Remarks by Ms. Elsa Haile
Director of International and Regional Organizations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
at Preparatory Meeting of Experts for the
Comprehensive Midterm Review of the Istanbul Program of Action (IPoA)
for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
28 March 2016, New York
Distinguished Co-Chairs
Colleagues,
My delegation welcome this opportunity for a brief remarks.
Eritrea aligns itself with the statements made by Bangladesh on behalf of the LDCs and Thailand on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
The Midterm Review should be an impetus to accelerate implementation of the eight priority areas of the Istanbul Program of Action. Eritrea has already submitted its midterm report and has shared its progress and challenges.
It is clear that the overarching goal of poverty eradication of the Istanbul Program of Action requires a well coordinated and unified action. This is well captured in the draft political declaration which will be adopted in Istanbul, in May. My delegation would like to see that more efforts are carried out in building the productive capacity of LCDs with more emphasis on the empowerment of women as well as better facilitation for investment, trade and technology.
Since most of the LDCs population lives in rural areas, ensuring food security and climate, smart agricultural development and ago-industries are key to the creation of more job opportunities and improvement of livelihoods of communities affected by underdevelopment.
It is also critical to examine the challenges faced by the LDCs in their efforts to implement the Istanbul Program of Action. In the case of Eritrea, the unjustified UNSC sanctions and occupation of its sovereign territories continue to impeded its efforts for an inclusive and sustained development. It is, therefore, high time for the United Nations to shoulder its responsibilities and address these issues in a renewed spirit and in light of the new development agenda which advocates that no one should be left behind.
Thank you.
