It is
my great pleasure to endorse the warm congratulations
extended to Mr. Sam Kutesa on his election to the
responsible post of President of the General Assembly
at its sixty-ninth session. I take this opportunity to
express gratitude to Mr. John Ashe for his important
contribution to the work of the General Assembly at its
prior session.
My delegation shares the determination to
eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote progress
in elaborating the post-2015 development agenda.
In our view, the post-2015 development agenda must
be based on the foundation of the development goals
formulated in the Millennium Declaration (resolution
55/2) and envisage ways and means of responding to the
challenges of a new generation.
The main goal of the post-2015 development agenda
should be the eradication of poverty and inequality,
as well as promoting sustainable development based
on balanced consideration of social, economic and
environmental factors. The sustainable development
goals, based on the three pillars of sustainable
development, the Rio de Janeiro principles and national
specificities and priorities, should serve as the key
components of the post-2015 development agenda. In
that respect, we support the recommendations of the
Open Working Group on Sustainable Development
Goals. Experience has shown that a goal can be
achieved only if specific plans are complemented by
the development of effective mechanisms for its review
and implementation. Our hope is that this forum will
become an important venue for ongoing dialogue
and review of the implementation of the sustainable
development goals.
Addressing issues concerning the financing
of sustainable development efforts is equally
important in achieving sustainable development.
Global partnerships for development based on the
Millennium Declaration have contributed to a certain
extent towards the achievement of a number of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However,
gaps and flaws in global partnerships continue to cause
additional difficulties on the path towards full and
timely implementation of the MDGs.
We consider it necessary to strengthen and expand
global partnerships in accordance with previous
commitments. On that basis, new global partnerships
should be established for the benefit of sustainable
development, which will become the key element of the
global system of promoting and advancing sustainable
development. In that regard, we note the key importance
of the recommendations of the Intergovernmental
Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development
Financing, the intergovernmental process tasked with
discussing proposals to establish a United Nations
mechanism to promote development and technology
transfer.
Tajikistan has consistently strengthened its efforts
to achieve the MDGs. Extra measures have been
undertaken to create a favourable investment climate,
including a balanced budget policy, diversifying the
economy and increasing employment opportunities.
The National Development Strategy of the Republic of
Tajikistan up to 2015 is a road map for the Government
to achieve sustainable economic growth, to provide the
population with better access to basic social services
and to reduce poverty.
As a result of such measures to ensure economic
growth, in recent years we have managed to significantly
reduce the level of poverty in the country. As a United
Nations pilot country for the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals, we plan to carry out
a comprehensive review of the implementation of those
Goals in Tajikistan in 2015. The lessons learned from
the implementation of the MDGs will be taken into
account during the development of a new programme of
sustainable development for the period up to 2030. We
are willing to closely cooperate in a transparent way
with United Nations agencies and programmes, partner
countries and other relevant organizations.
As members may be aware, on 22 March 2005,
in New York, we saw the launch of the International
Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015, which
promoted the coordinated implementation of the MDGs.
The International Decade provided a strong impetus
for various initiatives and efforts at different levels to
promote access to safe drinking water and sanitation, to
advance the integrated management of water resources,
to strengthen and expand water cooperation and to raise
awareness of water-related challenges.
At the same time, global climate change, increasing
economic growth, higher population levels, the
degradation of water sources and the deteriorating
quality of water resources present the international
community with additional extensive challenges. The
reduction in water resources as a result of climate
change may impede the achievement of sustainable
development and aggravate the situation, in particular
in arid and semi-arid regions, which continue to
experience the greatest water shortages.
The International Year of Water Cooperation,
which took place last year in the context of promoting
the International Decade of Action, “Water for Life”,
2005-2015, underscored the need for water resources
management to be regulated on the basis of the
principle of joint development, which provides for a
broad framework for the harmonization of interests
and the strengthening of mutual trust in addressing
water issues. On the basis of the principle of joint
development, water resources management could ensure
the sustainable management of water resources, which
is a key component of sustainable development. In that
regard, we propose conducting a comprehensive review
of the implementation of the International Decade
of Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015, and jointly
developing specific recommendations to strengthen
and revitalize the United Nations water agenda.
We believe access to modern and affordable energy
services to be a key priority for achieving sustainable
development. Tajikistan continues to consistently and
comprehensively develop its energy potential, focusing
on the integrated development of renewable sources.
In addition to the construction of small- and medium-
scale hydropower plants, larger regional projects are
being developed. We are also exploring opportunities
for the use of wind and solar energy. Through such
projects, Tajikistan is significantly and specifically
contributing to the reduction of harmful emissions
and to the establishment of a solid foundation for
sustainable development. I would like to take this
opportunity to underscore that all those projects are
being implemented in a transparent way, with due
consideration for the social, economic and ecological
aspects of the sustainable development of the country
and the entire region.
Tajikistan supports the holding of the Ten-Year
Review Conference on the Implementation of the
Almaty Programme of Action on 3 to 5 November
in Vienna. We believe that the new programme of
action for the landlocked least developed countries
will provide additional opportunities for the further
integration of such countries into the world economy.
We should support and encourage as much as possible
way the efforts of that group of countries to expand
and to improve transport and energy infrastructure, the
diversification of the economy and the streamlining of
regional and interregional connectivity.
While the Organization’s transformative agenda
provides unique opportunities, unfortunately, it also
tends to strengthen the interlinkage between today’s
threats and challenges. It is in the common interests of
Member States to consistently implement the United
Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and to
effectively counter terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations, including the use of the Internet for the
purpose of terror.
Illicit drug production and drug trafficking are
also serious global issues. In recent decades, Tajikistan
has gained extensive experience in combating drug
trafficking. Under the country’s President, the Drug
Control Agency has been functioning successfully for
15 years. We have been actively strengthening counter-
narcotics cooperation with neighbouring States,
including within regional organizations. At the initiative
of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali
Rahmon, Dushanbe will host a regional anti-narcotics
conference in 2015, a year before the special session of
the General Assembly on the world drug problem. The
proposals of the conference participants will jointly
help to develop a new international counter-narcotics
policy. We look forward to the support of the United
Nations, relevant States and international organizations
for that conference.
In that regard, we attach great significance to
coordinated and joint efforts with Afghanistan in
combating drugs, as well as on other issues. The
friendly Islamic State of Afghanistan is facing new
challenges and expects the appropriate support from
the international community. We are convinced that
the fraternal Afghan people, with the support of the
community of nations, will be able to successfully
address the difficulties facing them. We believe that,
in the current circumstances, the United Nations must
take the lead in coordinating international efforts for
the resolution of the question of Afghanistan.
Tajikistan believes that Afghanistan must be fully
involved in the multifaceted regional cooperation
process. It is critical to fully include Afghanistan
in the multifaceted regional cooperation processes.
The involvement of neighbouring countries in the
development of Afghanistan, while taking into account
the regional context in the post-conflict rehabilitation
of the country, is key to the success of the ongoing
efforts of the international community.
In our view, strengthening lasting peace and
stability in conflict and post-conflict situations
requires genuine assistance in addressing economic
and social issues and support for efforts to restore
effective Government institutions and a sustainable
basis for long-term development. The regional
multilateral structures must actively participate in
strengthening security and stability, in implementing
large-scale infrastructure projects and programmes and
in expanding constructive and concrete cooperation
and interaction.
In early September, Dushanbe, the capital of
Tajikistan, hosted the fourteenth summit of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO). The heads of the SCO
member States called for the strengthening of regional
cooperation, joint development and mutual prosperity.
They adopted measures on the liberalization of trade
and investment and the improvement of transport and
communications systems and on ensuring food and
energy security. They also addressed other urgent
regional issues of fundamental interest to our people.
In conclusion, I would like to stress that it is
impossible to resolve the issues facing the General
Assembly without strengthening, reforming,
rationalizing and updating the entire United Nations
system. Comprehensive reform of the United Nations
should contribute to its strengthening and the
enhancement of its capacity to respond to the latest
developments in the world in a timely and adequate
manner and to meet modern challenges and counteract
modern threats. The current Assembly session provides
a unique opportunity for the search of joint coordinated
ways of addressing pressing issues, which we need take
full advantage of.