Statement by the Delegation of Armenia - Ms. Julieta Tavakalyan, Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission, at the UNGA79 Second Committee under the agenda item 18, entitled ''Sustainable development" - Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations

Statement by the Delegation of Armenia - Ms. Julieta Tavakalyan, Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission, at the UNGA79 Second Committee under the agenda item 18, entitled ''Sustainable development"

15 October, 2024

Madam Chair,

The discussions under this agenda item provide timely opportunity to outline further actions to meet our commitments of achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions and securing a better future for present and future generations.

The intensifying global challenges and the rapidly exacerbating humanitarian crises emphasize the need for consolidated international efforts to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs and ensure that all peoples enjoy peace, security, justice, sustainable development and human rights.

Armenia remains strongly committed to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Our ambitious reform agenda places people in the centre of policies and strategies, with the major objective to create a safe and enabling environment for the development of human capital and realization of the fundamental human rights, including social and economic rights.

Among the Government priorities are promoting inclusive and quality education, ensuring a universal, accessible, and quality healthcare system and social protection service, capable of addressing the needs of the most vulnerable. We place an emphasis on good governance and transparency, building representative and accountable state institutions and promoting zero tolerance towards corruption.

An important priority for Armenia is promoting gender equality and empowerment of women in economy and entrepreneurship, ICT, science and innovation. We emphasize the importance of equal and meaningful participation of women in decision-making processes, as an important prerequisite for building peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

The mountainous terrain and ecosystems place climate action among Armenia’s national and international priorities. Armenia believes that the consolidated efforts of the international community can contribute to addressing climate change and environmental challenges, while promoting international and regional solidary, peace and security and creating conducive environment for achieving sustainable development.

However, the country that claims to be in the forefront of the international efforts on climate agenda by hosting the COP29, regrettably fails to meet fundamental norms of international and humanitarian law. While somehow promoting the initiative of Appeal for a Truce within the None-alignment Movement, it should live up to its obligations, including under the international humanitarian law, and release the Armenian hostages, held in Baku for over a year.

Madam Chair,

The sustainable development is significantly impacted, when we face the social-economic, humanitarian consequences of use of force, economic and other forms of coercion in the region. The influx of more than 120.000 refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of forced displacement in 2023 has put additional constrains to Armenia’s development efforts.

The implications of the pressing humanitarian challenges underscore the urgent need for the UN and its specialized agencies to operationalize the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, ensuring that the immediate needs of the most vulnerable are met while building the foundation for a long-term sustainability and resilience.

Madam Chair,

Halfway through the implementation of the Agenda 2030, there is a need for reinvigorated multilateralism and global solidarity to ensure equal and sustainable development for all. The current and emerging global challenges call for efficient and coherent action of the international community to live up to the commitments that have been reaffirmed in the Pact of the Future in September.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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