Pacific Islands Forum Statement for the 2Nd Committee General Debate
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM STATEMENT FOR THE 2ND COMMITTEE GENERAL DEBATE Monday, 5 October 2020 Mr. Chairman, I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the 14 Pacific Island Forum countries with Missions to the United Nations, namely Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and my own country Tuvalu. At the outset, allow me to congratulate you Mr. Chair and members of your Bureau for your successful election. I also like to commend you for your courage, creativity, and tireless efforts in proceeding with the preparations of the 2nd Committee work as planned at these unprecedented times. Mr. Chairman, The Pacific Islands Forum welcomes the theme for the 2nd Committee’s general debate this year – “Building back better after COVID-19: ensuring a more equitable global economy, inclusive societies and sustainable recovery.” It is without a doubt COVID-19 has significantly disrupted economies and societies right across the world. Our Pacific Leaders recognised it as a major crisis for the Blue Pacific region – its peoples, countries and economies. Its effects will be felt for years to come, exacerbating our existing regional development challenges. We believe that the 2nd Committee is the right place to provide guidance to ensure the necessary CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY implementation of actions are taken to address our development challenges. By ensuring a more equitable global economy, inclusive societies and sustainable recovery we must rethink, plan, collaborate and work collectively to address these challenges at the national, regional and global levels.
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