Remarks by Ambassador Bagher Asadi, Chairman of the Group of 77 (Islamic Republic of Iran), at the Plenary Meeting of the COP-7 of the UNFCCC on Agenda Item 4: Input to World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)

Marrakesh, 2 November 2001

Mr. President,

We consider the input to WSSD very important. Let me thank you for convening this Plenary meeting and also thank the Secretariat for introducing the relevant document for this agenda item .

As you remember, in our general statement at the first plenary meeting last Monday, I presented the overall approach and outlook of the Group of 77 and China to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), which I do not repeat here. Earlier this morning, we dealt with this matter in the G-77 coordination meeting. A Core Group is working on the text of our position, which I hope will be ready for distribution later today.

Let me now just present the major salient elements of our position.

- WSSD is an excellent opportunity to mobilize political will for the implementation of the Climate Change Convention;

- The imperative of due attention to the objective of the Convention on “stabilization of the greenhouse gases concentration”, as stipulated in Article 2 of the Convention, and also to Article 3.4 on ”right to sustainable development:”;
- Serious concern that developing countries in general, and LDCs and SIDs in particular, confront the negative impact of climate change;

- The necessity of the implementation of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action;

- The centrality of the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”, as defined and understood in Rio;

- The necessity of adequate attention to social development and economic growth as the other two pillars of sustainable development and also to poverty eradication;

- The necessity of strengthening the efficiency and efficacy of GEF and its responsiveness to the needs of developing countries;

- Operationalization of the Funds agreed in Bonn, with particular emphasis on the mobilization of new and additional financial resources, transfer of technology and capacity building;

- Requesting the Executive-Secretary to prepare a report on implementation, in close consultation with the parties, and present it to WSSD; and

- The utility of the participation of the Executive-Secretary in the preparatory process of WSSD.

Mr. President,

Let me also inform you and the Plenary that we have not yet discussed the question of format of presenting the input to the WSSD. I suppose as we move forward with the process and more aspects become clearer, we can address that issue better. So far, we have tried to concentrate on the substance of the input.

Mr. President,

Now that I have the floor, let me take the opportunity and make a general comment on the first part of our discussions here today. While expressing our gratitude to the distinguished Chairmen of the Subsidiary Bodies as well as the distinguished Co-Chairs of negotiating groups, it is our general feeling that the pace of progress should be increased . In light of the interventions during the first part of our discussions, which we all heard, and with due regard for the overriding imperative of preserving the political integrity of the Bonn agreements, it is necessary for all parties, big and small, individually and group-wise, to avoid asking for too much. I emphasize that everybody should avoid asking for too much, that is the only way to preserve that integrity and make progress.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.