Special event towards achieving the millennium development goals: Statement by H.E. Mr. Dimitris Kourkoulas, deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Hellenic republic

SPECIAL EVENT TOWARDS ACHIEVING
THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
ROUND TABLE 1
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. DIMITRIS KOURKOULAS, DEPUTY MINISTER OF  FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today’s discussion provides an excellent opportunity to evaluate the course and the level of realization of the Millennium Development Goals - the MDGs – as well as the efforts to define the post-2015 development agenda.

Considerable progress has been noted with respect to the objectives set out in the MDGs. However, there is still a lot to be done in order to succeed in the fight against hunger, child mortality, maternal health problems and in promoting social and environmental protection.

In the meantime, the international landscape is rapidly changing. There are many economic, social and environmental challenges, such as extreme poverty, climate change and financial crises, strong inequalities, demographic and migration problems, regional and local conflicts and security issues.

Consequently, the post-2015 agenda should build on the lessons learned and take into account the new global challenges.

We have to agree on formulating a cohesive link between development and sustainable goals and work on improving the balance between the three pillars of development.

The post-2015 agenda should be based on the Millennium Declaration and the successful integration of the MDGs and SDGs. This task is indeed of paramount importance.

The new development goals must focus on poverty eradication, be universally applicable, simple and measurable, promoting democracy, human rights, the rule of law, citizens’ security, social cohesion and environmental sustainability.

They should also take into consideration the particular characteristics, economic and social conditions and needs of every developing country, and the differences among social groups therein, with the view to reinforcing policies already applied at a national level.

Within the context of a single approach, it is vital to add new elements, deriving from the EU and OECD development approaches, such as the EU Agenda for Change, Budget Support and Joint Programming, as well as the OECD Global Partnership on Effective Development Cooperation.

Moreover, the participation of new donors from emerging economies and promotion of new and innovative funding instruments are equally important. Consultations with civil society should also play an important role.

Last but not least, we should like to stress the need to reexamine the broader funding strategies for development. There is an urgent need to mobilize other innovative sources of funding and increase the effectiveness of the current ones. The time is ripe for the private sector to participate decisively in this process.

In conclusion, Greece, in line with the EU’s post-2015 development strategies, is in favor of one single framework and one set of development goals, which could further mobilize global action. We will actively pursue these objectives also during the EU Council Presidency that Greece will hold during the first semester of 2014.

Thank you.