A/69/PV.21 General Assembly

Members will recall that the Secretary-General presented his annual report (A/69/1) to the General Assembly at its 6th plenary meeting, on 24 September. The report covers many issues of interest to Member States, such as the post- 2015 development agenda, climate change, peace and security, the development of Africa, disarmament, and emerging threats such as drugs, organized crime and terrorism. Many of those issues were emphasized by leaders during the general debate, and they will remain important throughout the sixty-ninth session. With regard to sustainable development issues, substantive progress has been made towards preparing the ground for the Secretary-General’s synthesis report on the post-2015 development agenda. However, the imperative to accelerate progress on the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in areas where the international community is noticeably lagging behind — such as nutrition, maternal health, education and inequality — is highlighted in the report. At the same time, we must maintain our focus on addressing climate change, with a view to adopting a universal climate agreement by 2015. In the area of peace and security, the report strikes a sobering tone on the regrettable developments that have taken place in the past year in many parts *1455823* 14-55823 (E) of the world. Most notably, the situations point to the daunting challenges which the global community is collectively facing in efforts to address those issues moving forward. In highlighting the inextricable nexus between development and peace and security, the report points out that failure to address these challenges will inevitably stunt development aspirations, even as the world looks to elaborate a new agenda. As a community of nations, we must wholeheartedly embrace efforts towards conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. The role of the United Nations, in coordination and collaboration with regional and subregional organizations, remains critical, including with regard to curbing the activities of non-State actors. As the Ebola outbreak continues to inflict grave consequences on parts of West Africa, with potential regional and international dimensions, the epidemic serves as a reminder of the importance of continued commitment to countries with special needs, including those in Africa, landlocked developing countries, least developed countries and small island developing States. While considerable progress is being made by countries in special circumstances, the report highlights the huge deficits that still exist with regard to health and educations systems, as well as energy and infrastructure. Finally, the report notes that we must also develop measures to support countries most affected by emerging threats to international peace, particularly organized crime, drug and human trafficking and international terrorism.

First of all, I would like to extend our sincere congratulations to you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session, and to offer you our full support during our work in the coming year. My delegation takes this opportunity to thank the Secretary-General for his report on the work of the Organization (A/69/1), which highlights very significant and rapid changes ranging from inequalities among populations to the disastrous consequences of climate change, armed conflict and terrorism. The major challenges facing the world today require our Organization to adapt quickly in order to respond in a timely manner, while strengthening its mediating role on a sound and solid basis in the context of rules and parameters to improve its effectiveness. As we all know, peacekeeping remains the flagship activity of the United Nations, as evidenced by the tens of thousands of peacekeepers deployed worldwide. The commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco to peacekeeping operations dates back to 1960 and today is reflected in the 2,000 soldiers deployed on the Africa continent, in Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, where the Kingdom of Morocco’s contribution has just been reinforced by the deployment of a Moroccan contingent in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic. That ongoing commitment reflects the ongoing willingness of my country to strengthen the concept of collective security, which is the core mandate of the Organization. Over the past year, the Organization has certainly responded effectively to a number of challenges in various areas, such as poverty reduction, primary school enrolment, access to drinking water and reducing maternal and child mortality. It has played a remarkable role in natural disasters and in humanitarian relief. However, we must note that the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals has been uneven and that, with the target date of the Millennium Development Goals approaching, priority should be given to the post-2015 development agenda. Development must remain at the heart of our concerns, along with urgent measures to strengthen socioeconomic stability so as to better respond to the global challenges we are all dealing with today. Africa remains the most vulnerable and affected region in terms of natural disasters, poverty, famine, disease ‑ in particular HIV/AIDS and the recent Ebola epidemic with its devastating effects ‑ armed conflicts and terrorism of all stripes. The United Nations will therefore have to continue to pay particular attention to the difficulties faced by developing countries, especially in Africa, which require more engaged action on the part of all partners with a view to making a greater and more effective contribution to the advent of a world of lasting peace and shared prosperity. As was highlighted in a message that His Majesty the King delivered to the General Assembly at its most recent general debate: “The world stands at a crossroads today. Either the international community supports developing countries in their quest to achieve progress and ensure security and stability, or we shall all face the consequences of more conflicts and greater fanaticism, violence and terrorism ‑ all of which feed on feelings of injustice and exclusion ‑ and no part of the world will be safe.” (A/69/PV.11, p. 26) Therefore, on the basis of that observation, our Organization is called upon to challenge itself and undertake a self-critique in order to rise to the expectations and assume the role assigned to it by the San Francisco Conference. In that context, the proliferation of terrorism, obscurantism and extremist ideologies is of concern for the international community and requires combined efforts by all to stem it. For its part, the Kingdom of Morocco has made an active contribution to efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms, as noted and praised by the international community. Its long-standing commitment in the fight against that phenomenon was recognized last week by the Counter-Terrorism Committee, which devoted a full meeting to reviewing its experience in the fight against extremism and intolerance and their incitement to terrorist acts. Moroccan participants in the high-level panel presented the role Morocco has played in the fight against violent extremism through its comprehensive approach, which is based on the triad of training, development and security. In addition, Morocco’s cooperation with friendly African countries in training imams on the precepts of moderation in authentic Malikite Islam was welcomed by the panel, which consisted of senior religious leaders from Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Mauritania. The Kingdom of Morocco notes with satisfaction the progress made in certain areas of Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. My delegation also wishes to reiterate the Kingdom’s firm commitment to continuing the programmes of cooperation and solidarity with brotherly African countries to strengthen South-South cooperation through partnerships based on the win/win approach. Moreover, Morocco, which has always focused on dialogue and consultation, has made ​a substantial contribution to initiatives for peaceful conflict resolution. My delegation fervently hopes for an end to the violence in Syria and Libya and a political transition that meets the aspirations of the peoples and will be able to guarantee territorial integrity, national unity and stability throughout the region. Morocco also calls for international support to be mobilized on the Palestinian issue and for the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, living side by side in peace and security with Israel. In conclusion, I reiterate that Morocco remains committed and willing to work with all Member States of our Organization to build a strong United Nations that is able to carry out the difficult tasks entrusted to it and deal with the many challenges that it must face in the twenty-first century. We must all work tirelessly in a collective and coordinated manner to ensure respect for peace, security and the dissemination of the values ​ of tolerance and coexistence, in the service of all of humankind.

I thank the Secretary-General for submitting his report on the work of the Organization (A/69/1). On 24 October 2015, we will commemorate the seventieth anniversary of the official founding of the United Nations. On that same date in 1945, the world began the process of recovering from a bloody world war that had killed approximately 60 million human beings, or about 2 per cent of the global population at the time. The 51 founding Member States ushered in an era that was already faced with the challenge of the destructive power of the atomic bomb, which the inhabitants of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had experienced just over two months earlier. Seven decades later, humankind is caught between life and death, facing serious threats. The existence of thousands of nuclear weapons with the capacity to render humankind extinct, climate change’s destructive acceleration, severe pandemics that are rapidly expanding, and new threats and attacks against the sovereignty and self-determination of peoples are only a few of the most serious threats. There are 7.2 billion people waiting for the United Nations to fulfil the reason for its very existence. Cuba agrees with the Secretary-General that priority must be placed on eliminating nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. Nothing can justify the fact that, nearly 25 years after the end of the Cold War was declared, humankind continues to be threatened by the existence of more than 16,000 nuclear weapons, 4,000 of which are ready for immediate use. The use of only a fraction of them would have catastrophic consequences for our planet, hence the importance of the historic step taken by the General Assembly in designating 26 September as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, which was recently celebrated with great success for the first time. The only way to ensure that humankind will never again suffer the terrible consequences of the use of nuclear weapons is their total prohibition and elimination. To that end, the vast majority of Member States have proposed to conclude a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons prohibiting the possession, development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and thus providing for their destruction. We call on the Secretary-General to continue to bring his to influence to bear on the start of negotiations on such a convention. Climate change is unequivocally real, and humankind’s hand in its acceleration increasingly clear. The Earth’s ice coverage is decreasing. Global surface temperature is increasing, and sea level is gradually rising. There are many extreme weather events, and the effects of the acidification of the seas and oceans are becoming clear. Global greenhouse gas emissions, which drive warming, have not stopped increasing over the past four decades. The root cause of the global environmental crisis, including climate change, remains the irrational and unsustainable patterns of production and consumption stemming from the capitalist system of economic domination, which gives rise to inequality and poverty. We cannot consider tackling climate change without even proposing to address its root causes or engaging in a determined fight against poverty and inequality. We know that the market will not solve any of those problems. As the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba stated in his speech at the 2014 Climate Summit, enormous efforts and clear commitments are required. Real political will is required from the Governments of industrialized countries, which will necessarily share the fate of the impoverished South. It is unacceptable that the Millennium Development Goals cannot be achieved despite the vast resources that exist and the technological revolution that humankind has wrought. The necessary solutions are being postponed, and we deceive ourselves if we think that only a United Nations agreement that establishes goals and objectives for the sustainable development agenda will address the injustices, inequalities and root causes of the underdevelopment of various parts of the planet. The participation of all Member States, first and foremost the industrialized countries, is required. Certain Powers have a historical debt to the peoples who were plundered under colonial and neocolonial regimes and the unjust system of economic and financial relations that is currently imposed on the world. We cannot achieve a new sustainable development agenda when the wealthiest 1 per cent of the planet’s population owns 50 per cent of global wealth and the 85 wealthiest people in the world own the equivalent of the economic resources of the 3.57 billion poorest, who represent half of the world’s population. A new sustainable development agenda will remain out of reach so long as one in five people in developing countries still lives on less than $1.25 per day and almost 1.5 billion people, in 91 countries, continue to live in a situation of multifaceted poverty, with concurrent deficits in health, education and living standards. A new sustainable development agenda will remain out of reach as long as 842 million people, almost one in every eight people, remain food insecure, as was the case between 2011 and 2013, or while people continue suffering foreign occupation, as do the Palestinian people. The resources needed to implement a new sustainable development agenda would be available if only a fraction of the vast global military expenditure, which reached the colossal figure of $1,747 billion in 2013, were devoted to covering the means of implementation required. The General Assembly has the responsibility to mobilize the financial resources needed to overcome the problems mentioned and others included in the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization. The strengthening of the General Assembly and far-reaching reform of the Security Council into a democratic, transparent and inclusive body cannot be postponed. Humankind is facing a new challenge in the impact and spread of Ebola in West Africa. Urgent action is required. Cuba responded promptly to the call of the Director-General of the World Health Organization and the Secretary-General regarding the situation. The first group of international health experts is already in Sierra Leone. The historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, described those health-care heroes as the heroes of our time in an article published on 4 October. Let me cite an excerpt from that article: “It will not be lethal arms manufacturers who are honoured in the future. May the example of those Cubans setting off for Africa inspire the hearts and minds of other physicians around the world, especially those with greater resources, whatever their religion, with the firmest devotion to the duty of human solidarity.” This is the spirit and the political will that are required to overcome the challenges we find before us. Cuba ‑ a small, poor country under an economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the largest global Power ‑ is showing that it is possible.

We thank the Secretary-General for a comprehensive and forward- looking report (A/69/1). The past year has been a difficult one for peace and security, as existing conflicts became more complex, new conflicts emerged and new forms of violence hit several countries. We commend the Secretary-General’s statesmanship in the face of those challenges. His single-minded focus on dialogue, diplomacy and the pacific settlement of disputes was a ray of hope in many dark situations. The state of peace and security in many parts of the world is precarious, and it is drifting towards disarray. The post-Cold War equilibrium is under severe stress. New cold wars and rifts are surfacing. In hindsight, it appears that regional and trans-regional institutions capable of absorbing the shocks of the last year and fending off the tragic events we have witnessed have not been built over the years. The United Nations leads the efforts of the international community, but it also needs the support of regional underpinnings that could transform this community into one family with a common idiom for peace and security. The Secretary-General in his assessment has talked about worrying trends in the global security environment. He has specifically mentioned Ukraine, the Middle East, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. The differences between criminals, hostile groups and peace-spoilers have blurred. He has also alluded to potential safety and security risks from the unauthorized use of nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical materials. We should have strategies in place to counter those threats. We appreciate the combined efforts of the Security Council and the Secretary-General to create a semblance of stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the extended Great Lakes region, as well as in the greater Sahel region, including Mali. But peace in these regions, as well as in West Africa, is fragile and prone to relapse into conflict. The Ebola virus has made the situation worse. We support the efforts of the international community to oppose the reign of terror unleashed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham, a phenomenon that does not have the sanction of any religion or denomination. In addition to dealing with that scourge directly, it is imperative to steer warring forces in Syria towards dialogue and reconciliation. After the summer of killings in Gaza this year, a two-State solution should not become a mirage once again. We call on the Quartet to revive the stalled peace talks to free Palestinian prisoners, lift the blockade of Gaza and reach agreement on Palestine’s fully sovereign statehood. United Nations peacekeeping missions play a pivotal role in making and sustaining peace. Pakistan, as a top troop contributor, will continue to put its peacekeepers at the disposal of the United Nations. Only recently, we have deployed more than 1,100 troops to the Central African Republic to help stabilize the situation there. We will fully engage with the Secretary-General and his high-level panel on the upcoming strategic review of peacekeeping. We appreciate the need for flexible, mobile and nimble operations and look forward to discussing the full range of issues covering core mandates, rapid deployment, command and control, new technologies and their international humanitarian law implications. The timely initiative of United States Vice President Joe Biden to host a summit has helped us put some of those issues on the table so that we can come up with a clearer road map for peacekeeping operations. In our neighbourhood, we are pursuing a policy of constructive engagement to resolve differences and enhance economic opportunities for the region. Longstanding, festering issues cannot be swept under the carpet. As Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said before the Assembly, the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir has to be resolved through negotiations, in accordance with the wishes of its people (see A/69/PV.12). In that regard, he reminded the United Nations of its own responsibility. We expressed deep concern over the recent escalation of violations of the ceasefire at the Line of Control and the working boundary by the Indian security forces. As a result of the Indian firing yesterday, four innocent lives were lost on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. We call upon the Indian Government to immediately cease fire and help us preserve tranquillity. The United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan must also be enabled to play its role in monitoring the ceasefire. We have welcomed the formation of the new Government in Afghanistan. We wish the people of Afghanistan well as they strengthen their security institutions and pursue economic development. Pakistan will steadfastly work with Afghanistan to fight terrorism and create new opportunities for collaboration in the industrial, trade, infrastructure and energy sectors. In our ongoing fight against terrorism, we are determined to eliminate that threat from our soil. Our heroic armed forces are taking out terrorists, dismantling their hideouts and networks, and choking the vicious forces and sources that feed them. Our entire nation stands united to defeat that evil force and its ideology of hate. In the realm of non-proliferation and disarmament, Pakistan advocates security for all. To gain movement in the Conference on Disarmament, the four core issues ‑ disarmament, a fissile material treaty, the prevention of an arms race in outer space and negative security assurances ‑ must be tackled simultaneously and without accentuating asymmetries in the existing stocks of fissile materials. Pakistan qualifies for membership of export control regimes, especially the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and full access to peaceful uses of nuclear technology. United Nations reform should be comprehensive. The Security Council should reflect the interests of all Member States - small, medium-sized and large – and not the ambitions of a few. The Prime Minister of Pakistan told the Assembly last month: “There should be no new permanent seats in the Council. That would be contrary to the democratic character of this world body” (A/69/PV.12, p. 39). In the next 15 years, we will need an integrative vision for ambitious goals for sustainable development, matching resources to achieve them and broad partnerships that would deliver on the transformative universal agenda that we will put together. The post- 2015 development agenda has to address the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. But it would be an illusion to think that we could achieve those goals without putting equal emphasis on peace and security, democratic governance, the rule of law, access to justice, human rights, gender parity and above all institution-building. Those are all indispensable critical enablers for sustainable development. The sustainable development goals, negotiated and endorsed by Member States, reflect their collective will to end poverty and create conditions for the equitable distribution of wealth. We now look forward to the Secretary-General’s synthesis report that would include the work of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals and the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing. The latter’s recommendations will have to be harmonized with the rules that would emerge from the third International Conference on Financing for Development next year. That will be necessary to unlock resources, but those resources will not be available if we do not work hard to build partnerships among the United Nations, Governments, businesses, civil society and multilateral financial institutions. We believe that we should build a review system into the post-2015 development agenda. The Secretary-General’s extraordinary leadership and diligence were instrumental in making last month’s Climate Summit successful. If conscious human activity is the dominant cause of the observed global warming, and there is compelling scientific evidence that it is, we can take steps to reverse it. It is therefore absolutely necessary that the political commitments made by world leaders at the Climate Summit this year be translated into a global climate agreement in 2015. During this session, we will support your efforts, Mr. President, to make progress on all those critical issues.

I would like to begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, on your assumption of duties as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session. Japan looks forward to your leadership during the current session in dealing with the challenges that the General Assembly is facing. Japan wishes to work with you for the success of the session. I further would like to convey to His Excellency Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Japan’s deep appreciation for his efforts in guiding the diverse activities of the United Nations and for his latest report on the work of the Organization (A/69/1). During their visit to New York for the high-level segment of the General Assembly two weeks ago, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida collaborated with many world leaders to make progress on the most prevalent challenges facing the world today. While attending the 2014 Climate Summit and the high-level meeting on Ebola, Prime Minister Abe outlined Japan’s response to each of those pressing issues. To battle climate change, my Government will provide adaptive assistance to developing countries, promote technological innovation for energy efficiency and contribute to the future international framework. In the fight against the Ebola virus, Japan is providing $40 million in new assistance for the West African countries affected by the outbreak and supports the initiative of the Secretary-General to establish the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response. In that regard, on 3 October the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid in the amount of $22 million. Finally, in his statement to the General Assembly (see A/69/PV.9), Prime Minister Abe called upon the Organization and its Member States to work together to finally resolve the long-standing issue of the reform of the United Nations in a way that reflects the realities of the twenty-first century. In that context, Japan seeks to become a permanent member of the Security Council and to take on the appropriate role that such a status requires. United Nations peacekeeping operations are the Organization’s most important tool for the maintenance of international peace and security. We should also recognize the challenge facing us, that is, how to make United Nations peacekeeping operations more sustainable with regard to both the financial and the human resource aspects. That requires us to take concrete and holistic actions to improve that tool. In that connection, Japan continues to contribute to peacekeeping operations by broadening its involvement under the banner of Japan’s proactive contribution to peace through commitments announced by Prime Minister Abe at the peacekeeping summit, held in September. Japan also supports the strategic review initiated by the Secretary-General and will proactively contribute to peacekeeping-related issues during this session through active participation in the upcoming discussions in the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and the Fifth Committee. With regard to the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), Japan has been a member of the PBC since its establishment in 2005. Since 2011, Japan has held the chairmanship of the PBC’s Working Group on Lessons Learned. This year, the Working Group held a series of meetings on the challenges of United Nations mission drawdowns and withdrawals. We will conclude that exercise with a report of the Chair, to be issued by the end of the year. We hope that the report will benefit the 2015 review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture by providing a useful perspective on the role to be played by the PBC in the context of United Nations mission transition. We now face the monumental and historic task of formulating and adopting the post-2015 development agenda next year. I believe that inclusiveness, sustainability and resilience will be important elements of the agenda. I would also like to point out that next March, Japan will host the third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai. We believe that the Conference will be an opportunity to discuss humanitarian issues and disaster prevention in an integrated manner and will contribute to international cooperation in disaster risk reduction, as well as the post-2015 development agenda. The process of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) has been running since 1993 through close cooperation among Japan, the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, the African Union Commission, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank. Africa and Japan have shared both the concept and the practice of development rooted in the idea of ownership and partnership for over 20 years. To continue building on that foundation, Japan will mobilize up to $32 billion between 2013 and 2017 in both the public and the private sectors, as announced at the fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Yokohama, Japan, last year. Japan is determined to further enhance our efforts through the TICAD process to promote transformative, resilient and inclusive growth across Africa. Today, there are still more than 16,000 nuclear weapons in the world. Japan believes that efforts to address the issue of non-proliferation should be rooted in a clear understanding of the humanitarian impact of the use of nuclear weapons and in an objective assessment of the state of the international system, which faces increasingly diverse nuclear risks. Japan is determined to continue making steady progress in global nuclear disarmament by helping to reduce the number of nuclear weapons, the role that they play and the incentive to possess them, as well as by preventing the emergence of new nuclear States, the proliferation of nuclear weapon-related materials and technologies and nuclear terrorism. Japan promotes the agenda of a society in which women shine, as Prime Minister Abe reiterated last month to the General Assembly. The United Nations and its Member States need to act together towards the promotion of the rights of various vulnerable groups. Japan’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in January is one recent example of its commitment to the advancement of human rights. Japan welcomes the Human Rights Council’s vigorous efforts, including the report produced by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Japan, together with the European Union, will sponsor another resolution on the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at this session of the General Assembly. With regard to administrative and budgetary issues, the main session is scheduled to consider both the first performance report of the 2014-2015 budget and the 2016-2017 budget outline. From the perspective of applying budgetary discipline, my delegation will carefully analyse and assess all potential additional requirements for the current budget. We request the Secretariat to consider the next biennium budget on the basis of not just extending the 2014-2015 budget but a fresh look at the needs of the Organization. Japan expresses its appreciation for the Secretary- General’s continued and strong commitment to a better management of the Secretariat and United Nations facilities. I will conclude my statement today with a reminder that 2015, next year, marks the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Japan will continue to work closely with the Secretary-General to ensure a more effective and efficient United Nations. We hope that the United Nations and its Member States will do the same, while invoking a future forward outlook to tackle the most pressing challenges of our day.

First of all, I wish to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for presenting his report on the work of the Organization during the past year and on the challenges facing us in 2015 (A/69/1). As the Secretary-General notes, this year has presented challenges but also significant progress in the shared dialogue on the international development agenda in terms of both the implementation the Millennium Development Goals in this year that remains to achieve them and the definition of the new development agenda, to be implemented from 2015. In that regard, we are grateful for the report and the overview of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals that it provides. We particularly welcome the progress made, for example, in Latin America and the Caribbean in achieving and exceeding the goals set for our region on reducing extreme poverty and on equality between men and women in the area of education. We also welcome the region’s affirmation that the employment rate has grown steadily, despite the global employment rate seeing a slight drop, and that we are on the way to meeting the goal of reducing hunger by half. Those results encourage us to redouble our efforts in the context of the post-2015 agenda in those areas and regions where progress has been slower and to set ourselves more ambitious targets so as to eradicate extreme poverty once and for all by 2030. With regard to the discussions on the international cooperation development agenda, we wish to highlight the importance of the summit of the Group of 77 (G-77) and China, convened by the Plurinational State of Bolivia in Santa Cruz de la Sierra in June, in the context of the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the Group. The meeting allowed an open and substantive dialogue among leaders of the developing world, which led to the adoption of the declaration entitled “For a new world order for living well” (A/68/948, annex). The declaration included definitions to chart the course for the G-77 and China in the coming years. This session is taking place in a year that is clearly key for defining fundamental issues with regard to not only international cooperation and developing countries but also multilateralism as a whole. We have the opportunity to strengthen the United Nations as the universal and democratic forum par excellence that is able to reach consensus and to develop effective and realistic solutions to provide greater safety and well- being to our peoples. In that regard, we believe that the negotiation of the post-2015 development agenda, the International Conference on Financing for Development during the first part of next year and the negotiation of an international legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring at a time when such a legal framework is clearly necessary will provide opportunities that we should not miss. For Argentina, the crux of the debate is sustainable development, understood as a concept that encompasses the three dimensions of development. The eradication of poverty, social inclusion, job creation and environmental protection remain urgent themes and the cornerstones of the post-2015 agenda. Integrated strategies to overcome those challenges require a greater commitment to providing financial resources and technology transfer, with a true will to close the existing structural gaps among countries. It is essential to the success of the post-2015 agenda that the various development levels of countries, their priorities and capacities and respect for the sovereignty of States over their resources, on the basis of common but differentiated responsibilities, be taken into account. In particular, I wish to highlight the depth of the analysis and the dialogue during the negotiation process of the Open Working Group of the General Assembly on Sustainable Development Goals. That culminated in a final document (A/68/970) that reflects the intense and transparent work of the Open Working Group. That document must be seen as a fundamental and substantive element of the post-2015 development agenda negotiation process. A few days ago, on 9 September, the General Assembly took the historic decision to resolve, within a reasonable time frame, a matter of vital importance to the international community. With the adoption of resolution 68/304, entitled “Towards the establishment of a multilateral legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring processes”, the United Nations decided to develop and to adopt at this session a multilateral policy framework through an open and transparent intergovernmental process in order to prevent the predatory actions of vulture funds conspiring against sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth and the sustainable development of our peoples. Resolution 68/304 is a true reflection of the importance and urgency that the overwhelming majority of nations of the world grant to a reality that finds us unprotected against the use and abuse by speculators of the existing policy gap in the current international financial system for sovereign debt restructuring. Together. we decided that the time had come to provide the financial system with a legal framework that enabled countries to emerge from the debt crisis in a sustainable way. That effort is not only a concern of Argentina or of developing countries against vulture funds. It denotes taking a position against international extortion and financial speculation in favour of sustainable development. As the only universal international forum where all countries are represented on an equal footing, the General Assembly is the right forum to resolve that issue. Paragraph 46 of the Secrtary-General’s report points out that the per capita cost of peacekeeping activities has been reduced by 15 per cent over four years. While we recognize and appreciate the need to achieve efficiency in the cost of peacekeeping missions and the importance in that regard of mechanisms such as a support strategy for field activities, we recognize that such a reduction also reflects the negative trend seen in the Organization of increasing the complexity of mission mandates without making provision for the financial resources necessary for their proper execution. It does not seem reasonable to demand an increasing number of tasks of our Blue Helmets, which involves a greater cost, in places that are operationally more complex, while seeking to freeze the budget for peacekeeping operations. In terms of strengthening the Organization, we hope that all Member States will continue the ongoing dialogue with the Secretary-General with regard to implementing the proposals for reviewing processes linked to both institutional and human resources, while always seeking to more effectively achieve substantive results, as in the case of the Rights Up Front initiative, for example. With regard to the United Nations information technology and communications strategy, we support the pursuit of sustainable solutions and the use of new technology, provided that they help not only to reduce costs but also to increase efficiency and to meet objectives such as, for example, the aspiration for better communication in all official languages, including Spanish, so that all countries and regions, whatever their stage of development, are better able to take advantage of and to leverage the tools developed by the United Nations and to access the knowledge that it gathers and disseminates. In conclusion, I wish to reiterate that the President and the Secretary-General can depend on the support of the delegation of Argentina in our work during this sixty-ninth session.

The Chinese delegation welcomes the report of Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon on the work of the Organization (A/69/1). The international situation is undergoing profound and complex changes. Our world is becoming a multipolar one, with increasing economic globalization, cultural diversification and growing use of information technology. The trends of peace, development, cooperation and win-win results are growing stronger. At the same time, peace still eludes our world. Regional conflicts and local wars emerge one after the other. The path of global development remains long and arduous. The international community faces all kinds of interlinked, long-standing and non-traditional security threats. Global issues have become more prominent. Throughout the past year, the United Nations has continued to push forward multilateral cooperation. The Organization has adopted a series of actions to advance peace, to properly resolve regional hot-spot issues, to promote economic and social development, to develop the post-2015 development agenda, to coordinate international humanitarian assistance, to promote disarmament and to combat terrorism, achieving outstanding results. In that way, it has not only addressed the concerns of Member States in general, but also has further enhanced the central position of the United Nations in the multilateral system. China appreciates the work undertaken by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Secretariat. The United Nations, in particular the Security Council as the core international security mechanism, is duty bound to maintain international peace and security. In addressing all kinds of international threats and challenges, the international community must respect the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. On the basis of respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States, we must implement the mechanisms provided for under the Charter in an integrated way, resolve issues through peaceful means and give full play to the role of regional and subregional organizations. China supports Iraq in its efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We call for greater humanitarian assistance to Iraq so as to help the Iraqi people to overcome their difficulties and to achieve national peace and stability. The conflict and violence in Syria must cease as soon as possible. China hopes that all parties in Syria will achieve a ceasefire, put an end to the violence, resume their dialogue and negotiations and find a compromise solution that draws on useful international and regional experience, is in line with Syria’s national conditions and takes into account the interests of all parties. China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism. We support the efforts of the international community to implement Security Council resolutions and to coordinate efforts to deal with the threat of terrorist fighters on the basis of respect for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the basic norms governing international relations. China calls on all parties in Ukraine to effectively implement the Minsk ceasefire agreement and to seek a comprehensive, lasting and balanced political solution through dialogue and negotiations. The United Nations must play its due role in that regard. As the starting point for the post-2015 development agenda, 2015 will be a significant year. The international community must demonstrate a spirit of mutual interest, a win-win approach and cooperation and must jointly develop a fair, inclusive and sustainable post- 2015 development agenda. China believes that the post-2015 development agenda should achieve three objectives. First, it should seek to improve people’s well-being, focusing on the eradication of poverty and the promotion of development. Secondly, it should enhance inclusiveness so as to maintain social fairness and justice. Thirdly, it should focus on implementation and promote the principles of diversified development models and common but differentiated responsibilities, strengthen global development partnerships and improve implementation measures and mechanisms. Climate change is a challenge for all humankind and, as such, calls for the cooperation of the international community. Mr. Zhang Gaoli, the Chinese President’s envoy and Vice-Premier of the State Council, led the Chinese delegation at the Climate Summit last month. The meeting gave rise to fresh momentum for international cooperation on climate change. China appreciates that development. We hope that, on the basis of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, fairness and respective capacities, the international community will complete by 2015 the negotiations on a new post-2020 agenda to address climate change and to ensure fairer, more rational and effective arrangements for international cooperation on climate change. The international situation is changing. The opportunites and challenges facing the international community are changing. The United Nations functions and missions are also undergoing adjustments. The United Nations must keep pace with the times and, in the light of developing situations, carry out rational and necessary reforms to strengthen its authority, increase its efficiency and better implement its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations. China welcomes the progress made in achieving such reform of the United Nations, in particular the revitalization of the General Assembly. We stand ready to participate in the discussions on United Nations reforms. On the basis of seeking agreement, while putting aside differences and ensuring inclusiveness, we support a reform programme that reflects the greatest consensus, gains the broadest possible support and helps to preserve the unity of Member States and the long-term development of the United Nations. Next year will mark the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, as well as that of the victory of the world war against fascism. China will work with all Member States. We firmly support and adopt a multilateral approach that jointly safeguards the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the basic rules governing international relations. We will further enhance our support for the work of the United Nations, be more actively engaged in United Nations activities in all fields, continuously promote United Nations efforts and make a greater contribution to building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), namely, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and my own country, Myanmar. At the outset, I would like to thank the Secretary- General for his annual report on the work of the Organization, contained in document A/69/1. The report provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of the achievements and challenges of the Organization on a wide spectrum of issues of common interest and concern to all humankind. The ASEAN Charter includes a provision expressing the Association’s commitment to upholding the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Accordingly, ASEAN attaches great importance to the work of the United Nations and greatly values its cooperation with the United Nations. The Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations, adopted in 2011, is a clear reflection of our commitment to strengthening cooperation with the United Nations. In that context, we welcome the successful conclusion of the annual meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers with the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly on 26 September 2014 in an Assembly side event. ASEAN will submit at the current session its biennial draft resolution entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and ASEAN”, which will identify areas of cooperation where ASEAN can help address the challenges faced by the United Nations, such as sustainable development, climate change, peace and security, human rights, the rule of law, disarmament and terrorism. We count on the continued support of all Member States. ASEAN looks forward to welcoming the Secretary-General at the upcoming sixth ASEAN- United Nations Summit to be held on 12 November 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, to further strengthen ASEAN-United Nations relations and to explore more areas of cooperation. We view the Summit as an effective policy tool and another opportunity to give policy guidance to strengthen the partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations. In his report, the Secretary-General highlights the substantial progress in the overall achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), while stressing the need to move forward to adopt in 2015 the universal post-2015 development agenda, and the urgent need to take timely action on climate change. The sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly set a good stage for the post-2015 development agenda. In that regard, ASEAN highly appreciates the dedicated efforts of the Secretary-General and Mr. John Ashe, which have resulted in significant progress being made in crafting a transformative post-2015 development agenda. ASEAN also commends the efforts of Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals and welcomes the General Assembly’s adoption in September of resolution 68/309, on the Working Group’s report, as the main vision for integrating those goals into the post-2015 development agenda. ASEAN also shares the view that a concise set of ambitious goals with the overarching objective of eradicating poverty and with sustainable development at their core must lie at the heart of the agenda, which must take into consideration each country’s context and level of development. There is no doubt that climate change is one of the greatest threats to a sustainable future. In that regard, we would like to congratulate the Secretary- General on successfully convening the United Nations Climate Summit 2014 on 23 September, a summit that attracted the attention of a large group of world leaders on the issue of survival. ASEAN is also working hard to address the challenges posed by climate change, including strengthening the resilience of the ASEAN community by effectively implementing the ASEAN Climate Change Initiative and the ASEAN Action Plan on Joint Response to Climate Change. ASEAN reaffirms the importance of adopting at the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change a new global agreement applicable to all the parties in 2015. Since the entry into force of its Charter, ASEAN has made rapid progress in its institutional developments in the area of human rights. Among the highlights are the milestone adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration in 2012 and of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and the Elimination of Violence against Children in 2013, following the establishment of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children. AICHR has conducted various programmes and activities in consultation and cooperation with the ASEAN sectoral bodies and with the relevant institutions and external partners. Some results include the completion of its thematic study on corporate social responsibility and human rights in ASEAN and the successful conclusion of the workshop on human rights, climate change and the environment, held in Myanmar last month. With respect to humanitarian assistance efforts, ASEAN takes note of the record high amount of $474 million contributed to the Central Emergency Response Fund in the year 2013. As South-East Asian nations are also prone to natural disasters, we welcome the disaster risk reduction framework and the United Nations Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience. With a view to improving disaster prevention, preparedness, response, relief and recovery, ASEAN is in the process of implementing the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response as the main common platform for disaster management in ASEAN, and it is enhancing the capability of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management. In the area of peace and stability, ASEAN is striving to maintain and promote the Association as a standard- bearer for regional norms of good conduct, particularly through the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South- East Asia. The Treaty is regarded as the key code of conduct governing inter-State relations in South-East Asia and provides a foundation for the maintenance of regional peace and stability. We welcome the growing interest of non-ASEAN States in acceding to this Treaty. ASEAN also attaches great importance to strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime with a view to maintaining peace, security and prosperity in the region. We are committed to preserving South-East Asia as a zone free of nuclear and all other weapons of mass destruction, as stipulateded in the ASEAN Charter. In that regard, ASEAN is committed to working closely with the nuclear-weapon States on the early signing and ratification of the Protocol to the South- East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty without reservations by nuclear-weapon States. To that end, ASEAN is exerting efforts to resume negotiations with the nuclear-weapon States in a sideline event during the current session of the General Assembly. ASEAN shares the general deep concern over the rise of violence and brutality committed by terrorist and extremist organizations and radical groups in Iraq and Syria. ASEAN denounces all forms of terrorism and all acts of destruction and violence. ASEAN is implementing the ASEAN Convention on Counter- Terrorism and the ASEAN Comprehensive Plan of Action on Counter-Terrorism, which are aimed at preventing and suppressing terrorism by addressing its root causes, disrupting terror networks and eliminating financial channels. In that regard, ASEAN Foreign Ministers recently issued a statement on 26 September in New York reiterating its support for Security Council resolutions 2170 (2014) and 2178 (2014). ASEAN is striving for inclusive and sustainable growth. In view of the different levels of development among the countries that make up its membership, ASEAN has been making efforts to narrow those development gaps through its initiative for an ASEAN integration work plan. We would therefore welcome continued support from ASEAN’s dialogue partners, the United Nations and other external partners in our efforts to achieve full regional integration. This year, under the chairmanship of Myanmar, ASEAN is speeding up its community-building process under the theme of “Moving forward in unity to a peaceful and prosperous community”. The Nay Pyi Taw Declaration on the Realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015 has provided policy guidance aimed at ensuring the successful establishment of the ASEAN community. We are now on the threshold of realizing the dream of a politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible, people-centred community by 2015 and beyond. Next year will therefore be a milestone not only for the United Nations but also for ASEAN member States. We are now setting our sights beyond 2015 and working on formulating a post-2015 vision for the ASEAN community. We believe that ASEAN’s collective efforts at the regional level will contribute to the work of the United Nations in promoting peace, security and stability, as well as in contributing to inclusive and sustainable growth for all. I would like to conclude by reiterating ASEAN’s resolve to strengthen its cooperation with the United Nations in areas of mutual interest.

I would like to express my delegation’s appreciation to the Secretary-General for his annual report on the work of the Organization (A/69/1), which outlines the efforts of the United Nations to address the unprecedented challenges facing the international community and the progress made over the past year in delivering on the Organization’s eight long-term priorities. My delegation will describe its position on most of the issues discussed in the report in plenary meetings and in the deliberations of the Main Committees. As we approach their deadline, there is every reason to say that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have produced notable results and made a global contribution to galvanizing action designed to achieve the agreed-on goals. Building on that, and resolved to pursue the unfinished business of the MDGs, the Member States are now engaged in setting the stage for delivering on and implementing a transformative and action-oriented agenda beyond 2015, with our sustainable development goals at its centre. We commend the work and outcomes of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing and appreciate the challenges they have faced in striving to meet the aspirations of all Member States. We are nevertheless of the view that the intergovernmental negotiation process should explore every possible way to adequately reflect the issues raised during those deliberations, including the special needs of landlocked developing countries. Mongolia is strongly committed to meeting the MDGs. Our fifth national report on their implementation concluded that Mongolia had already reached the targets on mortality rates of children under 5, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, access to water and basic sanitation and new information communication technologies. However, the important goals of halving poverty, providing housing and ensuring environmental sustainability still remain the most challenging for us, requiring targeted interventions and incremental efforts. Mongolia is also implementing a ninth, national MDG, on strengthening human rights, fostering democratic governance, enforcing a zero- tolerance policy for corruption and emphasizing the cross-cutting importance of good governance and the rule of law in socioeconomic development and environmental sustainability. In the year ahead, the Government is committed to accelerating its progress and implementing effective policies for achieving those MDGs that are are close to their 2015 target and those that are lagging behind, particularly on poverty reduction. As a country that is experiencing effects of climate change, land degradation, desertification, deforestation and drought that pose a potentially permanent threat to its sustainable development, Mongolia fully supports and appreciates the Secretary-General’s leadership in catalysing global action on climate change. We commend the recent Climate Summit, which brought world leaders together to announce their national ambitions and called for bold action and strong political mobilization in order to reduce the emission gap, pledge to meet the 2°C scenario and reach a meaningful legal agreement in 2015. In that context, Mongolia supports the carbon pricing initiative and the New York Declaration on Forests, aimed at combating deforestation. This year, the Parliament of Mongolia adopted a green development strategy designed to enhance low-emission and climate-resilient principles for future economic growth in Mongolia. By 2030 we aim to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in the energy sector by 20 per cent, through increased energy efficiency and by ensuring that the renewable-energy share of our total energy production is at 20 per cent by 2020 and 30 per cent by 2030. Furthermore, we have set ourselves the ambitious goal of becoming a global port hub for renewable energy in the region, since we have a rare opportunity to create a sustainable energy network through a combination of energy sources that include coal, solar, wind and hydropower. My delegation fully shares the deep concerns expressed in the Secretary-General’s report about the global security environment’s threats to international peace and the importance of conflict prevention and mediation. Wars, crimes, conflicts and atrocities committed by terrorist groups continue to pose threats to world peace and security. In that regard, Mongolia appreciates the efforts of the United Nations to resolve the crises and conflicts in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Central African Republic, Mali, Ukraine and other troubled parts of the world. United Nations peacekeeping today is more critical than ever. As an active contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations, Mongolia underlines the importance of the Secretary-General’s strategic review of those operations. My delegation welcomes the Secretary-General’s appeal to the members of the Conference on Disarmament to live up to the international community’s expectations about the persisting deadlock in the Conference and shares his concern. Mongolia and Mexico will co-chair the first part of the 2015 meeting of the Conference, and we call on all States to take a bold and decisive position on working for meaningful agreement on disarmament. As a country with a unique nuclear-weapon-free status, and as a firm advocate of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Mongolia supports and is willing to contribute to establishing new such zones, including in the Middle East and North-East Asia. We support the General Assembly’s call to ensure that human rights are effectively mainstreamed into the post-2015 development agenda and welcome the Organization’s efforts in that regard. Mongolia is willing to share its lessons learned in advancing the rule of law, parliamentary democracy and legal reform. Following its successful chairmanship of the Community of Democracies, Mongolia launched the Asian Partnership for Democracy initiative and is preparing to host the fifth conference of the Freedom Online Coalition next year in Ulaanbaatar. In November 2013 we brought together women parliamentarians from the countries of North-East Asia to discuss the increasing role of women parliamentarians in peace and development through education and opportunities to develop a North-East Asian regional network of women members of parliament. For more than a decade, Mongolia has been actively advancing education-related endeavours at the United Nations. They include literacy initiatives such as the designation of 1990 as International Literacy Year and of 2003-2012 as the United Nations Literacy Decade and a literacy resolution first adopted in 1987 (resolution 42/104), as well as a resolution on education for democracy first adopted in 2012 (resolution 67/18). Both resolutions will be introduced again this year, updated to reflect emerging challenges in the area, and we count on receiving the same support from Member States as in previous years. My delegation welcomes the steps outlined to further strengthen the work of the Organization, and stresses the importance of resuming intergovernmental negotiations on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council during the main part of the sixty-ninth session. In conclusion, I would like to pledge my delegation’s strong commitment to working with other Member States and to express its full support for the Secretary- General’s work to reform the United Nations and make it more efficient and relevant.

The Secretary-General has presented the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session with his report on the annual activity of the Organization (A/69/1), which is full of information and analysis on the work that has been done and problems related to it, but also discusses the challenges, opportunities, perspectives and paths to follow in years to come. Cameroon is grateful to the Secretary-General and his entire staff, at Headquarters and in the field, for their work, which can sometimes result in the ultimate sacrifice. We commend and urge him to move forward in doing his job, which, although undoubtedly complex and difficult, is noble, exalted, useful and beneficial to the advancement of humankind. With regard to the report, I would like to emphasize the following issues, which have an important and urgent bearing on our common future. First, we agree with the Secretary-General that climate change is one of the top priorities of our time, one whose harsh consequences our generation has been the first to feel and will probably be the last able to take salutary measures for the future of our planet. During the Climate Summit on 23 September, we heard the voices of representatives from States’ highest levels, from the worlds of finance, business, civil society, and from public and private groups, saying in unison that it is far past time to do whatever can be done to limit the rise in global temperatures to 2°C. There was a chorus, too, of announcements of actions already taken or to come, but based on past experience, I am afraid that all those good intentions may not be followed by concrete effort when the time comes and that in any case, such efforts are mere steps on a long road that demands we trot or gallop if we do not want to end up benighted on the way. Whatever happens, the next meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Lima at the end of this year and in Paris in 2015, are the final stages when the various stakeholders on this issue should definitively enshrine in an ambitious and legally binding instrument their shared willingness to save our future for all of us and for future generations. Cameroon is resolutely committed to that road, since, like other countries, it is experiencing the impact of climate change. Our rainfall is steadily declining, especially in our northern areas, bringing closer an inexorably advancing desert. The degradation of our coastal ecosystems, owing to sedimentary silting and rising saltwater levels, as well as the accelerated drying up of Lake Chad, is creating many environmental problems. The measures the Government has taken to deal with this serious situation include the creation in 2009 of a national climate change observatory to monitor and evaluate its socioeconomic and environmental effects and to propose preventive measures to mitigate and adapt to the negative effects and risks associated with such change. We have created a ministerial department for the protection of nature and sustainable development. We have established a Government environment policy based on the outcome of a 2011 States-General session on the environment, designed to improve our policy coherence and governance structure. Since April, non-biodegradable plastic packaging under 60 microns has been banned. At the subregional level, Cameroon has become a signatory to various agreements, including the Treaty on the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa; an agreement on joint forest management and protection and a regional convergence plan; and the Yaoundé Declaration, which includes, among other things, adopting harmonized national policies on forests and the accelerated implementation of planning tools, in particular harmonizing internationally recognized and agreed- on certification systems and developing the human resources needed to implement them. In addition, we have strengthened actions aimed at increasing rural populations’ active participation in planning and managing sustainable ecosystems and creating areas adequate to their economic, social and cultural development, including sustainable mechanisms for financing forest development through income generated by forest activities; involving economic actors in the process of sustainably managing and conserving forest ecosystems; speeding up the process of creating protected transborder areas and, lastly, strengthening the sustainable management of existing protected areas. Cameroon also fully endorses the African position on climate change. The future agreement we are awaiting on the issue should respect the principle of differentiation, among others, so as to take into account different countries’ capacities and stages of development. Along with commitments on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, it should enable us to strengthen our policies on adaptation to the consequences of climate change. Countries of the North should follow through on the robust commitments they have made for public and private financing on climate change in the countries of the South. Moreover, the future agreement must include equitable treatment, especially for developing countries, concerning financing and technology transfer, specifically for those in the Congo Basin, which indeed have taken on heavy sacrifices to maintain and regenerate the world’s second-largest forest reserve, at 22 million hectares, in Cameroon, which is the second largest after the Amazon. These are the lungs of the planet, thanks to their capacity to retain carbon and produce oxygen. In his annual report on the work of the Organization, the Secretary-General rightly emphasizes the issue of sustainable development. On that topic, we must remember that the major Rio+20 Conference defined “the future we want”. In that regard, it launched a certain number of participative and inclusive processes that are meant to formulate basic proposals in order to develop a post-2015 development agenda following on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), concluded in 2000 and since implemented. Concerning the implementation of the MDGs, the Secretary- General carried out an assessment in his report, and his conclusion was that their implementation had been unequal between and even within countries. My country is no exception with regard to those mixed results. Like a number of African countries, Cameroon has made considerable progress on the eight MDGs, notably on educational enrolment, parity between girls and boys in education, the proportion of seats held by women in the national Parliament, the literacy rate of youths between 15 and 24 years old, vaccination coverage, combating HIV and malaria and the mobilization of public resources. Progress has been slower in reducing poverty; in employment opportunities, especially for youths; as well as in official development assistance, in part due to broken promises by certain development partners. The lessons learned from such deficiencies should be drawn on to build the post-2015 development agenda on a more solid base. The Intergovernmental Working Group established for that purpose has made a significant contribution that, combined with contributions from other processes, should allow the Secretary-General to prepare a synthesis report that will enable the General Assembly to launch negotiations at year’s end. The negotiations should be participatory and inclusive, transparent and consensual. Cameroon aligns itself with the common African position formulated on this topic. The ambition, therefore, is to eradicate poverty by creating conditions within the State in infrastructure, technology, financing, training and management that are needed for economic transformation, peace, prosperity and sustainable development, while placing priority on equity and social inclusion. As President Biya underscored yesterday, 6 October, at the opening of the sixtieth Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference in Yaoundé, “The post-2015 agenda should devise new strategies to substantially improve the population’s living conditions. All players will need to demonstrate stronger political will, greater generosity and more effective, more concrete and more active solidarity. Such are the demands of the interdependence of States and unity of humankind on us. Without that added spirit, development by the end of the new agenda may remain a distant goal”. Concerning issues of peace and security, the Secretary-General in his report analyses developments in a number of conflicts and hotbeds of tension, new and old, in different regions of the world. Cameroon appreciates the efforts undertaken by the Secretary- General to reduce or eliminate those tensions. Prevention, dialogue, cooperation and the peaceful resolution of conflicts are the appropriate means to reach that goal. As for other forms of threats to international peace, security and stability ‑ whether the terrorism of attacks or hostage-taking carried out by jihadists or Boko Haram, or trafficking of drugs or people, including migrants; maritime piracy; poaching or other acts of transnational organized crime ‑ peoples and nations must strongly combat all terrorist aspects by pooling efforts, initiatives and means. In that spirit, Cameroon is working on various aspects of peace, security and solidarity with other African countries in general and with those of Central Africa in particular to promote peace and security in our continent and subregion. For example, that is the case with Chad, Nigeria and the Niger, which are working to effectively combat the terrorist group Boko Haram, or with other brotherly countries such as Gabon, the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and the Central African Republic, which are working against poaching, insecurity and issues related to the forested area of our subregion and to the circulation of small arms and light weapons. Our country supports and actively participates in the Peace and Security Architecture of the African Union. Cameroon has been chosen to host the logistical base for the continental African standby force. We are also participating in various security mechanisms under the African Union Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa or the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) on issues of peace and security in Central Africa. In connection with the implementation of Security Council resolution 2039 (2012), on 24 and 25 June 2013 Cameroon hosted a summit of the Heads of State and Government of ECCAS, the Economic Community of West African States and the Commission of the Gulf of Guinea on maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea. An interregional coordination centre with its headquarters in our country was establishsed on that occasion. A year after the summit, the centre officially launched its activities on 11 September. Cameroon has taken part in many peacekeeping operations under the United Nations, the African Union, ECCAS or the Central African Economic and Monetary Community in various places, including Cambodia, Haiti, the Congo, Chad, Darfur, Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi and the Central African Republic, where one of our senior officers has taken command of the military force. We are also participating in training and capacity- building for peacekeeping personnel, and Cameroon has established an International School for Security Forces (ISSF). We would like to thank our various bilateral and multilateral partners for the assistance that they have already brought for all those initiatives and would like to ask them once again for further contributions to strengthen their effectiveness, in particular for the ISSF and the work of the Interregional Coordination Centre to combat maritime piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea. The Ebola virus, which is currently raging in several African countries, is turning out to be a new and terrible threat to peace, security and development, not only in those countries but in the whole of Africa and the world in general. That is why we welcome the robust measures adopted by the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Secretary-General and numerous bilateral and multilateral partners. We also welcome the recent summit held here on 26 September on the Central African Republic, a country neighbouring Cameroon. We fully support it in finding a solution to the triple crisis — political, security and humanitarian — currently besetting it. With regard to all the measures taken by the Secretary- General that are explained in his report to strengthen the management of the United Nations — for example through UMOJA, the development of information technology, the Capital Master Plan, the Enterprise Resource Planning Programme and staff mobility — we support them all in general insofar as most of them have been considered and adopted by the General Assembly against the backdrop of the recommendations of the Fifth Committee and its deliberative and monitoring bodies, such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), the Committee for Programme and Coordination, the Board of Auditors, the Joint Inspection Unit and the Committee on Conferences, to just name a few. We encourage the Secretary-General to consider, with all due attention, relations with the various staff associations in order to ensure that they are dealt with in line with the provisions of their statutes, as well as the provisions of the General Assembly. The Secretary-General customarily stresses that he leads by example and that the staff is the most precious asset of the Organizaton. We fully share that point of view, and in that light the Fifth Committee and the ACABQ must consider the various reports submitted to them at the current session on the management of human resources according to a customary understanding of the competent administrative or budgetary committee.

We have heard the last speaker on the debate on this item. Several representatives have requested speak in exercise of the right of reply. May I remind members that statements in exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and to 5 minutes for the second intervention, and should be made by delegations from their seats.

I take the floor in exercise of our right of reply to respond to the reference made by the representative of Pakistan. It is a matter of deep regret that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire and that their unprovoked fighting has led to the loss of civilian lives on the Indian side. Six persons have been killed and 50 injured. Firing on innocent civilians by Pakistan will only hamper the normalization of relations. The onus of creating a positive environment is on Pakistan, which is utterly failing to do so. Let everyone be assured that our armed forces and paramilitary forces are fully ready, and they will respond to provocations.

I also take the floor in exercise of our right of reply, in response to the statement just made by the representative of India. For seven days, Indian security forces have been firing and shelling across the Line of Control and the working boundary. Yesterday was Eid day in Pakistan. But Indian forces, in complete disregard of the festive event, carried out the fire and put four innocent lives to death. On the Eid day, when Muslims celebrate the spirit of sacrifice, Indian forces played havoc with the lives of four families whose dear ones embraced Shahadat. It is sad that the Indian Government has not been able to restrain its forces despite strong diplomatic protest by Pakistan. We call upon the Indian Government to immediately cease fire and shelling and help us preserve tranquillity. The Government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been exercising the utmost restrain and responsibility. We also extended a hand of friendship to India. However, first, the abrupt cancellation of the foreign secretary-level talks and now this unprovoked firing, are a cause of deep concern. We hope that the Indian side will give peace a chance.

Regrettably, the representative of Pakistan has once again taken the floor. We reject all the untenable and unsolicited remarks made by Pakistan.

There is no need to repeat what I have just said. The ceasefire on the Line of Control and the working boundary must be preserved in the larger interest of the region and the peoples of the two countries. In that regard, we once again ask for restraint from the Indian Government and its security forces, and we also call for the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to be enabled to play its role in monitoring the ceasefire and securing peace and tranquillity, not only on the line of control but also on the working boundary.

May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization contained in document A/69/1?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of item 108.