Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2015 21:45:46 +0200
Address by H.E. Mr. Osman Saleh
Minister of Foreign Affairs
during The United Nations Summit for the Adoption
of the Post-2015 Development Agenda
27 September 2015, New York
Distinguished Co-Chairs;
Excellencies,
The Government of the State of Eritrea welcomes the outcome document titled
"Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", and
is pleased to join the community of nations in adopting it. Its goals and
targets bode well with Eritrea's Self Reliance Policy and Development
Agenda. It clearly reflects Eritrea's aspiration and commitment to
eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions among our people.
Since Eritrea's independence in 1991, the Government and people adopted a
people-centered, inclusive, pro-poor and internally driven social, economic
and political development agenda. As a result of the political commitment
of the leadership and the people's involvement, in spite of the hostile acts
of some governments, extensive disinformation campaign and imposition of
unjust sanctions as well as occupation of its sovereign territory, Eritrea
has been able to register commendable results in almost all of the MDGs.
Distinguished Co-Chairs;
Excellencies,
Eritrea's achievement is commended by most of the UN agencies and
development partners. Eritrea has achieved MDGs 4, 5 and 6, namely, Child
Mortality, Maternal Mortality, and HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Communicable
Diseases early in 2013 - ahead of the target date.
Today, Eritrea is an oasis of peace in the vulnerable Horn of Africa and Red
Sea Region.
. food security, infrastructural development, capacity building, as well
asefficient and effective social services are its major activities.
. Under the motto "education for all', education in Eritrea is universal
and free from kindergarten to tertiary level.
. The agenda of empowerment of women is on track. Equal pay for equal job
and the right to inheritance and own property is guaranteed by law. FGM is
criminalized. The National Union of Eritrean Women,agrass root civil society
organization with over 400,000membership, is active all over the country.
. Concerning environment, extensive and coordinated grass root
afforestation and water conservation activities are taking place.
Distinguished Co-Chairs;
Excellencies,
Eritrea once again welcomes the adoption of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. It will definitely consolidate Eritrea's achievements
concerning the MDGs. The SDGs appropriately emphasize the centrality of
poverty eradication. Rest assured as it has done in the MDGs, the people and
Government of Eritrea are determined to achieve the goals and targets
pronounced in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by integrating
them in all of their development policies and programs. Eritrea is also
committed to promote investment and cooperation and engagement with its
development partners.
In conclusion, Mr. President, I heard speaker after speaker emphasizing the
need for bringing about a transformative change all over the world,and
pledgedthat "no one will be left behind". Let all of us respect the letter
and spirit of this noble pledge. It must be also underlined that there
cannot be sustainable development without peace and there cannot be peace
without sustainable development.
It is therefore high time for the United Nations and all of us to shoulder
our responsibility and urge those countries who don't respect international
law and their treaty obligations to do so. No nation big or small should be
allowed to occupy sovereign territory of another state.
Moreover, politically motivated and unjust sanctions would definitely have a
negative implication on the social and economic welfare of the people, in
particular women and children.They must be immediately and unconditionally
lifted. Once again no nation or people should be left behind.
Thank you Mr. President
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