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ON AGENDA ITEM 22: GROUPS OF COUNTRIES IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS AT THE SECOND COMMITTEE OF THE 69th SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. NEW YORK, 23 OC

 

STATEMENT BY

H.E. AMBASSADOR HUSSEIN HANIFF

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA

TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 

ON AGENDA ITEM 22: GROUPS OF COUNTRIES

IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS

 

AT THE SECOND COMMITTEE

 

OF THE 69th SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

NEW YORK, 23 OCTOBER 2014

 

 

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

Malaysia wishes to align itself with the statements made by the distinguished Permanent Representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, on behalf of G77 and China and by Myanmar on behalf of ASEAN respectively.

 

2.       I also wish to thank the Secretary General for his comprehensive report on the  Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (LDC) for the decade 2011 to 2020. Malaysia appreciates the Secretary-General’s report on the outcome of the 10-year review conference on the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action for the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC).

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

3.       Malaysia welcomes the successful conclusion of the Ministerial Conference on New Partnerships for Productive Capacity Building in LDCs held in Cotonou, Benin in July of this year. We hope that the outcome document of the Conference, Cotonou Agenda will provide an important opportunity to forge new partnerships for productive capacity building in LDCs.

 

4.       My delegation also welcomes the convening of the upcoming Second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries which will be held from 3 to 5 November 2014 in Vienna, Austria.  We hope that the Conference will be able to produce a forward looking, comprehensive and focused document that would shape the new development agenda for the landlocked developing countries for the next decade. Malaysia looks forward to the successful deliberations and outcomes of this conference.

 

5.       In addition, Malaysia also wishes to highlight the success of the Third International Conference for Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) held in Samoa this year. Malaysia has participated actively in this conference and fully supports the SAMOA Pathway outcome document. It is our hope that the outcome of the conference would be instrumental in addressing the development gaps, the special needs and vulnerabilities of SIDS.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

6.       Three years into the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action, LDCs have made some progress on many of the goals and targets agreed in Istanbul.  Despite these progresses, poverty continues to be stubbornly high with almost half of LDC citizens living with less than USD 1.25 a day.  Progress has been modest on education while gender inequalities remain high.  Physical infrastructure continued to be largely below international standard.  What is more disturbing is that the deteriorating global economic environment is being transmitted to the LDCs through declining FDI and ODA.

 

7.       Malaysia remains steadfast with our vision, efforts and commitment, through the spirit of South-South cooperation, for the success of the Istanbul Programme of Action, with the view of assisting the LDCs in meeting the MDG targetsWe call upon all relevant stakeholders to act now and to double their efforts in implementing the programme of action, as the year 2015 is fast approaching.  We recognizes the crucial role of developed countries as development partners in the effective implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action. We also view that the LDCs ownership and leadership in formulating its own policies based on national priorities, conditions and requirements, are also equally important in the success of this Programme.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

8.       Malaysia is committed towards the common endeavor of assisting LDCs to further uplift its socio-economic development level that remains a global concern. Since the inception of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) in 1981, more than 26,000 participants from 141 developing countries have benefited from the programme, in which more than 10,000 participants were from 49 LDCs and former LDC countries.  Apart from attending technical capacity building short courses in Malaysia, we have also provided the services of experts, to LDCs, under the MTCP in areas where Malaysia has the proven expertise.  In addition, Malaysia has also committed itself to assisting SIDS in their pursuit of sustainable development. We recognise that SIDS have rich ecosystems but people are their greatest resources. Malaysia believes that human resource development and capacity building are two key elements for achieving sustainable development.

 

9.       At the SIDS Conference in Samoa, the Foreign Minister of Malaysia has announced that Malaysia is ready to provide technical assistance and share its experience in these matters through the MTCP.  Malaysia pledged USD 1 million to be allocated beginning from 2015 under the MTCP to conduct courses and suitable programmes to support genuine, enduring and sustainable partnerships with SIDS in the fields of public administration and management, tourism, environment and other areas based on the developmental needs of SIDS.  Since the inception of MTCP, more than 2,934 participants from 41 small island developing states have benefited from the programme.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

10.     To conclude, Malaysia will continue to support concerted efforts and actions by the LDCs and international development partners in achieving the goals and targets of the Istanbul Programme of Action.  On our part, Malaysia will continue to share its development experience particularly in the field of poverty eradication and capacity building with the LDCs both at the regional and international levels.  Malaysia looks forward for the successful implementation of both the Istanbul and the Almaty Programme of Actions.

 

I thank you, Mr. Chairman

 

Thank you.