A/67/PV.94 General Assembly

Members will recall that the General Assembly considered, in a joint debate, agenda item 63 and its sub-items (a) and (b) and agenda item 13 at its 25th, 26th and 28th plenary meetings, on 17 and 22 October 2012. I now give the floor to the representative of Fiji to introduce draft resolution A/67/L.57/Rev.1.

I have the honour to introduce, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, the draft resolution entitled “New Partnership for Africa’s Development: progress in implementation and international support” (A/67/L.57/Rev.1). The Group of 77 and China would like to express its appreciation to all delegations for their constructive deliberations on and contributions to the draft resolution. Let me also thank all delegations, and particularly the *1342821* 13-42821 (E) President of the Assembly, for providing members space for clarification and discussion on certain aspects of the draft that had required further consultations by members. The draft resolution submitted today reaffirms the support of the international community for the implementation of the African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development and recognizes the progress made in its implementation. Furthermore, the draft resolution recognizes that the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) has provided an ideal framework for the development of various policy frameworks, including the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa. With regard to the topic of governance, the draft resolution welcomes the commendable progress that has been achieved in implementing the African Peer Review Mechanism, in particular the completion of the peer review process in 15 countries, and welcomes the progress made in implementing the national programmes of action resulting from those reviews. The draft resolution also welcomes and expresses appreciation for the sustained efforts of African countries in mainstreaming a gender perspective and the empowerment of women in the implementation of the New Partnership. The progress made thus far by Africa must continue to be supported by developed countries. With less than 1,000 days left, Africa remains the only continent not on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. In that regard, the draft resolution underlines the fact that the fulfilment of all official development assistance commitments is crucial, including the commitments by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries by 2015, and urges the developed countries that have not yet done so to fulfil their commitments for official development assistance to developing countries. Africa’s efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger, create jobs and ensure sustainable development must be complemented by sustained support from development partners. In that vein, the draft resolution urges the international community to give due attention to Africa’s priorities, in particular NEPAD, in the formulation of the post-2015 development agenda. Finally, the resolution submitted today reaffirms the pivotal role played by the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa and requests the Secretary-General to continue to take measures to strengthen the Office in order for it to effectively fulfil its mandate, including monitoring and reporting on the progress related to meeting the special needs of Africa.

The Assembly will now take action on draft resolution A/67/L.57/Rev.1, entitled “New Partnership for Africa’s Development: progress in implementation and international support”. I 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 also become sponsors of the draft resolution: Austria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/67/L.57/ Rev.1?

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

I have the pleasure to deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted (resolution 67/294). The resolution represents an important step towards the full implementation of the commitments made by the United Nations to Africa with respect to the Millennium Development Goals: the 2005 World Summit Outcome; the outcome document of the 2008 Doha Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the 2002 Monterrey Consensus; the 2008 Political Declaration on Africa’s development needs; the outcome of the Istanbul Ministerial Conference of Least Developed Countries; the implementation of the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development; and, last but not least, the due attention that must be paid to Africa’s special development needs in the post-2015 development agenda. It is therefore crucial to ensure a coherent and integrated approach to United Nations support to Africa, including following up on the implementation of all global summit and conference outcomes related to the continent. In that vein, the African Group welcomes the request made by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to continue to take measures to strengthen the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa in order to enable it to effectively fulfil its mandate, including monitoring and reporting on progress related to meeting the special needs of Africa and coordinating the Interdepartmental Task Force on Africa. For those reasons, African States voted in favour of resolution 67/294. On behalf of the African Group, I would like to thank all the delegations that participated in the drafting of the resolution and that supported its adoption by consensus. It is now my wish, and that of the African Group, to see that spirit of consensus and compromise prevail when it comes to considering the programme budget implications in the Fifth Committee at the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly. On behalf of the African Group, we therefore appeal to all delegations to continue to support the resolution through that process, in line with resolution 67/248, on the proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 2014-2015, which includes the development of Africa among the eight priorities for that biennium.

Canada is extremely pleased to join the consensus on resolution 67/294, on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, especially because of our long-standing tradition of financial and political support for African development. We are aware of the importance of the issue for all citizens of Africa and, by extension, for all of us. (spoke in English) We also welcome the confirmation from the Secretariat that the resolution does not incur programme budgetary implications. In the light of the discussions that took place during the negotiation process, Canada would like to strongly emphasize the requirement that the General Assembly maintain full compliance with rule 153, and note in that respect the letter of 19 July from the Chair of the Fifth Committee to the President of the General Assembly. Those procedures are essential for ensuring that the appropriate administrative and budgetary bodies, namely, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Fifth Committee, are properly consulted on all relevant issues. In that context, it is also critical that Member States’ deliberations proceed on the basis of a timely and comprehensive justification of any potential budgetary implications. As always, Canada remains prepared to consider any request submitted in accordance with the usual rules and procedures. Let me conclude by again stressing Canada’s support for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. As a trading partner and investor and an international donor, we strongly value our extensive ties across the continent and recognize the importance of development to all African States. We remain committed to furthering Africa’s economic growth and development.

I speak to stress the importance of resolution 67/294, which the General Assembly has just adopted by consensus. Since its inception during the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, in 2002, the resolution on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development has been instrumental in following up progress and providing support for Africa’s development needs. We commend the efforts of all delegations in reaching a timely consensus on that important resolution. We hope that the resolution will pave the way for the much-needed strengthening of the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa to fulfil its important mandates, including monitoring progress on meeting Africa’s special needs and coordinating the Interdepartmental Task Force on Africa. Those mandates are fundamental in helping to realize the commitments of the international community towards African development. We urge all delegations to continue their support for the current resolution through the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly by demonstrating the same spirit of compromise that they showed during their consideration of the current resolution.

I now give the floor to the observer of the European Union.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. We are pleased to join the consensus on the adoption of resolution 67/294. The resolution contains many important elements, which we warmly embrace, including the strong alignment of development partners with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa. Today, we want to reiterate, loudly and clearly, our strong appreciation and commitment to supporting NEPAD. We are pleased that the Secretariat has confirmed our understanding throughout the informal negotiations that the resolution has no programme budget implications. In that context, in particular given the prolonged discussions leading up to today’s adoption, we would like to underline the importance that the EU attaches to full compliance with rule 153, and therefore the need for the appropriate budgetary bodies to be consulted in a timely manner prior to adoption, as requested by the Chair of the Fifth Committee in his letter to the President of the General Assembly of 19 July. In that regard, we would like to re-emphasize the need to receive, in a timely manner, full and comprehensive information on the possible budgetary implications of any proposed resolution that is under discussion. Let me conclude by emphasizing the importance that the EU and its member States attach to the Africa- EU partnership and to the development of African countries. Our continents are interconnected and bound by strong ties. We are proud of having built that strategic partnership, which has at its heart the principles of African unity, European unity and mutual interdependence.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 63? It was so decided.