As this is my first time
addressing the General Assembly as Head of State, I
wish to sincerely congratulate Mr. John Ashe on his
election to the presidency of the General Assembly at
its sixty-eighth session. I assure him that the Tongan
delegation will be fully supportive and cooperative
under his very able leadership. I also wish to commend
the stewardship of his predecessor, Mr. Vuk Jeremi.,
during the sixty-seventh session. I express my gratitude
to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his persevering
guidance and energetic leadership in further enhancing
the profile and work of the United Nations in the face of
unprecedented global challenges.
Tonga welcomes the timely theme for the general
debate, “The post-2015 development agenda: setting the
stage”, and the inclusion of a set of six thematic issues of
focus for high-level events and thematic debates during
the sixty-eighth session. Indeed, Tonga joins other
small island developing States (SIDS) in affirming that
priorities in the outline of the post-2015 development
agenda should, with increased cooperation among
Member States, reflect the outcome of the 2014 Third
International Conference on Small Island Developing
States, to be convened in Samoa.
Tonga supports the proposed high-level event that
would address the needs of women, youth and civil
society and contribute to development goals. It applauds
the high-level event on the contribution of human rights
and the rule of law to the post-2015 framework and hails
the twentieth anniversary of the Vienna Conference on
Human Rights. Earlier this year, Tonga submitted its
second universal periodic review, which was adopted
by the Human Rights Council. The next review for
Tonga is scheduled for 2017-2018.
The high-level event, centring on South-South
and triangular cooperation, including information
and communication technology, is appreciated as
adding value to the realization of development targets.
Tonga hosted the annual Pacific Islands Chapter of
the Internet Conference earlier this month to celebrate
the emergence of high-speed Internet connectivity in
Tonga. The Conference showcased the achievements
of the Pacific region in accessing opportunities for
Internet users and demonstrated how Tonga can best
develop its own investment strategy for the new cable
submarine Internet system.
The thematic debate on partnership deserves high
praise, in particular with the aforementioned Samoa
Conference focusing on the overarching theme of the
sustainable development of small island developing
States through genuine and durable partnership. The
second thematic debate, on the establishment of stable
and peaceful societies, is also welcome, given the
current chaos we are experiencing in the international
community. The third thematic debate, on the roles
of water, sanitation and sustainable energy, is equally
crucial to the development agenda for the post-2015
period.
Energy is the golden thread that connects economic
growth, increased social equity and an environment
that allows the world to thrive. Sustainable energy is
central in order to reach the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs), including many development goals that
extend far beyond the energy sector — eradicating
poverty; increasing food production; providing clean
water; improving public health; enhancing education;
creating economic opportunity; and empowering
women — as well as an integral part of creating
sustainable development, including environmental
sustainability. A shift towards more sustainable energy
sources is also essential in addressing environmental
sustainability while tackling climate-change challenges.
The concept of establishing a Pacific Regional Data
Repository for Sustainable Energy for All is aimed at
focusing on all energy-related projects to be sourced,
including all projects implemented in the Pacific,
reflecting best practices as well as those that have not
been so successful.
The lack of bankable data in the region causes a
disconnect from the true value of assistance from our
development partners, whereby 60 per cent of project
financing is absorbed by technical assistance, pilot
projects, pre-feasibility studies and only 40 per cent, and
in some cases less, on hardware. The Pacific Regional
Data Repository for Sustainable Energy for All has an
ambitious goal of implementation whereby the Pacific
small island developing States, with the assistance
of their developing partners, will gift to the Third
International Conference on Small Island Developing
States, to be held in 2014 in Samoa, a documented
process under which this has been achieved and which
may be shared by all regional groups of the United
Nations.
I therefore urge all relevant stakeholders to work
together to develop and establish a common global goal
on sustainable energy for all as part of the post-2015
development agenda.
A set of related targets and indicators supporting
the goal should encompass all three dimensions of
sustainable development. The three objectives of the
Sustainable Energy for All Initiative — universal
energy access, increased efficiency and renewable
energy — can provide a solid framework to build on
further, while keeping them fully adaptable to different
circumstances and priorities at the regional, national
and local levels.
Tonga commends the Secretary-General for his
laudable initiative to convene a high-level summit
meeting on climate change in 2014 and joins other SIDS
in urging the leaders of developed countries to enhance
their mitigation ambition to bridge the pre-2020 gap
in a timely and effective manner. Furthermore, Tonga
joins other SIDS in calling for the inclusion of climate
change as a cross-cutting issue in terms of sustainable
development goals. Oceans are a thematic priority and
should also be prominently featured in the context
of sustainable development goals and the post-2015
agenda.
The Government of Tonga has adopted the
United Nations Development Programme Millennium
Development Goals Acceleration Framework and
has chosen to apply it to MDG 6, on combating
non-communicable diseases, with applications to MDG
1, on poverty, and MDG 3, on gender equality.
The following five key interventions have been
prioritized in Tonga to combat non-communicable
diseases: increase the local food supply and create
income-generating opportunities for women and
vulnerable groups; provide curative health services in
hospital settings, screening for disease-specific risk
factors; review legislation, subsidiary legislation and
policies affecting food, tobacco, kava, alcohol and
physical activity; advocate healthy lifestyles through
churches and workplaces; and support resources.
Tonga’s Millennium Accelerated Framework report
is completed and ready for launching and, moreover,
is aligned with the call of SIDS for non-communicable
diseases and other emerging health issues to be
highlighted in the post-2015 development agenda.
Tonga joins other delegations of the international
community in urging a swift and peaceful resolution to
the situation in Syria.
With respect to pertinent regional issues, Tonga
endorses the views expressed in the Marshall Islands
communiqué, that is, the outcome document of the
annual meeting of Pacific Island Forum leaders, held
earlier this month.
May God continue to bless and guide the States
Members of the United Nations as they take their
crucial work forward.