Deputy Premier inaugurates Arab Sustainable Development Forum

Manama, May 5 (BNA): Delegated by His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister, His Highness Shaikh Ali Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister attended the opening of the second session of the high-level Arab Forum on Sustainable Development. The event is organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the United Nations Environment Program ( UNEP ) in collaboration with the League of Arab States. On this occasion, HH Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness the Prime Minister for patronizing this important international forum, which reflects his support to various efforts aimed at achieving sustainable development world-wide. He conveyed to the Forum organizers and participants greetings from His Royal Highness the Prime Minister and his wishes to reach useful results and recommendations that would contribute to promoting sustainable development, regionally and internationally. He underlined the Premier and government's keenness to build on successes that have been achieved in terms of sustainable development through plans and programs aimed at improving the overall living conditions of the citizens. He went on to stress that the Kingdom of Bahrain is proud that is one of the first countries that have met most of the Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule in terms of providing free education, women empowerment, gender equality, expansion of social welfare and enhanced standard of health care. Therefore, Bahrain has occupied an outstanding position for many consecutive years in the United Nations’ human and sustainable development reports as well as those issued by specialized institutions. HH also stressed that security and stability are key in implementing international community’s goals in terms of sustainable development and assisting nations meet their peoples’ aspirations for further prosperity . He said that ensuring the world’s security and stability is primarily related to ending causes of tensions and conflicts radically, noting such goal requires reaching an international collective perception on how to improve living conditions of peoples in different countries. He stressed that it is important for the Forum to study the possibility of developing a unified Arab system that could ensure security and stability in the region, elevate its living conditions and cement its ability to face political, security and economic challenges. He also pointed to the need to build on the Millennium Development Goals that have already been accomplished by Arab states, and move positively to provide a comprehensive Arab vision for the post-2015 era, which takes into account current needs in terms of development and future priorities. "We are confident that those knowledgeable participants in this high-level Forum will be able to manage it wisely and effectively, HH sheikh Ali said. He wished the forum every success. Speaking at the forum the Minister of Social Development, Faeqa bint said al-Saleh extended her sincere thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, the Prime Minister, for graciously having this major international Arab event under his Royal Highness's patronage, emphasizing the fact that the Kingdom of Bahrain pays appropriate attention to supporting joint Arab development action. She said that sustainable development issues of economic, social and environmental sectors receive special attention by the Kingdom of Bahrain. " This is clearly evidenced by the keen interest of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa to have this forum under His Highness's patronage and to open its functions. This also obviously emphasizes Bahrain's support of the appreciated Arab efforts that aim at achieving sustainable development within the Arab countries, she affirmed. She said that the United Nations has awarded His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, the Prime Minister, the Habitat Scroll of Honour Award in recognition of His Royal Highness's distinctive achievement in urban and habitat development, as well as the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Award. " This forum also plays an important role in shaping perception within the potential agenda of the region's requirements for finance, reconstruction, social and environmental protection, integration of vulnerable categories and handicapped persons in the community to enable them to perform their important role in the development process. This requires strengthening businesses for sustainable development in the Arab region and utilization of technology and, essentially, integration of sectorial issues into sustainable development goals, building upon the gains made by the region over the past two decades, the minister said. She also stressed that the outcome of this forum supports the Arab efforts that aim at incorporating Arab priorities within the global post-2015 sustainable development agenda, especially upon the adoption of the Arab Summit resolution at Sharm El Sheikh, which has consolidated the ongoing efforts to incorporate priorities of the region within the prospective global agenda. Speaking at the event, Dr. Rima Khalaf, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) extended her deep thanks to Bahrain's King and government for hosting this Forum, and to His Royal Highness the Prime Minister for his patronage. " We meet today asking a difficult long-term request, as we ask and urge for sustainability of development, so as to get rid of bottlenecks of the present and restore hope in the future. ", she said. She went on to stress that sustainable development is the foundation of the strong economies that include everyone and eliminate poverty -and – unemployment. "It is the basis on which stable and safe communities that are free from fear and marginalization could depend. It is rather a way to protect our natural resources and our environment for the benefit of our children and grandchildren, she added. She said that "Sustainable Development is a legitimate right for all people and cannot be achieved unless financial –and- human resources as well as strong -and - effective institutions are accessible. It is a right that wouldn’t be met unless communal security based on equal citizenship under good governance, where definite respect for human rights for all is observed." Dr. Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri, the Representative of the League of Arab States, for his part, delivered a speech in which he said that the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of this forum is evidence to the Kingdom of Bahrain’s high interest in sustainable development. Ibrahim Thiaw, UN Assistant-Secretary General and UNEP Deputy Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director to the Forum, for his part, expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain for his patronage of the forum and to the Government of Bahrain for its hosting and active support to the organization of the event. He emphasized that the world is changing at an unprecedented pace in terms of technology, living standards and in the aspirations of its people, saying that " the Arab region is no exception’. He said that 2015 is a crucial year for global, regional and national action on the environment and sustainable development. " A few months from now, when the world adopts its Post-2015 Development Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, our path will be defined for the next generation of development and influence the lives of future of generations to come, he said. He said that the year 2015 also sees the convening of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP21, seeking to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate change, critical to the region. " Along with our partners we are working in supporting a global partnership for sustainable development that is fit-for-purpose and in helping to elaborate the instruments that will guide capacity development, technology transfer, and new models of finance and resource mobilization towards implementation of the post-2015 development agenda, he said. He went on to stress that the Arab Region, one of the most vulnerable areas of the world due to its water scarcity, arid climate, coastal zone urbanization, conflicts and governance issues, is in dire need for innovative and inclusive sustainable development approaches. " Pivotal to the success of our efforts to move forward on the new development agenda will be how principles translate into policy at the international, regional and national levels, he confirmed. Dr. Sima Bahous, United Nations Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director extended her thanks to the Government of Bahrain for hosting the Forum and praised the outstanding development in the areas of human development , including the Millennium Development Goals over the past years. She said Bahrain is taking an approach that reflects keen interest in the well-being of its people and is based on the deep vision of a mindful and rational leadership. She noted that the Forum represents a very important opportunity to identify the progress made in achieving the MDGs in the past five years and discussing sustainable development status in general in the Arab region. She noted that the Forum takes place at a difficult stage experienced by the Arab region, and must rapidly make a review of the challenges facing the international community at the regional and international levels. A short video was displayed at the beginning of the event on the implemented Millennium Development Goals in the Kingdom of Bahrain and regional and international awards obtained by Bahrain in the field of human and sustainable development. Then , the first sessions of the forum began under the title " Shifting from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development: Voices from the Arab Region". The session, moderated by Ms. Faeqa Al- Saleh, the Minister of Social Development, was focused on sustainable development status in the Arab region; security and stability in the Arab region as conditions for sustainable development; the price of conflicts, the right to development –and- dignity and the paradigmatic shift required. Then the second session of the Forum was held under the theme "International tracks on development post 2015 plan ". Moderated by Taher Shakhshir, Minister of Environment and Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Sustainable Development in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, it discussed several axes: A New Framework on Disaster Reduction 2015 – 2030; Sustainable Development and the United Nations Summit on post-2015 Development Plan; Climate Change Negotiations and the 20th session of the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; Integration and Universality: Basic Requirements of the post-2015 Development Plan and The Post 2015 : Plan for the Rich. About 200 participants are taking part in the forum including ministers, senior government officials involved in Arab Sustainable Development, Representatives of United Nations Organizations and agencies, Arab development banks, the League of Arab States, as well as civil society organizations concerned with sustainable development issues. At the conclusion of the forum, the Bahrain Outcome Document will be issued enclosing the final recommendations, which will be submitted to the high-level political forum at its third session to be held in New York from on June 26 to July 8, 2015.