Statement by H.E. Ambassador J.
Enkhsaikhan,
Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations,
Agenda item 29, Follow-up to the outcome of the
Millennium Summit
Monday, 19 November 2001
Mr.President,
At the Millennium Summit all member
states of our Organization pledged to achieve a set of development objectives
and reiterated their common vision for a prosperous, peaceful and just world.
They adopted the Millennium Declaration - a historic blueprint for a common
action in the new century. In this regard, Mongolia highly commends an
integrated and comprehensive approach outlined by the Secretary-General in his
report entitled “Road map towards the implementation of the Millennium
Declaration”.
My delegation finds the report very
useful in considering the ways and means of implementing the Millennium
Declaration. We agree at this stage what is needed is not more technical or
feasibility studies, but rather political will to carry out the commitments and
to implement the strategies already worked out. We find the structure of the
report simple and yet very informative. The eight goals, 18 targets and more
than 40 indicators given in the report are, in our view, a good basis for
working out the criteria against which the international community could assess
the process of implementation. The Mongolian delegation finds the background
information, including the statistical data, where available, that is provided
for each target, as very useful. Likewise, the strategies for moving forward,
provided in the report for attaining each goal, my delegations finds useful. On
the other hand, some of the goals we find too general and difficult to breakdown
their implementation in stages.
In his report, the Secretary-General
proposes that he submit annual reports and comprehensive reports every five
years. My delegation could agree with such approach. As to the themes for the
reports to be submitted in 2002, 2003 and 2004, we believe that some additional
consultations would required before the Assembly takes a decision on it.
Mr.President,
The
Government of Mongolia is fully determined to attain the goals of the Millennium
Declaration at the national level and has been taking concrete steps to that
end. I am pleased to inform this Assembly that we have submitted to the
Secretary-General our Government’s Memorandum on the implementation of the
Millennium Declaration on 5 November 2001.
Mongolia’s policy measures towards
the implementation of the Millennium Declaration have been drawn from our past
experience, as well as the discussions and recommendations of a joint conference
organized in September in Mongolia by the Government of Mongolia and the United
Nations under the theme “40 years of Mongolia-United Nations cooperation:
Implementation of the Millennium Declaration”.
The 1992 Constitution of Mongolia
reflects the vision of the fundamental values of freedom, equality, solidarity,
tolerance and respect for nature outlined in the Millennium Declaration.
Furthermore, the principle of shared responsibility has found reflection in the
basic concepts of national security and foreign policy adopted back in 1994.
Over the past decade the
consecutive governments of Mongolia have promoted these goals by mobilizing
domestic resources and drawing on the external experience and assistance of the
international community. As a result, Mongolia has made real progress in its
political reforms.
Mr.President,
As to economic reforms, substantial
efforts have been made in fostering a market economy, achieving macro-economic
stability, advancing privatization and improving the infrastructure. However, we
admit that there still much needs to be done.
In addition to its difficulties
associated with transition, the land-locked location and ecological conditions
pose a most fundamental challenge to Mongolia’s economic security thus making
her a prime case of economic vulnerability.
However, to attain to goals of
the Millennium Declaration Mongolia needs to accelerate its economic
development. Due to heavy dependence of the economy on a few export commodities,
Mongolia’s economy remains highly vulnerable to external shocks and harsh terms
of trade. Trade represents an important engine of growth and a means of
developing cooperation among nations. However, due to their geographical
location, the land-locked countries find themselves structurally disadvantaged
to equally benefit from trade liberalization. It is for this reason the
Millennium Declaration recognized the special needs and problems of the 30
land-locked developing countries (LLDCs), half of which are also the least
developed countries. High transit costs of their exports and imports negate
whatever comparative advantage they could have in world trade.
The challenges that the LLDCs are facing have been clearly highlighted in para. 156 of the Secretary-General’s report. My delegation fully agrees with the conclusion that “the high transport costs of landlocked countries imports impose a significant economic burden on the economies of landlocked countries in the form of inflated prices of both consumer and intermediate inputs, such as fuel”. Though my delegation could agree with the 3 strategies given in the para. 157 of the report to address the above challenges and difficulties, and that proportion of ODA allocated for transport sector in landlocked countries could be taken as an indicator for attaining the target, we believe that some concrete statistical target or indicator should be developed so as to be able to constantly monitor and assess implementation of the goal. In this regard my delegation, together with other landlocked developing countries, could provide some specific proposals to the Secretary-General.
Poverty is one of the
critical issues that Mongolia faces today. Thirty six percent of the population
lives in poverty - a phenomenon that, unfortunately, accompanied the process of
transition. The Government of Mongolia implemented the 1994-2000 National
Poverty Alleviation Program (NPAP) with the support of the international
community. The primary goal of the NPAP was to halt the growing tendency of
poverty in the country. To that end more than 13.000 small scale projects have
been undertaken with active participation of the civil society. The national
survey conducted in 2000 has shown that the level of poverty has not increased
despite the continued economic hardships.
In accordance with the present
poverty reduction strategy, which is harmonized with and supported by
broad-based, people-oriented and labor-intensive growth strategies, the
Government of Mongolia is aiming to reduce by year 2005 the number of people
living in extreme poverty by at least 25 percent, and half it by the year 2015
as envisaged in the Millennium Declaration.
Mr.President,
Mongolia stands resolved to fully
implement the Millennium Declaration goals. Domestic resources to meet these
goals are limited, especially in light of growing concerns for world economic
downturn exacerbated by the terrorist attacks of 11 September. However, we have
no doubt that the continued support and assistance of the international
community - both our bilateral and multilateral development partners - will
remain crucial in our efforts to achieve the Millennium Declaration goals.
Furthermore, Mongolia hopes that the upcoming International Conference on
Financing for Development and the World Summit on Sustainable Development will
provide fresh impetus to the attainment of these goals.
Mongolia has taken first steps to
implement the goals of the Millennium Declaration. It believes that with
political will, resources, correct strategy and cooperation, the noble goals of
the Declaration are attainable. The spirit of partnership and shared
responsibility that has shaped the Millennium Declaration are also essential to
translate the vision into reality. To this end Mongolia is prepared to closely
cooperate with the UN family organizations, its fellow members and international
financial and economic institutions.