Виступ делегації України на Політичному форумі високого рівня щодо сталого розвитку

Mr. Chair,

Distinguished delegates,

Dear colleagues,

At the present High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, we address the question where we stand in two years of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and what insights this pact for future generations brings.

Currently, Ukraine is struggling to ensure stability and security in the country. Despite the Russian aggression, we are fully committed to the implementation of 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on September 2015.

The national consultations involved about 500 participants representing government institutions, UN Agencies, academia, civil society and think tanks. In May 2017 the National report “Sustainable Development Goals: Ukraine” was presented. The document contains a set of adapted targets and indicators for SDGs implementation in Ukraine and will serve as a tool for SDGs mainstreaming into national development frameworks.

The delegation of Ukraine wishes to express its gratitude to the UN development system in Ukraine for advice and assistance in moving forward the process of SDGs adaptation.

Mr. Chair,

As a member of “Friends of Climate” Group, we welcomed the Paris agreement. Ukraine signed the agreement in New York on April 22, 2016. On August 1, 2016 our President signed Law of Ukraine “On Ratification of the Paris Agreement” adopted by the Parliament of Ukraine. And we had deposited our instrument of ratification during the High-Level Signature Ceremony for the Paris Agreement in September 2016.

Last year we also have reached an important benchmark — the completion of the UN Action Plan on Chornobyl and of the Decade of Recovery and Sustainable Development of Chornobyl-affected regions. However, there is a clear need for a continuous effort to keep the issue of post-Chornobyl recovery high on the inter-agency and international agendas.

I also would like to emphasize that we have managed to improve the maternal health system, to make progress in combating tuberculosis and to reduce HIV/AIDS incidence rates. Despite of all the challenges, with help of international organizations and bilateral donors, such as UNAIDS, USAID, the Global Fund and many others, we stand committed to effectively combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

We strongly believe that we, as member states, should keep a steady focus on the implementation and realization of the existing commitments at national, regional and international levels in order to promote peaceful and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources. In our opinion, the outcomes of the high-level Ocean conference can give a strong impetus for innovative and concrete new partnerships to advance the implementation of Goal 14.

Ukraine welcomes the UN initiatives, aimed at halving global hunger, which in their turn can affect all other development goals. We encourage intensified coordination between all UN agencies, in particular FAO, IFAD and WFP, and the international financial institutions. The UN must continue to work together as a system, making use of the comparative advantages of its different institutions, to increase overall effectiveness.

Mr. Chair,

Ukraine with its vast human strength and material resources will be able to make a significant contribution to maintaining peace and global security. We, Ukrainians, know at first-hand what a conflict means, its crucial consequences and life on the edge between ups and downs, happiness and sorrows. The problem of states facing armed conflicts stands in the heart for Ukraine.

It is obvious that no country alone can achieve sustainable development without sustainable peace and security. They are key for achieving the SDGs. Therefore strengthening universal peace and promoting larger security should become a driving and unifying force behind our collective efforts towards achieving the SDGs.

I thank you.