Statement
by
H.E. Mrs. Mirjana Mladineo, Ambassador
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia to the UN
General Assembly Sixtieth Session
Second Committee, General Debate
4 October 2005
Mr. Chairman,
Allow me to join others before me, in extending the congratulations of my delegation to you and other members of the bureau upon election and to assure you of the support of our delegation in the work of the Second Committee.
Mr. Chairman,
Croatia has aligned itself with the statement of the European Union, so I will restrict myself to the priorities of my delegation. Let me also take this opportunity to inform you that Croatia has started negotiations for full membership with the European Union.
Mr. Chairman,
The year 2005 marks an important shift in our world. Trends and policies implemented at the dawn of the millennium are guiding the path of a world that should be more coherently unified than ever before.
This Committee has a responsibility to work towards contributing to the overall stability and prosperity in the world. Concerted action and some difficult decisions will be called for. This is necessary in order to consolidate further a global agenda for collective action in mobilizing resources, which could prove more effective in addressing the problems of developing countries and countries in transition. If we are to succeed, we must be committed to maintaining true partnerships that embrace equitable and transparent principles, bringing on board all relevant players.
In this regard, listening to Under Secretary-General Ocampo''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s comprehensive overview of the economic situation in the world, it is clear that we live in a world of extraordinary inequalities in opportunity, both within and across countries. A broad sharing of economic and political opportunities is also instrumental for economic growth and development. Greater equity can lead to a fuller and more efficient use of a nation’s resources. Additionally, excessive inequalities in power and influence can lead to political, social and economic institutions that are less conducive to a long-term economic development and growth. Moreover, the effective mobilization of women in development and their equal access to financial resources should be given the appropriate attention.
Therefore, bearing in mind that our leaders at the 2005 World Summit in September have made certain commitments in order to address the above issues, we need to do our best during our work in the Second Committee this year not to reopen debates, but to work in the areas where we can add value. Only by doing so, can we start to live up to the challenge of translating these commitments into real action, so as to achieve concrete development results and contribute to a new form of multilateralism.
Mr. Chairman,
One of the priority areas for my delegation is financing for development. We, as a middle-income country in transition, have achieved progress and are ready to share our experience. Important lessons learned in this process are a need for clear country ownership in order to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Therefore, mobilization of all domestic resources and close cooperation and coherence of policies among development partners are needed. The fiscal adjustment is also necessary to limit external vulnerability and to limit the increase of external debt-to-GDP ratio. At the same time, transparency and financial management need to be enhanced in the government and the broader public sector, thus accelerating key structural reforms including judicial, health and public administration reforms. There is also a need to coordinate policies internally and develop economic strategy of the government with the full inter-agency cooperation of all players.
We welcome the increased resources that will become available for official development assistance. At the same time, we are aware of the necessity of the quality and effectiveness of aid. In this regard we support the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.
We are also aware that the current level of aid is not enough to achieve the MDGs. Therefore, it is necessary to look at innovative sources of financing which could provide additional, stable and predictable flows, including the International Finance Facility, international taxation and complementary sources. We welcome the current ongoing efforts in this area and we have in this regard supported the Declaration on the Innovative Sources of Financing for Development.
Let me also take this opportunity to support improving the processes and capacities at the country level in order to strengthen the voice of developing countries and transitional economies. Further capacity building in transitional countries, like Croatia, is important to support our active engagement in the international development arena, and active participation as owners, not only borrowers in Bretton Woods Institutions.
Sustainable development has been reconfirmed as a central element of the international agenda as an impetus to global action to fight poverty and protect the environment. To this end, integrating all three pillars of sustainable development in the overall development strategy should be encouraged, as well as undertaking a review of mechanisms established to monitor progress.
Working within the scope of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Convention on Biological Diversity and its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety are Croatia’s priorities. At the same time, strengthening the sustainable management and development of all types of forests, development and dissemination of affordable and cleaner energy efficiency and energy conservation technologies is of equal importance. Improving cooperation and coordination at all levels in order to address issues related to oceans and seas are also among priorities for Croatia. Therefore, we have incorporated these issues in our development strategy. We also stand ready to work with our partners and share our experience in these areas.
We also strongly support the expeditious establishment of a worldwide early warning system for all natural hazards. We will work constructively in this area during our deliberations here. In this regard, we especially recognize the vulnerabilities of the small island developing states (SIDS) and are ready to contribute to the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for SIDS.
Croatia needs better policy planning due to uneven population because of rapid growth of urban areas and degradation of rural ones. It also strongly supports measures for integrated water resource management and water efficiency plans and in this regard welcomes the conclusions of the 13th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development. Croatian national strategy encompasses plans for special development of all inhabited spaces in strict compliance with high environmental and economic management standards. In this context, we are very interested in the strengthening the UN Human Settlements Programme - UN-HABITAT and the implementation of the outcome of the UN Habitat II.
Fighting corruption is one of Croatia’s priorities. Croatia has signed and ratified the UN Convention against Corruption. The Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime has been created as a special Public Prosecutor’s Office unit (USKOK). Its jurisdiction is prevention, prosecution and suppression of both criminal offences committed by organized criminal groups and criminal offences of corruption. Additionally, a number of initiatives and awareness raising campaigns have been introduced nationally. Croatia is also very active at subregional and regional levels. It has signed a number of bilateral agreements with its neighbors to fight corruption and organized crime.
Mr. Chairman,
Allow me to remind you of General Assembly resolution 57/270 B which stresses that the relevant organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system should incorporate in their program of work the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits and take them into account in the operational work and country frameworks in accordance with national development objectives and priorities.
We should bear this resolution in mind when continuing the work of the previous two bureaux of reexamining and revitalizing the work of this committee. We need to do that, in order to provide meaningful input for the implementation of conferences and commitments undertaken in the 2005 World Summit Outcome. It will also contribute to policy coherence. To this end, full and constant co-operation between member states and the Secretariat is essential.
Finally Mr. Chairman,
The agenda of the Second Committee is without question complex and crosscutting. We certainly have our work marked out for us. In taking up this challenge, the United Nations system is called to play an enhanced development role. To meet new global challenges and obligations placed before us at the Millennium Summit, Monterrey, Johannesbur and recently at the 2005 World Summit, we will have to adapt and respond flexibly and in a timely manner as resolution 57/270B has outlined. My delegation, looks forward to working very closely with you and other delegations to bring this Committee''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s work, and that of the UN, closer to this goal.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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