EU Statement -- UN General Assembly, Second Committee, Agenda item 18(f): Sustainable mountain development
Mr. Chair,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, as well as Andorra and San Marino align themselves with this statement.
At the outset, we would like to thank Italy and Kyrgyzstan for presenting the draft resolution on “Sustainable mountain development” and the two Co-facilitators Sergio Castellari from Italy and Aijan Azizova from Kyrgyzstan for guiding our discussions. We would also like to thank all Delegations for their constructive approach during the negotiations and the Secretariat for its support.
Mr. Chair,
The European Union and its Member States fully support the sustainable development of mountains in view of our common goal to achieve the 2030 Agenda. We are therefore pleased that a number of outstanding issues, recent developments and upcoming processes are properly reflected in this year’s resolution. These concern biodiversity, water, glaciers’ preservation, protection of the cryosphere, management of waste and pollution, as well as the Pact for the Future.
We regret, however, that several proposals did not make it into the final text, which we believe would have had real added value. These include some of our own proposals relating to water and the promotion of transboundary cooperation, and the co-facilitators’ proposal to add language on the important biodiversity initiatives of the Alpine and Carpathian Conventions.
Mr. Chair,
We regret that a vote has been called on this normally consensual resolution. We believe this undermines our collective effort and the constructive spirit of striving for consensus which has been a tradition in this committee and has also guided the negotiations on this resolution this year. The EU and its Member States fully support this important resolution.
I thank you.
*North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.