27 September 2014: At the 69th UN General Assembly (UNGA) General Debate, Heads of State and Government continued their discussion of the post-2015 development agenda alongside consideration of a range of other issues.

Several countries described national efforts on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister, Bangladesh, and Enele Sosene Sopoga, Prime Minister, Tuvalu. Zarar Ahmad Osmani, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan, said it began working toward the MDGs in 2005 and is committed to achieving most of the Goals by 2020, while also planning to synchronize its efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Oldemiro Marques Balói, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mozambique, supported guaranteeing the sustainability of MDGs already achieved, and accelerating implementation on those lagging behind. Ri Su Yong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Democratic Republic of Korea, said the post-2015 agenda should consolidate MDG successes. Prosper Bazombanza, Vice President, Burundi, recommended building on progress to define post-2015 objectives.

Many speakers outlined their country’s priorities for the post-2015 agenda, including Wang Yi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, China, Salva Kiir, President, South Sudan, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Foreign Affairs, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister, Viet Nam, and Bazombanza. Balói and Hasina shared priorities from national consultations. Lubomír Zaorálek, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Czech Republic, highlighted cross-cutting issues, such as good governance, rule of law, human rights and women’s empowerment, which he said should remain self-standing priorities but can also link different agendas. Pasquale Valentini, Minister for Foreign and Political Affairs, San Marino, stressed the role of the family in building a culture of inclusion, describing protection and support of the family as a critical step toward the integration of economic, environmental and social development.

Wang said all parties should work to conclude negotiations by the end of 2015 in accordance with the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR), equity and respective capabilities. Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cuba, said the post-2015 agenda should be the outcome of an intergovernmental and inclusive negotiation.

Many speakers highlighted the relationship between peace and security and sustainable development, including Ri Su, Pham and Hasina. Tanasak Patimapragom, Deputy Prime Minister, Thailand, said people-centered security, not state-centered security, is key to achieving real and lasting peace and development. Valentini said the potential for the full attainment of the post-2015 agenda is compromised when peace and security are not guaranteed. Agila Saleh Essa Gwaider, President of the House of Representatives, Libya, recommended recognizing the close linkage among security, stability and development, saying that, for Libya, restoring security and stability will be key to achieving the remaining MDGs and being ready to achieve the SDGs.

Several speakers emphasized attention to gender equality and women’s empowerment in the post-2015 agenda, including Hasina, Balói, Al Nahyan and Kiir. Hasina said migration and development should be included in the post-2015 framework.

On means of implementation (MOI), several speakers called for strong and transformative partnerships. Rui Machete, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Portugal, recommended a partnership that mainstreams human rights, combats inequalities, promotes peaceful, stable and just societies, and advances issues of population and development. Patimapragom said such a partnership should address human security. Hasina called for a robust, broad-based global partnership based on mutual trust, respect and CBDR, and urged resolving financing for sustainable development, including through the Financing for Development (FfD) process. Kiir called for sustained partnership, collaboration and coordination at international, regional and national levels. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, India, called for a genuine international partnership while also recognizing that each country must take its own national measures. He also stressed the importance of developed countries’ fulfilling commitments on funding and technology transfer.

Noting the challenges faced in implementing MDG 8 on a global partnership for development, Balói underlined the need to increase official development assistance (ODA), strengthen financial mechanisms and increase contributions from domestic financing. Hasina said LDCs and climate-vulnerable countries require greater ODA support as well as capacity building, science technology innovation and duty-free and quota-free access to developed country markets.

Sopoga said the UN should be more responsive and understanding of the diverse circumstances and needs of its membership, taking into account variable and special circumstances. He recommended integration of the ‘Samoa Pathway’ and establishment of a special window for SIDS into the post-2015 development agenda and all other UN agency programmes. While emphasizing universality and shared responsibility in the new agenda, Machete also recognized the need for sensitivity to the specificities of least developed countries (LDCs), vulnerable countries and small island developing States (SIDS).

Sopoga also recommended reviewing the graduation criteria for LDCs, saying they are not relevant to SIDS’ characteristics. He requested further deferral of Tuvalu’s LDC graduation until a thorough assessment and review of LDC graduation is carried out.

Balói said the post-2015 agenda must reflect Africa’s priorities and special needs, as expressed in the Common African Position (CAP). Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President, Mali, urged the international community to review and support the Common African Position. Parrilla urged considering Sub-Saharan Africa a priority.

Several countries recommended addressing ocean issues. King Tupou VI, Tonga, and Sopoga stressed the importance of the proposed SDG on oceans as critical to the survival of Pacific SIDS, with Tupou noting the well-being of the Tongan people is based on the conservation and management of the ocean and its resources. Machete said Portugal has adopted a National Maritime Strategy focusing on blue growth, and described its support for UN efforts on sustainable oceans management. Hasina called for incorporating blue economy principles and practices into the post-2015 agenda.

Tupou, Sopoga and Machete supported launching negotiations for an international agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for the management and conservation of the ocean and its resources within and in areas beyond national jurisdiction, by September 2015. [General Debate, 27 September] [UN Press Release on European Statements] [UN Press Release on Viet Nam Statement] [UN Press Release on Thailand Statement] [UN Press Release on African Statements]