Edward Nalbandian delivered a speech at the meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals
22 September, 2010Mr. President,
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
(Thank you for the congratulation, Mr. President)
I would like to warmly welcome you, Mr. Deiss, on your election as the
President of the 65
th
session of the General Assembly and assure that Armenia
will continue to bring its constructive contribution in its work. I would also
like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing President, Dr. Treki, for his
work during the previous session.
Mr. President,
Ten years ago, at the dawn of the new millennium we affirmed our “collective
responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity
at the global level” and identified those goals that should be achieved by each
and every country by 2015 to have a more peaceful, prosperous and just world
for the coming generations. It was the uneven economic and social
development that was considered to be our biggest challenge with its dire
implications on the overall security of a human being and the society as a
whole. The later developments when unprecedented security challenges
overtook our agenda once again exposed the truthfulness of the postulation:
“Development is freedom.”
Today, we are discussing how successful we have been in bridging the gaps
and building on the progress made towards the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals. As noble and far-reaching as those goals are,
certain geopolitical realities create impediments on the way to complete
realization of those aims.
When we embark on the last 5-year leg of our development commitments, we
have to understand clearly all security implications of our actions, both
nationally and internationally. The food and financial crisis of the last years 3
made the increased interconnectedness and interdependence in today’s
globalized world more obvious. All countries were hit by their impact, and
Armenia was no exception. Yet despite all these difficulties, we continue to
proceed steadily towards the realization of the Millennium Development
Goals.
Armenia embarked on their implementation by launching sound economic
reforms and nationalizing the Millennium Development Goals by identifying
16 targets that corresponded to country-specific priorities, which emphasized
the need for ensuring sustainable economic growth through reliance on
competition, innovation, and equal opportunity for all. We have also
promoted reduction in income differentials and equality in regional
development through an in-depth reform of territorial administration,
developing effective public governance and continuing the fight against
corruption. Furthermore, Armenia has exerted additional efforts on relevant
programs by promoting education and science; strengthening the social
security system and expanding targeted programs, with a focus on health care
and pensions, and gender equality.
The international community would be able to succeed in its goals set for
2015 only through concerted and coordinated efforts. This is the path to
follow in all parts of the world, including our region. However, the overall
regional situation does not allow for the full utilization of all economic
advantages of the South Caucasus. The existing resources are being diverted
away from the development goals. Closed borders and continuing blockade of
Armenia by two of its neighbors, curtails the faster development opportunities
both nationally and regionally. The record of the last 20 years clearly
demonstrates what Armenia has been stating all along: there is no possibility
of comprehensive development of any of the countries South Caucasus at the
expense of the others, and the creation of dividing lines will be devastating for
the region increasing the risks for its instability. Regional cooperation is the
only viable path to pursue, and we have been advocating for strong regional
cooperation schemes. In this regard, open borders, criss-crossing lines of
communications and interrelated economic systems are crucial. Yet, this is a 4
concept that has yet to gain ground and understanding in some of our
neighbors’ policies and approaches.
Recognizing that security and development are so closely intertwined, in the
Millennium Declaration governments pledge to “spare no effort to free
peoples from the scourge of war, whether within or between states.” In that
context, proliferation of arms and weapons continues to pose a threat not only
to peace and security, but also, and increasingly, to economic and social
development. It is unfortunate that our region faces that danger.
Azerbaijan continues to reject the proposal to come to an agreement on nonuse of force or threat of force. This goes against the underpinning principles
of the United Nations, the organization, whose founders came together to
“save the succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” Today we witness
militaristic stance, multifold increase of military budget, war rhetoric and
provocations masterminded by that country which create obstacles to the
establishment of lasting peace and stability in the region, a precondition for
prospective development.
Mr. President,
While we register our accomplishments and share our concerns, there are
people that fall through the cracks of the international community’s attention.
The people of Nagorno-Karabakh do their best to provide for better living and
protection of all human rights in their territory, yet they do it without the
support of the international community. Nagorno-Karabakh has yet to await
for relevant assistance programs. Unless we learn to undo the harm caused to
innocent people here and there by our inaction, we would not be in a position
to report that all Millennium Development Goals have been achieved, and that
equality and equity at the global level have been attained.
Mr. President,
With the adoption of the Outcome Document on the High-level Plenary
Meeting on Millennium Development Goals, we do hope to bridge the gaps in 5
our development agendas, boost our efforts towards overcoming the
challenges on the path to the full realization of the Millennium Goals and
steadily chart our way to a better, secure and prosperous future.
Pursuant to the resolution of the GA, today we mark the International Day of
Peace which is devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of
peace both within and among all nations and peoples and is observed as a day
of global ceasefire and non-violence. On this special day, the Republic of
Armenia also marks its Independence Day. In light of the importance of
today and the sense of the added duty that it places on us, I would like to state
that Armenia is determined and stands ready to positively contribute towards
the achievement of our common noble goals of peace, justice, liberty and
equitable prosperity.
Thank you, Mr. President