Ministry Statements & Speeches:
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Maldives and New Zealand, Co-Chairs of the SIDS4 Preparatory Process.
The adoption of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS represents an important milestone for SIDS journey towards resilient prosperity.
Agreed by consensus, the ABAS is a demonstration of the international community’s commitment to SIDS. More importantly, it is a manifestation of SIDS leadership and their aspirations for their people and their homes.
ABAS is not perfect. Many hoped for stronger commitments and higher ambition.
However, in many ways the true test of the ABAS is still to come.
That test being whether the international community genuinely rallies around the ABAS to ensure its effective implementation.
Whether the ABAS stands the test of time will also depend on whether SIDS themselves draw on the actions and commitments enshrined in the document to guide their sustainable development over the coming decade.
Implementation of the ABAS must begin immediately.
The UN system has an important role to play. This includes ensuring the completion of the ABAS monitoring and evaluation framework. After all, what doesn’t get measured doesn’t get done. The UN system must also reduce fragmentation in how it delivers to SIDS.
Development partners must evolve. We must be more dynamic in providing harmonised, SIDS-led development support. Partners must deliver on the commitments made in the ABAS to provide technical and financial support. Partners must be more flexible in adopting new tools and approaches which respond to the special circumstances of SIDS.
The international community must also recognize that the unique nature of SIDS is not a fragility but rather a source of strength for our planet and people.
Partnering with SIDS has been a core foreign policy priority for New Zealand for decades. Our identity and our destiny is intimately intertwined with our Pacific family.
Maldives and New Zealand consider it a great privilege to have served as co-chairs of the PrepCom. Zuhuree, Azhaan, Rachael, Greta, Rika - thank you. Ambassador Ali and I cannot understate the importance of your commitment and creativity throughout the Preparatory Process.
Thank you too, to all the Member States. Your hard work and political will allowed us to navigate difficult issues and ultimately achieve a consensus outcome.
The robust but always respectful leadership of the Chair of AOSIS, Samoa, deserves special recognition. Ambassador Luteru and team, faafetai lava.
And, to our host country Antigua and Barbuda, respect. Ambassador Webson, we were happy to rise to your challenge of NOT bringing the ABAS negotiations to your wonderful island.
As a result, we have been able to focus this week on how we will navigate the future together, including with the wide range of stakeholders who have shaped our thinking on the ABAS over the last year.
Thank you to our Bureau: Barbados, Cabo Verde, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Italy, Latvia, Romania, and Seychelles. Your collegiality was a crucial ingredient.
Maldives and New Zealand also recognize St Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Tonga and Cabo Verde for making available your beautiful countries for the preparatory meetings.
And, finally, to Under Secretary-General Li and your team from DESA, High Representative Fatima and the OHRLLS team, and the team from DGACM, ngā mihi nui kia koutou. Our deepest gratitude for your dedication in the preparations for and delivery of the Conference.
Maldives and New Zealand hope that the spirit of solidarity that underpinned the creation of the ABAS continues as we move into implementation.
Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi. By working together we all flourish.
Thank you