Plenary
10 February 2005
Second informal Plenary exchange on the findings and recommendations of the United Nations Millennium Project 2005
Statement delivered by H.E. Mr Gilbert Laurin
Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN
on behalf of Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Check against delivery
Mr. President,
I am speaking on behalf of of Australia, New Zealand and Canada. CANZ wishes to use the debate today to build on those aspects of the Millennium Project Report which address practical ways to achieve the MDGs. We wish to recognize the important work that has gone into developing methodologies, documenting lessons learned and the analysis in the report that focuses on how we might together achieve the MDGs.
We recognize that the report’s recommendations and its costing methodology set ambitious targets for both developing and developed countries in terms of pushing for significant domestic resource mobilization and significantly increased ODA levels. While we are supportive of much of the report, we also recognize that not all states will agree to all recommendations. Accordingly, we should focus first on areas around which consensus can be built and which will result in real progress.
We strongly support the emphasis put on governance and human rights in the report. We agree with the Report’s analysis that governance matters, that bad governance impedes growth and development, but also that governance can be improved where the political will is present but capacity is weak. We also agree that identifying and providing focused support to those countries with good governance is a practical and effective way of helping to achieve the MDGs. At the same time, we cannot ignore the needs of others. Experience has shown the potentially high cost of not engaging with states with poor governance, particularly in relation to the challenges faced by fragile states.
We support nationally-led and owned development strategies as the key operational framework for achieving the MDGs at the country level. We particularly support the emphasis on economic growth and gender equality, in addition to social and environmental investments, including reproductive health. We strongly concur with the report’s position that the MDGs can and should be complemented by other development targets, both internationally and nationally determined ones.
We strongly support the recommended approach to inclusiveness - of civil society, the private sector and international partners. This involvement needs to be continuous - not just in the design of these strategies, but in their implementation and monitoring.
We support in principle the idea of "Quick Wins" although the specifics will need closer examination, in particular in building these actions into national development strategies and ensuring an appropriate consideration of their sustainability.
We welcome the messages about regional public goods and institutions and would encourage donors, as well as recipient countries, to align their respective strategies around regional priorities and initiatives such as NEPAD and the African Peer Review Mechanism, and the Pacific Plan.
We also concur with the report’s call for improving aid effectiveness through alignment, harmonization and the greater predictability of aid flows.
Mr. President,
We would like to stress the importance of policy coherence, and CANZ support for the successful and ambitious conclusion to the Doha Round, noting the Report’s overall recognition of the importance of trade liberalization as an engine for development and economic growth. In recognition of the particular needs of LDCs, we urge all members to grant tariff and quota free access for LDC goods as CANZ has done.
Finally, in closing, we would like to emphasize our support for the recommendations in the report for strengthening the multilateral aid system and in particular for closer cooperation between the UN country teams and the IFIs at the country level. CANZ recognizes the importance of a stronger UN Resident Coordinator system in supporting nationally-led and owned strategies as operational frameworks for achieving the MDGs. Working together at country level to implement such strategies will allow the UN Country Team and the IFIs to more closely align their strengths.
Thank you Mr. President.