STATEMENT BY MINISTER LINKEVIČIUS ON ACHIEVING MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Updated 2013-09-26
Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius
Special Event of the President of General Assembly follow-up on efforts made towards achieving the Millenium Development Goals
25 September 2013, New York
Your Excellencies,
First of all, let me welcome you all at this important event. The time is running fast and we all gathered here with a determination to renew our commitment to accelerate the achievement of the MDGs before 2015. In this regard, allow me to welcome the report of the UN Secretary-General. We are sure, this report provides a key contribution to today’s Special Event.
The Millenium Development Goals have made an enormous progress. However, the fight against poverty is not finished. A huge work remains to be done before and beyond 2015. For now our main task is to assure the acceleration of MDGs achievement. For future – we should set efficient framework based on the MDG process and especially the lessons learned. Moreover, the efforts of the international community should be progressive and efficiently tailored. The future development agenda should be based on the mobilization of all resources: public and private, domestic and international, using them in an innovative manner. Efforts of international community should assure long lasting and sustainable results.
The financial crisis perfectly illustrated the importance of sustainability. We have to be creative in thinking and inventing effective methods and forms of using the limited resources and achieving better results. All stakeholders have their role – governments, private entities, civil society. However, without proper coordination of efforts little could be achieved. Therefore, Lithuania shares UN initiatives to strengthen and develop partnerships.
We are convinced that the eradication of poverty and the promotion of sustainable development are mutually reinforcing objectives. We therefore believe that the post-2015 framework should integrate them in a single, overarching and universally applicable framework. This framework should be defined around a single set of global goals in order to drive action in all countries, while also taking into account different national contexts.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me mention several key elements which form our point of view are essential in this transitional period:
Lithuania, as current Presidency of the EU Council, would like to highlight that the post-2015 framework should be based on the principles of equality and equity, democracy and good governance, the rule of law and accountability. It is hard to believe that in the 21st century, there are so many communities where people have no right to vote and to decide on their future, even more, they faces constant abuse and violence. I truly believe that enabling proper participation of women in political, economic and social life would lead to a faster development. Therefore, we would like to see post-2015 agenda with a strong focus on peace and security, , gender equality and the empowerment of rights of women.
Future development agenda should go hand in hand with science, technology and innovations. Scientific and technology innovations should be adopted to the practical use, attached to the traditional knowledge and made widely accessible. Meanwhile, scientific research should be demand-led. Therefore, strengthening the interface between science and policy communities, as well as, ensuring full coherence and synergy with existing national, regional and global initiatives on research, development and innovation are important tasks to take in future development agenda.
Last but not least, let me reflect to the importance of transformational processes. I believe that all transitions help to achieve sustainable results if led wisely, if we know how to use our and others experience and if we want to share it. Lithuania, as some other EU Member states, has undergone an impressive period of institutional, economic and social reforms before joining the European Union. So we are strong from the practical point of view and thus we are ready to share the experience we gained with any state or society in transition. Believe me, it is a great source of ideas, knowledge and methodology.
Let’s be smart, innovative and creative in this transitional period and beyond.
Special Event of the President of General Assembly follow-up on efforts made towards achieving the Millenium Development Goals
25 September 2013, New York
Your Excellencies,
First of all, let me welcome you all at this important event. The time is running fast and we all gathered here with a determination to renew our commitment to accelerate the achievement of the MDGs before 2015. In this regard, allow me to welcome the report of the UN Secretary-General. We are sure, this report provides a key contribution to today’s Special Event.
The Millenium Development Goals have made an enormous progress. However, the fight against poverty is not finished. A huge work remains to be done before and beyond 2015. For now our main task is to assure the acceleration of MDGs achievement. For future – we should set efficient framework based on the MDG process and especially the lessons learned. Moreover, the efforts of the international community should be progressive and efficiently tailored. The future development agenda should be based on the mobilization of all resources: public and private, domestic and international, using them in an innovative manner. Efforts of international community should assure long lasting and sustainable results.
The financial crisis perfectly illustrated the importance of sustainability. We have to be creative in thinking and inventing effective methods and forms of using the limited resources and achieving better results. All stakeholders have their role – governments, private entities, civil society. However, without proper coordination of efforts little could be achieved. Therefore, Lithuania shares UN initiatives to strengthen and develop partnerships.
We are convinced that the eradication of poverty and the promotion of sustainable development are mutually reinforcing objectives. We therefore believe that the post-2015 framework should integrate them in a single, overarching and universally applicable framework. This framework should be defined around a single set of global goals in order to drive action in all countries, while also taking into account different national contexts.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me mention several key elements which form our point of view are essential in this transitional period:
Lithuania, as current Presidency of the EU Council, would like to highlight that the post-2015 framework should be based on the principles of equality and equity, democracy and good governance, the rule of law and accountability. It is hard to believe that in the 21st century, there are so many communities where people have no right to vote and to decide on their future, even more, they faces constant abuse and violence. I truly believe that enabling proper participation of women in political, economic and social life would lead to a faster development. Therefore, we would like to see post-2015 agenda with a strong focus on peace and security, , gender equality and the empowerment of rights of women.
Future development agenda should go hand in hand with science, technology and innovations. Scientific and technology innovations should be adopted to the practical use, attached to the traditional knowledge and made widely accessible. Meanwhile, scientific research should be demand-led. Therefore, strengthening the interface between science and policy communities, as well as, ensuring full coherence and synergy with existing national, regional and global initiatives on research, development and innovation are important tasks to take in future development agenda.
Last but not least, let me reflect to the importance of transformational processes. I believe that all transitions help to achieve sustainable results if led wisely, if we know how to use our and others experience and if we want to share it. Lithuania, as some other EU Member states, has undergone an impressive period of institutional, economic and social reforms before joining the European Union. So we are strong from the practical point of view and thus we are ready to share the experience we gained with any state or society in transition. Believe me, it is a great source of ideas, knowledge and methodology.
Let’s be smart, innovative and creative in this transitional period and beyond.
