– As delivered –

Remarks by H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly

30 April 2021

Excellencies,

Dear colleagues,?

Dear co-facilitators, Her Excellency Ms. Rabab Fatima, Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Her Excellency Ms. Darja Bavda? Kuret, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia, thank you for convening this meeting and for your stewardship of this process.

I would also like to thank the UN Secretariat for their invaluable support to the co-facilitators.

I am pleased to join you at the second in-person alignment meeting at Ambassadorial level. Following the first meeting and through my conversations with many of you, I have learnt that there have been different views expressed by Member States, particularly on the gaps and overlaps on the agendas of the General Assembly, ECOSOC, and subsidiary bodies, as they relate to the 2030 Agenda.???

At the same time, there is a clear message that stands out to me: All delegations want the United Nations to be effective and efficient and respond to critical issues.? We all want the United Nations to be able to support the implementation of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda as a whole, in a synergistic manner.

These intergovernmental consultations are the most fitting opportunity to improve the work of the organization and make it more relevant and fit for purpose.

Therefore, I strongly encourage you to build upon previous discussion regarding the development of possible criteria for assessing overlap and duplication of the agenda of the General Assembly, ECOSOC, and their subsidiary bodies and the HLPF and other related forums in this meeting today.

The alignment process presents a critical opportunity to examine the agendas that guide the work of intergovernmental bodies in the field of sustainable development, with a view to making these bodies more relevant and fit for purpose. While looking at the details is important, the alignment process should be characterized by a comprehensive and holistic view of the agendas across all the main bodies.

The pandemic – and the additional challenges arising from it – have only added urgency to this critical task.

I am pleased to hear that delegations have actively participated and engaged in both ambassadorial and expert-level meetings in the past months. This shows the significance that the membership attaches to this process.

I thank the co-facilitators for their work to prepare a note on “Possible Proposal of Alignment” based on extensive consultations with different groups and delegations, including consultations at the first Ambassadorial level meeting and the two expert level meetings.

The note responds to the request to identify possible general elements and ideas that could be used to formulate an agreed outcome of the alignment process.

I hope we can make visible progress during this session, including through continuous discussion based on the co-facilitator’s note and by finding substantive agreements.

I also encourage you to advance progress by strengthening and updating the relevant section for alignment in the resolution on the “Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly”.

Dear colleagues,

I am committed to supporting the reform process in an impartial, objective and open-minded manner and request all Member States extend their support and co-operation to the co-facilitators.

Your work here is critical to the achievement of the SDGs and the continued success of the United Nations.

Thank you.