Mr. President,
Dear Colleagues and participant,
It is my honour to deliver the statement on behalf of G77 and China.
We are facing a triple challenge: recovery from the Covid-19 Pandemic; achieving the SDGs within the remaining decade of action; and combating climate change, says a press release received here today from New York.
Undeniably, the Covid-19 Pandemic has added to the financial difficulties of the developing countries while exacerbated existing inequalities within and between countries.
It has compelled governments in the developing countries to make hard choices often diverting development resources for crisis recovery and relief.
The SDG financing gap has now reached to $4.3tn per year. It is feared that owing to the extreme economic hardship, unsustainable debt burden, high borrowing cost, rising inflation, illicit financial flows, and difficulties in accessing concessional finance many developing countries would not be able to recover soon from the crisis and achieve the SDGs.
Mr. President,
Road to recovery from Covid-19 Pandemic and achievement of the 2030 agenda would first of all need ensuring global and equitable access to safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines at affordable prices as well as agreement that intellectual property rights should be interpreted and implemented in a manner that they remain supportive of the right of States to protect public health and promote access to medicines for all.
Second, the Group urges the elimination of safe havens that create incentives for the transfer of stolen assets and illicit financial flows and emphasize strong commitment to ensuring the return of stolen assets to the countries of origin. The Group notes the recommendations by the FACTI Panel provide useful inputs for consideration, as appropriate, to strengthen financial integrity globally
The Group is concerned that there is still no single global inclusive forum for tax cooperation at the intergovernmental level. The Group reiterates its call for the full upgrade of the Committee of Experts in Tax Matters to a UN intergovernmental body, with experts representing their respective governments.
Third, the Group calls for scaling up financing to protect the livelihood and health of everyone, particularly those in vulnerable situations, close the financing gap, invest in full and productive employment and decent work for all and strengthen and generalizing social protection systems.
Four, we stress that investment in sustainable and quality infrastructure is critical for an inclusive COVID-19 recovery and for acceleration towards achieving the SDGs. Public financing should be scaled up to catalyze private investments in sustainable and resilient infrastructure that will help to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN system should also provide support to the developing countries for maintaining a pipeline of bankable projects.
Five, the Group urges developed countries to fulfill their unmet ODA commitments to developing countries to achieve the national target of 0.7 % of gross national income and 0.15 to 0.20 % of ODA/GNI to the least developed countries. The Group also stresses that ODA and other concessional finance still relevant for middle-income countries.
Six, the Group emphasizes for special and differential treatment for developing countries in harnessing the developmental benefit of international trade.
The Group also recognizes that multilateral trading system relies on a universal, rule-based, open, transparent, inclusive, non-discriminatory multilateral trading system as embodied in the WTO.
The Group remains alerted by the increase in the unilateral and protectionist measures that will not only undermine the multilateral trading system, but also will lead to negative impact on access of the developing countries' exports to the global markets.
As stated in 2030 Agenda, States are strongly urged to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that impede the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries.
Seven, The Group, expresses concern over the increasing debt vulnerabilities of developing countries, the tightening of global financial conditions, and in this regard, emphasize the urgency for additional actions and further initiatives to strengthen the international financial architecture for long-term debt sustainability.
While appreciating historic allocation of $650bn SDRs, we encourage countries with strong external positions to voluntary channel at least $250bn special drawing rights to all developing countries in need.
Eight, inaccurate ratings can impact the cost of borrowing and the stability of the international financial system. Given their role in either facilitating or hampering progress on debt treatment and affecting the cost of borrowing, it would be important that credit rating agencies ensure that their ratings are objective, independent and based on accurate information and sound analytical methods.
Nine, commitment by developed countries to provide US$ 100 billion per year by 2020 is already overdue. We therefore call upon the developed countries to honor their commitment and provide financial resources of at least USD 100 billion per year to assist developing countries in their climate change actions with at least half allocated to adaptation. We also recommit to the decisions to set a new collective quantified climate finance goal from a floor of 100 billion United States dollars per year and by 2024.
I thank you.Mr. President,
Pakistan welcomes the convening by the UK Presidency of this open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.
We express our grave concern on the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In recent weeks, Israeli forces have killed dozens and injured hundreds of Palestinians in the occupied Jerusalem through raids and use of tear gas by drones against innocent worshippers in the Holy Al-Aqsa mosque. These assaults coming as they do during the holy month of Ramadan are egregious violations of humanitarian norms and human rights laws, says a press release received here today from New York.
Mr. President,
On 15 April 2022, the OIC Group in New York in its statement on the situation:
- Condemned the intrusions by the Israeli occupation forces and extremist settlers into the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which were marked by acts of aggression on worshipers and in violation of the sanctity of the mosque and worship rites therein;
- Warned of the dire implications of such reckless aggravation of religious sensitivities, which risk further destabilization of this fragile situation that could gravely impact regional and international peace and security;
- Demanded the immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces from Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif; the immediate release of all detained worshippers; and an end to all of these violations;
- Reiterated their absolute rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif; and
- Called on the international community, most notably the UN Security Council, to ensure protection for Palestinian civilians.
Mr. President,
These recent actions by Israeli forces are a disturbing codicil to the Israeli aggression against the Holy Al Aqsa Mosque in May last year, which inflamed tensions and triggered the most serious outbreak of hostilities between Palestinians and Israel in several years.
Pakistan believes that there is no question in anybody's mind that Israel's actions in the occupied Palestinian lands - the seizure of land and properties for Israeli settlements; the violence against unarmed Palestinian children, women and men; the blockade of Gaza; and the desecration of Holy Al-Aqsa - are of these all grave violations of Security Council resolutions and international law, including humanitarian law.
Second, there is no moral, legal or political equivalence between Israel, the occupying State, and the occupied and oppressed Palestinian people. The Palestinian struggle for self-determination and implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions is legitimate; the Israeli repression of the occupied Palestinian people is illegitimate;
Third, the perpetuation of Israeli occupation will not bring peace to the Holy Land. If history is a guide, even if they are dispossessed and disempowered by Israel, every succeeding generation of Palestinians will persist in seeking their freedom and fundamental rights, including their right to self-determination; and
Lastly, the two-State formula, involving the establishment of a sovereign, contiguous and viable Palestinian State, living side by side with Israel within recognized and accepted pre-1967 boundaries with Al Quds al Sharif as it capital offers the only solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. A peace process to achieve this objective must be revived.
I thank you.
