Remarks by H.E. Mr. Mher Margaryan, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Armenia, at the UNGA 74 Second Committee General Debate

08 հոկտեմբերի, 2019

Madam Chair,

I would like to congratulate you and the distinguished members of the Bureau on your election and to assure you of our full cooperation and support throughout the session.

The Second Committee remains a key multilateral platform for development cooperation, with a special focus on the sustainable development agenda and accelerating progress towards the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Discussions that aim to enable the cooperation potential of the Member States, the UN and the development actors will be instrumental in helping formulate a better response to the most pressing needs and priorities.

The 2030 Agenda is a comprehensive framework for development cooperation with a view to transform societies and achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth that leaves no one behind. Promotion and protection of human rights, in particular economic and social rights is a key prerequisite for sustainable development. In this regard Armenia stresses the importance of focusing on human capital, the right to development and economic participation of women and youth, best practices and lessons learned.

Open dialogue on the challenges to sustainable development, emanating from closed borders, attempts to isolate from regional economic cooperation and deprive people from their means of subsistence needs to be carefully considered. The development needs of the people residing in conflict areas should be addressed in order to promote their engagement in achieving the sustainable development goals.

Madam Chair,

Middle-income countries, like Armenia, face specific development needs and challenges, which necessitates a tailor-made approach to each country and elaboration of a comprehensive set of criteria, in particular when it comes to facilitation of access of Middle income countries to development financing and climate finance. In doing this, we need to give due regard to the policy recommendations emerging from the ECOSOC, as well as the High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development, and to make best use of those mutually reinforcing platforms.

Madam Chair,

Armenia is committed to its continued partnership with the UN Development System, as we have embarked on the next stage of cooperation, with a new generation of the UN country teams. As we approach the final stage of our joint work under the current UN Development Assistance Framework, we look forward to launching the UN Development Assistance Framework review process with the aim to identify the existing gaps and challenges, as well as the opportunities for improved coordination and stronger engagement. At the same time, we are working to ensure compatibility and coherence of our national priorities with the sustainable development goals, with a focus on the strong impact of innovation, in advancing what we see as “smart” development of the country.

Armenia remains committed to the creation and development of knowledge-based platforms that leverage impact, having embraced the innovation agenda as an important priority in our development cooperation. Advancing Sustainable Development with particular emphasis on information and communication technologies, amplifying the growth of start-ups, and fostering innovation are amongst the strategic priorities of the Government of Armenia.

As we speak, Armenia is hosting the 23rd World Congress on Information Technologies - a major platform that unites ICT associations representing 90% of the industry, globally. Held under the theme “Fulfilling the Promise of the Digital Age - The Power of Decentralization”, the Congress has brought together prominent representatives of government and private sector, policy makers, thinkers, investors and innovators, to discuss the latest developments in the industry and issues of global interest, such as artificial intelligence, impact of ICT on education, smart cities, cyber security, Climate change, women in technology and many other topics.

Madam Chair,

In conclusion, let me reaffirm Armenia’s full support to the work of the Committee, with a view to identify the means of unlocking the enormous potential of human capital, technology and innovation for sustainable development.

I thank you.

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