STATEMENT BY HONOURABLE DONALD BUCHANAN, M.P., MINISTER OF WATER AND HOUSING OF JAMAICA, AT THE CLOSING SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (New York, 22 April 2005)

Mr. Chairman,

Allow me at this closing session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) to convey to you and the delegations attending the meeting the views of the Group of 77 and China on the current situation in this process.

Mr. Chairman,

When our leaders met five years ago at the World Summit for Sustainable Development, they agreed on a direction to solve the real problems that developing countries face. We have identified two of the most critical constraints for developing countries. The first is financing and the second is institutional and human resource capacity. It is most really disturbing to say that in this meeting we have not seen the willingness to fundamentally deal with these two aspects.

The difficulties that we are facing do not only affect the objectives and targets at hand in this meeting, but all the goals and targets set and agreed by our leaders.

Instead of turning political commitments into positive actions to take us forward, our partners seem to be heading in the opposite direction, circumscribing and reversing commitments made in Rio, Johannesburg and Monterrey, in particular the commitment to strong partnership.

Mr. Chairman,

I’m very distressed at having to convey to you this message to illustrate the frustration of the Group of77 and China on the way we are heading in this Commission, in particular, with regard to the following:

• This 13 th Session from our perspective does not help to achieve any of the proposals or aspirations of the developing countries, as we have observed our partners rejecting these proposals one after the other. This is particularly disappointing as all the issues being dealt with in this CSD Session affect us the most.

• The Session has revealed to us that our partners are refusing to reaffirm previously agreed commitments, particularly as they relate to financial resources.

• We have also seen attempts to turn the CSD into an environmental commission, with the reinterpretation and renegotiation of previously agreed language, including through a continued insistence on having a Chair’s summary that contradicts CSD 11 decisions.

• The Group of 77 and China reiterates its willingness to continue working with our partners in preparation for the September High-level Meeting of the General Assembly.

• Mr. Chairman, the future of CSD and the whole concept of international cooperation is built on the concept of mutual understanding and recognition of others. Failure to understand this and to pursue instead selfish, insular agendas will only result in resistance and ultimately, a total loss. Any loss, in this instance, Mr. Chairman, is one that will rest squarely on the shoulders – and the consciences – of our partners.

I thank you.