UN urges Group of 77 nations to champion development agenda

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with representatives of the G77 and China on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban. UN Photo/Mark Garten

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Group of 77: coalition’s key role stressed in UN efforts to promote development
United Nations, New York, 11 january 2012 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the President of the General Assembly Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser today urged the bloc of developing countries known as the Group of 77 and China to ensure that concrete and actionable measures are adopted at the forthcoming United Nations conference on sustainable development in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

“Safeguarding the environment is a fundamental priority of the Rio process,” Mr. Ban said at a ceremony at UN Headquarters where Argentina handed over the chairmanship of the Group of 77 to Algeria. Ambassador Jorge Argüello of Argentina handed over the G-77 chairmanship to Ambassador Mourad Benmehidi of Algeria.
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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the President of the General Assembly Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser today urged the bloc of developing countries known as the Group of 77 and China to ensure that concrete and actionable measures are adopted at the forthcoming United Nations conference on sustainable development in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

“Safeguarding the environment is a fundamental priority of the Rio process,” Mr. Ban said at a ceremony at UN Headquarters where Argentina handed over the chairmanship of the Group of 77 to Algeria. Ambassador Jorge Argüello of Argentina handed over the G-77 chairmanship to Ambassador Mourad Benmehidi of Algeria.

Once again, the role of the G-77 is an important part of the global effort to mobilize political will to achieve sustainable development.

The international community will gather at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro in June to chart a course towards a more sustainable and equitable world. The Conference will focus on two themes – a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and an institutional framework for sustainable development.

“Promoting balanced and stable economic growth and ensuring social equity are essential,” said Mr. Ban. “Yet the challenges loom large. The debt crisis continues in Europe and elsewhere. Markets are volatile. Budgets are getting squeezed. Unemployment is unacceptably high.

“The United Nations, with the full commitment of its membership, must act resolutely and decisively. Once again, the role of the G-77 is an important part of the global effort to mobilize political will to achieve sustainable development,” he added.

The Group, established in 1964 by 77 States, now includes more than 130 countries, some two thirds of the UN membership, and over 60 per cent of the world’s population.

Mr. Al-Nasser stressed the need for coordinated action by G-77 and China to ensure successful outcome of Rio+20.

“I am convinced that under the strong leadership of Algeria Rio+20 negotiations will lead to a successful outcome and will be an opportunity to give effect to a new vision,” Mr. Al-Nasser said in a speech delivered on his behalf by his chef de cabinet, Mutlaq al Qahtani.

“This is a vision based on a concrete programme of action for addressing gaps in means of implementation in the sustainable development agenda, as well as on efforts to address new and emerging challenges.”

On the achievement of the global poverty reduction blueprint known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Secretary-General also urged the Group of 77 and China to strive to ensure that the targets are attained by the 2015 deadline.

“We must also begin thinking about the next steps beyond 2015. I invite the G-77 and China to be active in the dialogue regarding the post-2015 international development agenda. In the coming year and beyond, we have a historic opportunity to reshape the way we think about development,” said Mr. Ban.

Mr. Al-Nasser also pledged full support got Group of 77’s joint efforts to surmount the challenges and obstacles in the advancement of the UN development agenda.

“Together, we must ensure that programmes and activities established to address the needs of the developing countries are accorded the appropriate resources.

“As the date set for the achievement of the MDGs rapidly approaches, we must work together to secure the progress achieved so far and build upon hard-won economic and development gains,” he said.

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 Secretary-General’s remarks to G-77 Chairmanship Handover Ceremony

New York, 11 January 2012

Your Excellency Minister Mourad Medelci of Algeria, Chair of the G77 and China,
Your Excellency Ambassador Jorge Argüello, of Argentina, Outgoing Chair of the G77 and China, Mr. President of ECOSOC, Mr. Representative of the President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Happy New Year to you all!

I am pleased to join you as we mark the handover of the chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China.

I commend the Argentine Republic, and especially you, Ambassador Argüello, for your successful leadership of the Group this past year.

During that time, the world witnessed continued financial turmoil. Weak economic recovery. Multiple social and environmental crises.

But the Group of 77 remained resolute in its commitment to multilateralism. You worked together and reached out to find ways to address our common challenges.

I thank you for your commitment and support.

Today, I am pleased to see Algeria assume leadership of the group.

Minister Medelci, I congratulate your Government for taking on this responsibility. Please know that in the coming year, you can count on the full cooperation of the Secretariat.

I am confident that your leadership will build on the efforts of previous chairpersons in fostering cooperation within the G77, and between the G77 and other partners.

Excellencies,

In 2011, the international community advanced action for development.

The Durban Conference on Climate Change made progress in a number of key areas.

The Busan Forum on Aid Effectiveness established a framework for development cooperation for the coming years.

The Fourth Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Istanbul called for intensified efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.

The leadership of the G77 will be fundamental to transforming these and other commitments into concrete action.

This year we have a historic opportunity to address one of the main challenges facing humanity: building a sustainable world.

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio +20, is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build the future we want.

We need to develop strategies to foster sustainability on a global scale. We need to connect the dots between policy challenges — climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all.

G77 leadership is fundamental in ensuring that concrete actionable measures are adopted at Rio.

I will continue to support the process in every way I can.

Safeguarding the environment is a fundamental priority of the Rio process. But it requires simultaneous action in the economic and social pillars.

Promoting balanced and stable economic growth and ensuring social equity is essential.

Yet the challenges loom large.

The debt crisis continues in Europe and elsewhere.

Markets are volatile. Budgets are getting squeezed. Unemployment is unacceptably high.

Inequality is growing – both among and within countries.

Social unrest is on the rise in many corners of the world.

The United Nations, with the full commitment of its membership, must act resolutely and decisively.

Once again, the role of the G77 is an important part of the global effort to mobilize political will to achieve sustainable development.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Millennium Development Goals remain a blueprint toward achieving our development objectives.

Our target date of the year 2015 is fast approaching.

We are on the last stretch and we must make the final push to achieve our commitments.

Yet, we must also begin thinking about the next steps beyond 2015.

I invite the G77 and China to be active in the dialogue regarding the post-2015 international development agenda.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the coming year and beyond, we have a historic opportunity to reshape the way we think about development.

We have the responsibility to make the most of this moment.

I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Group of 77 and China in our collective efforts to address our collective global challenges.

Thank you very much.

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The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership totals 192 countries.

When States become Members of the United Nations, they agree to accept the obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles of international relations. According to the Charter, the UN has four purposes:

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• and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.

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* The above story is adapted from materials provided by United Nations (UN)
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