Foreign secy says int’l community should take measures to end world poverty; wants Bretton Woods institutions, WTO to promote 'just global economic governance’

Foreign Secretary Durga Prasad Bhattarai on Tuesday called on the international community to take proper initiatives to eradicate poverty around the world, adding that putting people at the centre of any development effort should be a key to sustainability.

Addressing the General Debate of opening session of the Second Committee of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly held in the United Nations Headquarters, New York, Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Bhattari underlined the critical need to carry out all the necessary measures by the international community for eradicating poverty, the greatest global challenge, full and speedy implementation of all the eight priority areas of the Istanbul Program of Action for the LDCs for the decade 2011-2020, and achievement of the MDGs, including allother internationally agreed upon goals and targets within the stipulated time frame.

He said the post-2015 development agenda including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the means of achieving them should be built on the reinforced pillars of sustainable development, with poverty eradication at the centre.

Referring to the challenges faced by the least developed and landlocked developing countries like Nepal, Foreign Secretary Bhattarai underscored the need to develop an efficient and effective transit transport system and better access to global trade through appropriate facilitation measures, including carrying out of the ten-year review process of the Almaty Program of Action for the LLDCs and beyond.

He said that the multiple global crises have posed serious challenges in the developmental efforts carried out by the countries like Nepal. He added that the disproportionate impact of climate change has furtheraffected Nepal in a negative way, mostly in the fragile mountainous landscape, including other areas that host numerous glaciers and glacial lakes, and called for the global community to support Nepal in order to combat this menace. He further called for saving the mountain ecosystems against the adverse effects of climate change and the associated disasters through suitable adaptation and mitigation measures under common but differentiated responsibilities.

Referring also to the inequalities and tensions caused by the current form of economic globalization, Bhattarai said that globalization must be promoted with a human face to make it more inclusive and responsive to the need of the poor and marginalized people.

The Foreign Secretary called for meeting the ODA commitments by all the developed countries without further delay. He also underscored the need for the promotion and reinforcement of South-South and triangular cooperation.

The Foreign Secretary also underlined the need for the reforms in the United Nations, including the revitalization of the General Assembly, reforming of the Security Council, and strengthening of the Economic and Social Council.

Bhattarai also emphasized the necessity of making serious efforts by the United Nations system to bring about greater coordination in the programs of the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization for the promotion of just global economic governance and to ensure that the voices of the developing countries are heard in the decision-making processes of these institutions. nepalnews.com