ALLIANCE OF SMALL ISLAND STATES
Inter-regional Meeting: AOSIS Chair’s Statement delivered by Afioga Peseta Noumea Simi, Chief Executive Officer of Samoa Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
30 August – 1 September 2023, Cabo Verde
Hon Prime Minister (Minister), Excellencies, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States. I take this opportunity to thank the government and people of this beautiful country, Cabo Verde, for the kind hospitality and excellent arrangements.
On the heels of three positive and successful regionals in Mauritius, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Tonga, respectively, we now gather in Cabo Verde. The lure of our small islands is most definitely found in the charm of our people. This has been evident in our three regionals, and it is evident here.
We are also the islands and low-lying coastal states whose sweeping coastlines face what must often seem like fire and brimstone. The volcanic eruptions of La Soufriere in Saint Vincent and Grenadines and Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai in Tonga, and the devastating oil spill in Mauritius shattered livelihoods and claimed lives. All three occurred while these countries were either in the midst of, or recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is a path we have unfortunately become accustomed to. Layer upon layer of rapid and ongoing slow-onset events. Each exacting its toll. And with every event, our countries struggle to rebuild, to withstand, to resume some form of normalcy. That should be sufficient to give one pause. Regrettably, we find ourselves here because of actions taken by global historic imperialist and industrial powers, and the institutions set up in the pursuit of accelerating their exploitation of our resources, limiting our ability to respond to environmental challenges we contribute little to nothing to.
In what must also seem like brutal mockery, the necessity to rebuild and prepare also forces us into the debt of those on the very same continents.
And so, we find ourselves on a fine balance, knowing that the past thrust upon us has not served us well, but clamoring for a future that allows us not just to maintain our way of life but stretch boldly into a transformation that must come for a resilient and prosperous future.
We gather today in eager anticipation of our Inter-regional meeting. It is here, today, that we begin to collectively create the future that befits us. It is here that we stand against all odds, and reaffirm our own collective commitment to multilateralism, and to justice.
Fortunately, our work is half done. The outcomes of the regionals have devised our aspirations and paths and we are only left to bring these together. A cursory look at these outcomes reinforces what we know to be true – the ideals that brought us together in 1994 remain; our challenges have not only persisted but have ballooned; more importantly, we know the solutions we need. But our countries are not homogeneous, and neither are our regions. Our priorities therefore vary.
The core issues of climate change, water, food, and energy security, financing development, boosting health systems, capacity development and infrastructure continue to emerge as top priorities across the regions.
The outcome of our inter-regional can take two forms. It can either bring all priorities together in a long list, or we can have a more critical look and see where priorities naturally interweave to deliver maximum co-benefits for all SIDS. I suggest we follow the latter approach. While long lists ensure that we leave nothing off the table, it does little to encourage strategy or target scarce resources.
A new time demands a new approach and I ask that we be bold and focused. To put on your SIDS hats – not your national, or regional ones. To agree on what is in our best interest as SIDS. The AOSIS Chair remains ready to support you in creating this bold and focused agenda in the days and months ahead.
In Cabo Verde we continue the journey we began just over a month ago. It is undoubtedly a time of great challenges, but it must also be a time of great possibility. Our next ten-year development agenda must represent our utmost resolve and an envisioned future of boundless opportunities. We achieve this vision, together.
Finally, to our developed partners who have accompanied us throughout this process, we continue to appeal to you to continue your support and to ensure that our relations are strengthened as we move towards the 4th Conference and beyond. Thank you.