'Priorities of developing nations must be centre of attention'

New York

"The 2030 Agenda including the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the commitments contained in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda must now be implemented expeditiously and in good faith," India's new Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said yesterday at the handover ceremony of the G77 Chairmanship from South Africa to Thailand.

"In this process, the objectives, priorities and needs of the developing countries must remain the centre of attention," Akbaruddin said.

In his first remarks at the world body after taking charge at the Permanent Mission of India here last week, Akbaruddin said that if 2015 was a year of negotiation and deliberation, "2016 should be a time of consolidation and implementation."

He said the year 2015 will be remembered most notably for the "path-breaking" 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

He reiterated India's high political commitment to working closely with all members of the Group of 77 and to advancing the interests of all developing countries, both individually as well as collectively.

"As we move into an implementation phase, the founding principles of the Group of 77 - equity, solidarity and unity, rooted as they are in our collective aspiration to help our people achieve a life of dignity - are even more relevant.

"We must give full meaning to these aspirations in the follow-up processes to be undertaken this year," he said.

He underscored that India will be resolute in pushing for developing country unity and will spare no effort to give special consideration to the interests of the Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States and Landlocked Developing Countries.

Addressing UN member states at the ceremony, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the year 2015 marked a "turning point" in international efforts to safeguard the planet and build a world of peace and sustainable prosperity for all.

"This year there are heightened expectations for the directions the United Nations development system can take to support Agenda 2030. The test for success will always remain what happens on the ground," the UN Chief said.

"We need to get this right so that our operational and normative work can converge and make a difference where it matters most — at the country level," he added.