Araksya Babikyan, Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN, made a statement at the UNGA78 Second Committee under the Agenda Item 19: Sustainable Development in which she addressed the problems caused by the displacement of residents from Nagorno-Karabakh.
"Mr. Chair,
Building on the outcomes of the SDG Summit the discussions under this agenda item offer a timely opportunity to reflect upon the achievements of the 2030 Agenda so far and discuss the existing challenges to get back on track for the full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at national, regional and global levels.
The number of high-level meetings during the HLW on climate, financing and health, as well as the Water Conference and Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework earlier this year, showcased the need towards strengthened partnership and cooperation to achieve sustainable development by 2030.
The downfall, caused by the multidimensional and interlinked crises can be reversed only through consolidated efforts of the international community with the United Nations at its core. It is of crucial importance to give a new impetus to the achievement of the SDGs and ensure that all nations and peoples enjoy peace, security, justice, sustainable development and human rights and can truly embrace the universal pledge of leaving no one behind.
Armenia remains strongly committed to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda prioritizing the promotion of inclusive, equitable and quality education, ensuring a universal, affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare system resilient to pandemics, and strengthening the capacities of social protection service to address the needs of the most vulnerable, including children, elderly, women and persons with disabilities. Thus, to assess the progress so far and to achieve greater coherence in incorporating the SDGs into the national strategies and programmes next year Armenia will present its 3rd Voluntary National Review.
Mr. Chair,
Many of developing countries continue to bear the dire consequences of the climate change being the least contributors to it. The lack of the sufficient climate financing severely constrains the development aspirations of the vulnerable countries. In this regard the introduction of new innovative financing tools, such as for example debt for climate swaps are of utmost importance. In the wake of the COP28 there is a need to strengthen the efforts towards the full operationalization of the “Loss and Damage fund” which was created last year during the COP27 to provide financial assistance to nations most vulnerable and impacted by the effects of climate change. Armenia, as a member of the Transitional Committee on the operationalization of the funding arrangements stands ready to engage constructively with all partners for the successful conclusion of this process. Armenia remains committed to Paris Agreement and in line with its “Nationally Determined Contributions” (NDC) has set the target of a 40% reduction of GHG emissions by 2030 and reach net zero goal by 2050. For this purpose, the Government of Armenia takes steps to promote energy transition with the aim to increase the share of the renewable energy sources in energy production.
Mr. Chair,
The sustainable development is significantly impacted, when we face the socio-economic, humanitarian consequences of use of force, economic and other forms of coercion in the region. As a result of the latest military aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan, more than 100.000 people have been ethnically cleansed were forced to leave their homes finding refuge in Armenia. Mass displacement of the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia necessitates imminent humanitarian response and resource mobilization. Threats to regional peace and security directly undermine the efforts to promote sustainable development and well-being for the people in the region.
The unfolding situation requires an immediate and practical action from the international community, relevant humanitarian organizations, the UN with its specialized agencies to alleviate the continuous hardships, deprivation and suffering of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. The UN needs to mobilize the capacities of the international community to address the life-saving, protection and early recovery needs of the refugees and ensure their fundamental human rights, including the right of safe and dignified return to their ancestral homeland.
Mr. President,
In a run up to the Summit of the Future there is a chance to reinvigorate the multilateralism and global solidarity to ensure equal and sustainable development for all. The global challenges call for efficient, timely and coherent action by the United Nations system to mobilize the capacities of the international community and coordinate the collective efforts to reach the most vulnerable in every corner of the world to ensure full and timely implementation of SDGs.
I thank you."
