STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY AMBASSADOR KINGSLEY J.N. MAMABOLO, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON THE OCCASION OF THE SIXTH SESSION OF THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA (New York, 22 June 2015)

Co-facilitators,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

At the outset, allow me Co-facilitators, to acknowledge the sterling work and the commendable leadership role that you continue to play in this intergovernmental process on the post-2015 development agenda. We have all the confidence that you will take this process to its logical conclusion and deliver a truly ambitious agenda that responds to the development aspirations of countries.

Co-Facilitators,

The release of the zero draft earlier in the month was a key milestone in this intergovernmental process on the post-2015 development agenda which marks a critical stage of negotiations that will involve a lot of work and compromises. The Group of 77 and China welcomes the zero draft as a credible starting point on which we can base our intergovernmental negotiations. It is close to the aspirations that we have articulated all these months since the commencement of the process in January this year.

However, typical of a true zero-draft that is subject to further political guidance by Member States some of the aspects of the document require intergovernmental scrutiny to ensure that the elements contained therein address the needs of developing countries, if the agenda is to be truly transformative. Accordingly the Group will make the necessary interventions when specific aspects of the text are considered in the course of this session.

Co-facilitators,

We express our confidence and trust in your efforts that you will guide this process and help Member States deliver an agenda that is truly ambitious and transformative and the one that meets the expectations not only of our leaders but the millions of people that we represent at the United Nations. The UN has a pivotal role to play in transforming the lives of people who continue to live in conditions of poverty, underdevelopment and backwardness.

I thank you.