Alliance of Small Island States have made it clear that the small island developing States (SIDS) have a vested interest in monitoring whether and how the High-level Political Forum will follow up on commitments made to small island developing States, including those in the Barbados Programme of Action and the Mauritius Strategy. Admittedly, the provisions in the resolution fall short of what we had anticipated at the outset, given the inextricable linkages between the soon-to-be-defunct CSD and the Figh-level Political Forum. However, we are mindful of the connections between the Forum process and the parallel process on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council pursuant to resolution 61/16, which addresses institutional matters of concern to SIDS. We fully intend to continue our efforts to ensure that within the context of a strengthened Economic and Social Council there would be a robust platform for addressing SIDS issues.

Nauru has the honour to speak on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). At the outset, let me note that we are pleased to be here today to witness the adoption of resolution 67/290, on the format and organizational aspects of the Figh- level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. We commend the President of the General Assembly for his leadership and for his having appointed the representatives of Brazil and Italy, Mr. Luis Alberto Figueiredo Machado, following his predecessor, Mrs. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, and Mr. Cesare Maria Ragaglini, respectively, as facilitators. We appreciate their diligent efforts in moving the process along to the point where it is today. I take this opportunity to recall the AOSIS statements made throughout the process and highlight our overall view on the draft. We recall the decisions set forth in “The future we want”, the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (resolution 66/288, annex), in particular its paragraph 85 (e), on establishing a universal, intergovernmental high-level political forum that could follow up and review progress in the implementation of sustainable development commitments contained in Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, the Barbados Programme of Action and the Mauritius Strategy. Throughout the process of establishing the High-level Political Forum, we worked to build on the strengths, experiences, resources and inclusive participation modalities of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). States members of AOSIS also drew the attention of fellow States Members of the United Nations to the fact that for the sustainable development of small island developing States (SIDS), the CSD had been the primary intergovernmental forum for monitoring the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action and the Mauritius Strategy. For that reason, we had hoped that a stronger mechanism for the follow-up and implementation of the commitment made to SIDS could have been explicitly anchored in the formatting and organizational aspects of the Figh-level Political Forum. Given what has transpired, we wish to highlight the fact that, with the impending dissolution of the Commission on Sustainable Development and its replacement with the Forum, it is our expectation that a suitable mechanism for following up on the implementation of commitments to SIDS issues will be created. Allow me to stress and reiterate the link between the high-level political forum process and the process of strengthening the Economic and Social Council, as mandated by resolution 61/16, which has unfolded in parallel to the high-level political forum process but which has not yet been completed. The provisions for the high-level political forum are acceptable only because we anticipate the full support of Member States in the elaboration of an effective platform for SIDS within the context of a strengthened Economic and Social Council, which includes a strong platform for the follow-up of commitments made to SIDS. As long as the gaps remain in implementing and reviewing the Barbados Programme of Action and the Mauritius Strategy, alongside the emerging and intensifying challenges, we SIDS will be unable to achieve sustainable development. Let us work together to ensure that SIDS are not left behind. We assure the General Assembly of our full support in continuing to work together to further strengthen what we agreed upon in Rio — that is, “The future we want” — and to ensure that there is a strong mechanism to follow up on the international community’s commitment to SIDS.

The United States is pleased to join the consensus on resolution 67/290 and welcomes the important step it represents in our follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) of June 2012. We have and will continue to strongly support the vital work of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on Rio+20 follow-up and in the larger process of creating a post-2015 development agenda. In that regard, we look forward to working with the Secretariat to ensure that the High-level Political Forum is as productive, efficient and effective as possible. However, the United States is dismayed and disappointed by the fact that, yet again at the sixty- seventh session of the General Assembly, we had to witness another instance of the last-minute provision of budget estimates to Member States responsible for negotiating the present and other resolutions. We strongly believe that increased transparency regarding budgetary figures, especially when repeatedly requested of the Secretariat during the negotiations, should be provided during the negotiation process. The United States is extremely dissatisfied that the Secretariat only last night produced an oral statement with extensive requests for resources. We call upon the Secretariat to identify cost savings from the phasing out of the Commission on Sustainable Development, to provide a clear and timely budget estimate, and to make every effort to absorb those costs and to pursue the most economical means of travel. With our clarifications and expression of dissatisfaction at the oral statement, the United States supports resolution 67/290.

We thank Ambassadors Cesare Maria Ragaglini and Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti for all their efforts and crucial contributions to the successful establishment of the High-level Political Forum. Resolution 67/290 is a milestone agreement that will provide for a strong institutional framework for sustainable development and the post-2015 development agenda, including the sustainable development goals. One of the strengths of the Forum will be its focus on implementation, including at the national level, through an improved and strengthened review mechanism. We look forward to further discussing the necessary organizational and other details within the Forum itself. Another major improvement of the forum is its universal intergovernmental nature. It is our understanding that paragraph 4 ensures the equal participation of all Member States and States members of specialized agencies in all aspects of the Forum, including in all matters related to decision-making. Finally, it is our understanding that the ongoing discussions and the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council will fully comply with the agreements contained in resolution 67/290. In that regard, we understand in particular that the Forum will be convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council for a continuous period of eight working days, in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 7. Furthermore, the process of strengthening the Economic and Social Council should refrain from altering in any way the mandate of the Forum as set out in paragraph 7.

First of all, my delegation would like to thank the Ambassadors of Brazil and Italy as co-facilitators, as well as their team and the Secretariat, for their hard work and tremendous efforts, which led to the adoption of resolution 67/290 today. I would also like to express my gratitude to all delegations for the flexibility they showed throughout the negotiation process. My delegation was pleased to join the consensus. We are very happy to see the adoption of resolution 67/290, entitled “Format and organizational aspects of the high-level political forum on sustainable development,” thanks to which one of the main outcomes from United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development will become operational. We believe that the Figh-level Political Forum should, as described in the resolution, provide political leadership, guidance and recommendations on sustainable development, and should also follow up and review progress in implementing the sustainable development commitments through yearly ministerial-level meetings, and Heads-of-State and governmental-level meetings every four years. However, my delegation would like to raise one point on the budgetary issue. It is quite regrettable that the programme budget estimate for 2014-2015, including the contingency fund, was not issued until the last minute prior to the adoption of the resolution. My delegation feels that the negotiators were forced to make a decision before being provided with complete information on the budgetary implications of their decision. In the light of the current state of global economic affairs, every Government is now being required to show increased accountability, transparency and responsibility to their respective publics, especially in terms of budgetary discipline. My delegation believes that cost information should always be available to Member States during the course of negotiations, and requests the Secretariat to change the practice of last-minute budget estimate explanations.

The decision to establish a universal intergovernmental High-level Political Forum was one of the critical outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. The Forum will be built on the strengths, experiences, resources and inclusive participation modalities of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), which it will replace. Our colleagues, the Permanent Representatives of Brazil and Italy, who were appointed by the President of the General Assembly as co-facilitators to lead the negotiation process, convened a series of open-ended informal consultations on the format and organizational aspects of the forum. All Member States were given an opportunity to share their views on the main issues related to the establishment of the Forum. I would like to express my deep appreciation to Ambassador Cesare Ragaglini of Italy; Ambassador Luis Machado, current Permanent Representative of Brazil; and his predecessor, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, for their capable and effective efforts, which led to the successful adoption of the resolution on the format and organizational aspects of the High-level Political Forum. The adoption of resolution 67/290 today is a major landmark for the international commmunity and the United Nations system. I also recall that Member States decided that the CSD would hold a brief final procedural session immediately prior to the convening of the first meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. I take this opportunity, in my capacity as Chair of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its twentieth session, to inform members that, together with the Secretariat, we are exploring the possibility of holding the Commission’s twentieth session on Friday, 20 September, for half a day in the morning. In order to make that event a commemorative occasion, we are considering holding a high-level dialogue in which some former Chairs of the Commission on Sustainable Development would participate. Such a deliberation would allow us to reflect on the achievements and the lessons learned from the Commission since its inception, and provide a smooth institutional transition from the CSD to the High-level Political Forum. After finalizing the details of the twentieth session of the CSD, we will be pleased to further update the Assembly on the programme and content. We look forward to the inauguration of the High-level Political Forum, which represents a new milestone for the multilateral process in the post-2015 development agenda.

We thank co-facilitators Ambassador Ragaglini, Ambassador Figueiredo Machado and Ambassador Ribeiro Viotti for their efforts and critical contributions to the establishment of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. This is an important stage on the path to an enhanced institutional framework for sustainable development and the post-2015 development programme, including the sustainable development goals. The Forum will host the future debate on sustainable development and the high-level political focus on these subjects, and will follow up and review the progress made in this area. It combines an improved integration of the three pillars of sustainable development — economic, social and environmental — by taking a cross-cutting approach. Switzerland has always emphasized the importance of strong follow-up mechanisms. We therefore welcome the fact that the Forum will focus on implementing the commitments undertaken on sustainable development, including those adopted nationally, through better and strengthened oversight, which, as of 2016, will be part of the post-2015 development programme. We are pleased to continue discussions in the Forum on organizational and other details. Another specific advantage of the Forum is its universal and intergovernmental character. As we understand it, paragraph 4 of resolution 67/290 ensures the equal participation of all Member States, as well as States members of specialized agencies, in all aspects of the Forum, including in all decision-making matters. That also applies to meetings held under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. We understand that the ongoing discussions on strengthening the Council will be fully in line with the agreements contained in the resolution. Moreover, the process of strengthening the Economic and Social Council should at all times refrain from modifying the Forum’s mandate, as described in paragraph 7. Another advantage of the Forum is its oversight function within the system — that is, its role in promoting coherence and coordination of sustainable development policies within the United Nations system in general. The inclusion of the Forum’s high-level meetings within the framework of the General Assembly every four years is important. It provides the United Nations system in its entirety with an opportunity to follow up on the policy lines that issue from the High- level Political Forum by linking them to other existing processes. As a result, it is important that, after the inaugural meeting of the Forum, at the start of the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly, its meeting cycle should begin at the outset of the seventieth session — in other words, in 2015. For Switzerland, that timetable would meet the recognized need to find global solutions to the challenges ahead, particularly the convergence of the post-2015 development programme with the sustainable development agenda. By beginning the regular cycle of the forum at the start of a new agenda in September 2015, the forum will be effectively fulfilling its role, as the Member States envisaged in the resolution before us.

We would like to express our support for resolution 67/290. The General Assembly’s establishment of the High-level Political Forum, in line with the mandate agreed by Heads of State and Government at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, is a development of great political importance and an achievement for which we commend all Member States. In particular, we wish to thank Brazil, the host of the Conference, which as facilitator also played a significant role in moving the process forward. We also thank the Ambassador of Italy for his participation, as well all others who were able to ensure that the text reflected everyone’s views. For Venezuela, a key element for establishing the Forum remains its decision-making capacity at the level of Heads of State and Government, which is key for such a process aimed at providing guidance as to the path to be followed in fomenting sustainable development. We believe the pending task of adressing the three components of sustainable development — the economic, social and environmental  — to be of the utmost importance. We also think that it is extremely important to ensure the convergence of the Millennium Development Goals and the post-2015 development goals, one of the three important areas to be addressed. It is also important to ensure follow-up to meetings and deliberations by the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, where significant contributions are being made. The universal nature of the Forum under the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, both in terms of participation and decision-making, is a crucial aspect. In that regard, there should be no doubts when it comes to the interpretation of the resolution. The outcome could have been better in terms of the preparatory process and when the Forum meets. We are particularly concerned to see a reduction in the number of working days for the session, from 15 to 7. However, we are well aware that the nature of Assembly agreements means that they are the product of an ardouous negotiation process. Finally, we would like to express our readiness to participate actively in all of these efforts.

Our delegation is grateful to the facilitators of the process for developing the format and organizational aspects of the High-level Political Forum. Their leadership of that effort has resulted in today’s adoption of resolution 67/290. In our opinion, establishing a High-level Political Forum in line with the outcome documents of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development is a milestone in consolidating international efforts aimed at advancing the sustainable development agenda. We note the cross-cutting nature of the format of the High-level Political Forum with the United Nations, making it possible for Governments to intervene at different levels, especially on sustainable development. The Forum is to be arranged and conducted in such a way that matters pertaining to sustainable development become more organized, making it easier for us to focus on them. We hope that the Forum will serve as a platform for Member States to have an opportunity to participate in discussions on sustainable development. It should help step up the work of the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly on sustainable development. It is important that the Forum and its mechanisms, which have yet to come into effect, bring together all of our efforts, taking into account, wherever possible, the needs of all Member States, irrespective of their levels of income or which group they belong to. Its main purpose should be to help Member States optimize decisions for attaining sustainable development, including in the context of the post-2015 development agenda. We believe the review mechanism of the Forum will help foster a more constructive dialogue on development. It will help garner a distinct approach to the process, enabling Member States to take stock of improvements in ensuring sustainable development, bearing in mind both progress and opportunity. Only such an approach will make it possible for us to work together, helping both the United Nations and Member States reach their full potential to implement the sustainable development agenda successfully. For its part, Belarus will do its utmost to ensure that the High-level Political Forum becomes a success.

The least developed countries welcome the adoption of resolution 67/290, on the format and organizational aspects of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The least developed countries welcome the spirit of consensus that prevailed during the consultations to arrive at the provisions of the resolution. We pay tribute to the Ambassadors of Brazil and Italy, who demonstrated great professionalism in steering the negotiations. The resolution takes into account the need to further strenghten the prerogatives of the Economic and Social Council as the main United Nations body charged with ensuring coherent and coordinated economic policies for sustainable development throughout the system. The least developed countries also welcome in particular the wording of paragraph 11, which recognizes the specific challenges facing the most vulnerable countries, including the least developed. That paragraph also reiterates the need to provide enough time to consider their challenges, with the aim of further mobilizing resources and following-up commitments and ensuring that pledges are commensurate with their needs. The least developed countries especially welcome the format identified for the participation of major groups, and in particular the continuation of the mandate for the Commission on Sustainable Development. Least developed countries will actively participate in the implementation of the resolution.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position. I now give the floor to the observer of the European Union to make a statement following the adoption of resolution 67/290.

The European Union and its Member States wish to thank the co-facilitators, Ambassador Ragaglini of Italy and Ambassador Viotti — and most recently Ambassador Machado — of Brazil for all their efforts and leadership in a process that has led to the adoption of resolution 67/290 today. We are pleased with the outcome, which we trust will help all of us work together to ensure that sustainable development becomes central to debates and actions at the international, regional and national levels. With regard to the statement referring to programme budget implications, which we saw in the fourth draft only a short while ago, we note that although there are no such implications for 2013, for which we are pleased, we are surprised to see estimated costs for 2014 and 2015 with no indication of how such costs would be absorbed to ensure that they were consistent with the agreed budget outline. In addition to that, the terms and conditions for using contingency funds would be met, which to our understanding are only estimates of an extensive interpretation of rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. We would like to stress that estimates presented today do not pre-empt a submission by the Secretary-General of a proposed budget for the 2014-2015 biennium to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Fifth Committee. Overall, let us not perceive such estimates as those endorsed by Member States today.

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 20.