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Statement by
Mr. Chairman, Allow me first of all to express our thanks to the Secretary-General for his reports on agenda item 87 b, d, e and f and let me also associate my delegation with the statement made by the distinguished representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We also associate ourselves with the statement made by the representative of Mexico on behalf of the Megabiodiverse countries on agenda item 87 e. Mr. Chairman, My delegation wishes to make a few brief remarks on agenda 87, sub-items b, d and f, concerning, respectively, the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), the Implementation of the United Nations Convention to combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Draught and/or Desertification particularly in Africa and the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Islands Developing States. In this connection, I will focus on these three issues within the context of the outcome of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, particularly its action plan as contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. Let me begin with agenda item 87 b, on the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. My delegations expresses its appreciation with the work and activities done by the relevant agencies and organizations of the United Nations System under the coordination of the InterAgency Task Force on Disaster Reduction. As reported by the Secretary-General, natural disasters have afflicted an increased number of people during the period of 2001 to 2002, resulting in severe economic social and environment impacts. This is particularly true with regard to the efforts of the developing countries to achieve the objectives of sustainable development. My delegation therefore supports the recommendations of the Secretary-General, as presented in his report, which are in line with the Johannesburg plan of implementation. Furthermore, my delegation would like to underline the critical role of effective regional, sub-regional and national strategies designed to prevent, reduce and mitigate the social and economic impact of natural disasters. The development and implementation of such strategies require the provision of financial and technology support as well as capacity-building so as to enable them to greatly enhance the effective functioning of the existing mechanism for disaster reduction at the national, sub-regional and regional levels. In this regard, the respective roles of the Interagency Task Force on Disaster Reduction and the ISDR Secretariat are crucial for contributing towards better coordination and synergy in implementing the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. For this purpose, my delegation calls upon the donor countries and organizations for financial support to the ISDR Trust Fund which is key to strengthening the implementation of ISDR. Mr. Chairman, Turning to the issue of desertification, the World Summit on Sustainable Development recognized that the efforts to combat desertification were essential tools for promoting sustainable development and the eradication of poverty. Nevertheless, the lack of adequate and predictable financial resources has constituted a major constraint for implementing the Desertification Convention. For that reason, my delegation welcomes the decision of the Second Assembly of the Global Environment Facilities to designate land degradation, particularly on desertification and deforestation, as a new focal area of GEF’s activities. My delegation, therefore, reiterates the need to ensure close collaboration between the GEF and the Global Mechanism of the UNCCCD for the purpose of mobilizing predictable financial resources for the effective implementation of the Convention so as to enable us to achieve the objectives of sustainable development. In addition, my delegation welcomes the convening of the first meeting of the Committee for the review of the implementation of the convention (CRIC) to take place in Italy at the end of November this year. The establishment of the CRIC reflects the serious commitment of all parties to ensure that the convention will be fully implemented. My delegation also welcomes the activities undertaken by the Secretariat to promote synergies among the secretariats of the conventions on desertification, climate change and biodiversity. Mr. Chairman, As to the issues concerning the Small Island Developing Countries, my country has a deep empathy. Since Indonesia is a vast archipelago that comprises over 17000 islands, we share many of the same development challenges and constraints as the SIDs. We are very well aware of the many environmental and development challenges confronted by small island developing states, their fragile ecosystems, their population vulnerability and their extreme exposure to a host of development and environmental challenges. In this context, we support the ongoing activities and measures undertaken by the agencies of the United Nations System as well as other relevant stakeholders on the implementation of sustainable development of Small Islands Developing states. In our efforts to implement the programme, we should take the Johannesburg Implementation Plan fully into consideration. There is also the need, in my delegation’s view, to elaborate further steps during this General Assembly as part of our preparations for the full and comprehensive review of the implementation of Barbados Programme of Action for the sustainable development of the SIDs which will be held in 2004. Mr. Chairman, To conclude, let me underline the critical role of the means of implementation for ensuring that we achieve our common objectives. In this connection, the provision of predictable and stable financial resources together with other innovative ways of financing, as agreed in the various UN conferences and summits, particularly those of the Millennium Declaration, the conference on Financing for Development and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, should be materialized. Thank you.
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