News

Statement by Rita Kazragienė,

Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Lithuania

2012 United Nations Pledging Conference for the Development activities

and 2012 United Nations/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Pledging Conference for the World Food Programme

14 November 2011

Madam President,

Lithuania is committed to effective multilateralism and achieving the goals agreed by the United Nations, most importantly the Millennium Development Goals.

Two decades back during our transition period and when rebuilding our democratic state Lithuania has relied and been assisted by the United Nations and its Member States. We have learned that partnership based on solidarity has an enormous value in a state building and development process.

It is only natural, that since 2004 when Lithuania evolved as a new donor, the development cooperation policy became an integral part of our foreign policy. Implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, ensuring peace, global economic growth and social stability, reduction of the disparities between developed and developing countries, integration of developing countries into the global economy are among our key objectives. It is based on the lessons learned and experience gained during our own state rebuilding process which could be of value for the partner countries, including and especially those in transition.

Today Lithuania is not only expanding the geography of its development partners but also gaining speed in volumes of ODA. In the past five years alone Lithuania’s official development assistance increased four-fold. In line with its commitments, Lithuania is working to meet the ODA target of 0.33 percent of GNI by 2015.

Our determination to live up to the commitments can also be seen from the fact that in 2011 – in the aftermath of the economic and financial crisis, when overall ODA levels have shrunk, Lithuania’s ODA has increased by 25 percent.

Madam President,

Lithuania’s development assistance is mainly offered in the areas where we have a comparative advantage because of our experience, for instance, in transition to the market economy, creating the rule of law, enhancement of good governance and democracy, strengthening of administrative capacities and building civil society, protection of human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment. Lithuania strongly promotes partnerships, innovative solutions, use of new information and communication technologies and in its turn is ready to actively cooperate in their facilitation.

With this in view and in recognition of the work well done on the ground Lithuania is pleased to pledge its support to the activities of the following UN entities and funds:

-         UN Women,

-         United Nations Office for the Coordination of the Humanitarian Affairs,

-         United Nations World Food Programme,

-         United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF).

Thank you.