Govor predsednice Pirc Musar na plenarnem zasedanju 5. konference OZN o najmanj razvitih državah

President Pirc Musar at the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries: “The least developed countries must be empowered to be able to deal with global problems”

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, is attending the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, taking place in Doha from 5 to 7 March 2023. This year's Conference also marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the least developed country category by the United Nation's General Assembly.

Doha, Qatar, 5 Mar 2023

This morning, the President of the Republic of Slovenia attended the opening of the Conference and immediately afterwards addressed the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Least Developed Countries category.

She hailed achievements such the declining infant mortality rate, but also urged that efforts to do more must be made. “As a mother and human rights defender, I find it unacceptable that, according to the World Health Organization, two billion people still lack sanitation and a third of them live in the least developed countries,” said the President of Slovenia.

President Pirc Musar highlighted the science and technology that could ensure essential solutions in all areas of sustainable development, and called for the promotion of local innovation, research and development. “The least developed countries must be empowered to be able to deal with global problems,” said the President. She went on to stress that we need to focus on the current priorities, which are linked to the problems of underdevelopment and climate change. “The Doha Action Plan contains ambitious targets and commitments for the next decade and, most importantly, sends out a clear message. We must not be satisfied with formal commitments; we must show results,” the President of Slovenia concluded.

Predsednica Pirc Musar se je v Dohi srečala z emirjem Države Katar Al-Thanijem

On the sidelines of the event, the President met the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The meeting reaffirmed the excellent relations between the two countries, strengthened by mutual high-level visits. She stressed that Slovenia is a defender of the rule of law, human rights and small countries. If elected to the Security Council, Slovenia would like to see an even closer exchange of views on pressing issues in conflict zones, she added. The President congratulated the Emir on hosting a successful Football World Cup.

Predsednica Pirc Musar se je v Dohi srečala z generalnim sekretarjem OZN Antóniom Guterresem

Today, President Pirc Musar also met with UN Secretary-General António Manuel de Olivero Guterres. She expressed her sincere support for the Secretary-General's efforts to strengthen and reform the UN – regarding both the peace and security agenda and the development agenda. Pirc Musar and Guterres called for effective and inclusive multilateralism, and President Pirc Musar stressed Slovenia's readiness to contribute to achieving truly transformative results. Secretary-General Guterres welcomed the presence of the Slovenian President at such an important conference on the problems of the least developed countries. They also discussed the war in Ukraine and its consequences for the less developed world. The President informed the Secretary-General that she would soon be attending the Water Summit at the UN Headquarters in New York. The Secretary-General agreed that water and the management thereof is one of the key development challenges. They also spoke about the importance of ensuring gender equality.

On the margins of the Conference, the President of Slovenia held bilateral meetings with the presidents of some of the participating countries.

In the afternoon, the President of the Republic of Slovenia also addressed the plenary session on behalf of the Republic of Slovenia. In her speech, she said that the uncertainty caused by the confluence of events – such as climate change, the deepening energy and food crises, and the numerous wars and conflicts – has undermined progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. “Without strong and concerted action, the gap between high-income developed countries and the least developed countries will continue to widen and the number and percentage of the world's population living in the least developed countries will grow,” stated President Pirc Musar, who was clear as to the need for concerted and global action in a true sense: “Solidarity is the first prerequisite. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities must be taken seriously. This is the only way to make effective, rules-based multilateral cooperation truly effective, and the results fair.” In her speech at the plenary session, the President of Slovenia said that Slovenia, as a developed country, like other developed countries, has a great responsibility and is ready to contribute to building peaceful and resilient societies and to help in the green transition. “Climate justice is a right that must be internalised,” she urged.

The UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries is held every ten years, and each time it adopts an action plan setting out goals and commitments for the next decade. The last Conference was organised in Istanbul in 2011.

The Conference is an important opportunity to raise awareness and confirm political commitments to support the least developed countries in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as to achieve the goals of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on priority areas and sources of financing for the least developed countries. The Conference is expected to be the last opportunity to adapt the global approach to sustainable development in the least developed countries before the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals.