Csaba?K?r?si, President of the 77th session of the General Assembly
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Opening of 5th Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in Doha, Qatar
5 March 2023
[As Delivered]
Excellencies,?
Ladies and Gentlemen,
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I thank the Government and people of Qatar for their generosity to host this fifth Conference on LDCs in Doha.
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I am grateful to have been invited to speak at the opening of this momentous event.
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Close to two thousand years ago, the Greek historian Plutarch said: “An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all communities.”
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It is true of our global community, too.
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This conference comes at a time when radical action to transform the economies of LDCs has never been more urgent.
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As we meet today, Least Developed Countries have arrived at a crossroads on the path towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and its targets.
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It is deeply concerning to see that, according to the latest data, and in spite of all the vast efforts, one in three people in LDCs are living in extreme poverty.
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Adding fuel to the fire: the lingering long-term effects of the pandemic, a tsunami of debt, exposure to disasters, and deepening inequalities.?
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In many LDCs, women, girls, minorities and other groups at risk still face large barriers in education, employment, and healthcare.
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And a shocking figure: even before the arrival of the pandemic, more than half of LDCs were in active conflict situations.
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Conflicts that will only be exacerbated by the disastrous impacts of climate change.
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And by something equally ominous: that, by the end of this decade, the demand for water is expected to exceed supply by 40 per cent.
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Evidently, much remains to be done by 2030.?
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However, Excellencies,?
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I am confident that we all want to deliver on our promise of achieving the 2030 Agenda and transforming the economies of LDCs.?
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So, let us take this time to decide on additional international support measures to advance the progress of LDCs.?
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This will allow us to agree on renewed genuine partnerships between LDCs and development partners.
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Partnerships with a view to overcoming structural challenges, eradicating poverty, achieving development goals, and enabling more and more states to graduate from the LDC category.?
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For that to happen, it is imperative that countries feel real ownership of the Doha Programme of Action. ?
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A programme of investing in people, of strengthening resilience and building international solidarity.?
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Development partners should ensure that promises to assist LDCs to overcome their vulnerabilities are fulfilled.?
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It was forty-two years ago that the New Programme of Action was adopted by the international community in Paris – with the goal of radically changing the socio-economic situation of LDCs.
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Four decades and many lost opportunities later, we must hold ourselves finally accountable to the pledges we made.
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Excellencies,?
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As we renew the global commitment to supporting the poorest and most exposed of Member States, we have a profound choice to make.
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Will we deliver for our constituents? Will we adapt our action to their needs and change the potential most of us are having into joint prosperity?
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Will we finally understand that, as the saying goes, we as a global community are only as strong as our weakest link?
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If we bolster true partnerships, and harness technology, and innovation – our goals can still be within reach by 2030.
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But, to achieve that, all our decisions should be impactful and all our actions transformative.
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Starting from what the international finance institutions should focus on, to how we measure wealth and sustainable development.
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From reliance on science in decision-making to mobilize solidarity at all levels.?
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From improving the standards of governance to a new understanding of global common goods.
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This progress will not be easy, but I sincerely hope and see no better option for humanity.
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My team and I stand ready to assist the LDCs on their historic path.?
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I wish you all the best in your deliberations.
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I thank you.
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