Statement by Mr. Tigran Galstyan, Deputy Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN at the UNGA78 Second Committee General Debate

02 October, 2023

Mr. Chair,

At the outset, I would like to congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election and to assure you of Armenia’s full cooperation and support throughout the session.

Building on the outcomes of the “SDG Summit” this year’s deliberations in the Second Committee under the theme of “Building a Sustainable Recovery for All” plays an important role in shaping the ways to respond and recover from the interlinked humanitarian and socio-economic global crisis, which has halted the progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

In this critical juncture, when only 12% of SDGs are on track, the meaningful progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda cannot be overestimated. In this context we support the measures proposed by the UN Secretary-General in his report “Our Common Agenda” to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs and prepare for post-2030 actions. We look forward to the upcoming preparatory processes towards the Summit of the Future, which can contribute to the strengthening of the multilateralism to ensure equal and sustainable development for all.

Armenia, in close cooperation with its development partners, has taken active steps to align national strategies and action plans with the SDGs. Armenia places strong emphasis on good governance and transparency, the establishment of representative and accountable state institutions, and the promotion of zero tolerance against corruption. These institutional reforms have already played a crucial role in attracting investments and driving significant economic growth. Building on this success and to strengthen national capacities in full adherence to the 2030 Agenda, Armenia will present its third Voluntary National Review (VNR) in 2024 with aim to further advance our national efforts in promoting innovation, a green economy, women's empowerment and good governance.

For a landlocked middle-income country such as Armenia, the resilient global and regional trade and connectivity are critical to release its full economic potential and promote sustainable development. As we are approaching the Third UN Conference for the Landlocked Developing Countries next June, Armenia with OHRLLS is preparing to host a thematic ministerial meeting in Yerevan on November 20-21 of this year, entitled "Enhancing equitable, affordable and Inclusive transport connectivity as a driver for more sustainable and resilient economies in LLDCs". The primary aim of this meeting is to enhance regional and sub-regional cooperation for better connectivity through trade and transport for acceleration of the achievement of SDGs.

Mr. Chair,

At this very moment as we are gathered here, an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Nagorno-Karabakh. On September 19, after ten-month long blockade of the Lachin corridor and forced starvation imposed on the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan launched a full-scale aggression by indiscriminately shelling civilians denying their right to live freely and in dignity in their own homeland. Hundreds of civilians were killed, wounded, among them children, women, elderly people and persons with disabilities, many are still missing. As of now more than 100.000 displaced persons have entered to Armenia, leaving everything behind, their homes, livelihoods, pastures, livestock, and small business and are deprived from their essential means of subsistence at the wake of the winter.

Maintaining regional peace and stability plays a crucial role to guarantee sustainable development for all, especially those in vulnerable situations. Continuous acts of aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia and people of Nagorno-Karabakh have shattered the security environment in our region, undermining efforts aimed at full realization of the sustainable development agenda.

Armenia reaffirms its commitment to effective multilateral cooperation for development at the global, international and regional levels. We look forward to working with all our partners to identify measures to be taken to accelerate implementation of 2030 Agenda.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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