Kyrgyzstan, 2013

Thirteen years have passed since the adoption of

the Millennium Declaration (resolution 55/2), and

the established deadline to achieve the Millennium

Development Goals is rapidly approaching. The world

has changed since then, and we anticipate that, in the

next 15 years, it will change a great deal more.

In that context, the main theme of the general

debate, “The post-2015 development agenda: setting the

stage”, is obviously very appropriate and relevant. We

are convinced that the new development agenda will

provide a clear vision for our post-2015 development. It

should be formulated in the best spirit of the Millennium

Development Goals, with special attention to the issues

of poverty eradication, education and health care, the

economy and employment, governance, agriculture and

food availability, energy, peace and security.

The need for a common agenda is unquestionable.

All countries must enthusiastically embark on the path

of sustainable development. The global challenges can

be effectively met if they are included as core priorities

in each country’s development strategy.

Kyrgyzstan has done its part. That is reflected

in the national sustainable development strategy of

the Kyrgyz Republic for 2013-2017, which identifies

five-year targets and plans for a transition to sustainable

development, culminating in 2017. Our vision is to

form a stable country where human rights, freedom and

security are guaranteed, where a multi-ethnic society

is governed with equal adherence to the rule of law,

and where all prerequisites for sustainable economic

growth and a decent standard of life are the norm. The

tasks ahead are complex, and we believe they should be

addressed in partnership with the United Nations and

the international community.

The main strategic resource for the green economic

growth of Kyrgyzstan is water. The role of water has

increased significantly due to the major challenge of

sustainable development posed by global climate change,

which is already affecting our region negatively. Most

importantly with regard to the state of water resources,

Kyrgyzstan’s glaciers have shrunk by 30 per cent as

a result of global warming. According to preliminary

expert forecasts, unless urgent measures are taken

there will be practically no glaciers or snowfields on

the country’s territory by the year 2100. Those melting

waters are the primary source of the rivers of Central

Asia.

This ongoing negative trend may well lead to a

substantial reduction of river flow in Kyrgyzstan,

and consequently to social and economic tensions in

the region as a whole. We must pursue our work in

the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change. The relevant

international financial and ecological organizations

must continue to assist the countries of Central Asia in

addressing the problem. That is particularly important

in the transition to a sustainable use of both water and

natural ecosystems resources.

The development of hydro-energy is strategically

important to the sustainable socioeconomic development

of the region. We are convinced that it would contribute

to an integrated solution of many current and future

challenges. We believe that the construction of large

hydroelectric power facilities should be considered one

path to clean development. Harnessing the hydropower

potential of the upstream countries should be considered

part of low-carbon development, and developing water

resources should be considered the core model for

green development in the economic progress of the

region. We are ready to participate in an exchange of

best practices in water management, water use and the

construction of irrigation systems.

More than 90 per cent of Kyrgyzstan is located in

mountainous areas, which play an important role in the

accumulation of water. In that regard, we support the

further promotion of the developmental goals of the

mountain regions, in accordance with the decisions

taken at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable

Development. I am confident that a draft resolution on

the issue, to be submitted to the General Assembly at

this session with the co-sponsorship of Kyrgyzstan,

will enjoy the support of all United Nations Members.

Some mountainous landlocked countries have

special needs for development. High levels of poverty,

isolation, the burden of transportation costs and a heavy

debt are among the basic range of problems that many

mountainous countries face. In such conditions, it is

difficult to achieve the Millennium Development Goals

and to meet the commitments set out in United Nations

documents on sustainable development. We hope that

the special needs, problems and challenges of mountain

countries and communities will be properly reflected in

the post-2015 development programme.

It is well known that mountain ranges provide

valuable ecosystem services and serve as important

indicator of environmental health and a support system

for the snow leopard, a rare and endangered highland

animal. In that regard, Kyrgyzstan is developing a

10-year national protection strategy. We invite everyone

to the world forum on the snow leopard to be held on

22 and 23 October in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The rehabilitation and security of uranium tailings,

which today total more than 8 million cubic metres

on our territory, is very important in Kyrgyzstan. The

situation is aggravated by the fact that most are located

in seismically active mudflow and flood-prone areas

with high groundwater levels, as well near the banks

of rivers that form the basis of the Central Asian water

supply. The potential consequences of ineffective

solutions would have a very negative impact on millions

of people in Central Asia.

In order to raise the international community’s

awareness of the problem and to attract additional

assistance towards its solution, at this session the

Kyrgyz delegation will introduce a draft resolution

under agenda item 19 (j), “The role of the international

community in the prevention of the radiation threat in

Central Asia”. We call on members to support the draft

resolution.

It is well known that development and security are

closely interrelated. Unfortunately, the maintenance of

security and stability and the fight against international

terrorism, religious extremism, and illicit drug and

arms trafficking and trade remain on the development

agenda of Kyrgyzstan and our region. Those issues are

most acute in our region because of the current situation

in Afghanistan.

Despite some progress in the political process in

Afghanistan, the stability and security of the country

remain at risk. Furthermore, the Afghan drug-

production trade, being the largest in the world, is

generating a whole range of threats and destabilizing

both the political and military situation in Eurasia.

Those problems are more critical and significant in

our region than ever before, especially in view of the

upcoming withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in

2014.

Kyrgyzstan, in accordance with its commitments,

has fully complied with its mission in counter-terrorism

operations in Afghanistan. Over the past 12 years,

Kyrgyzstan has provided an important channel for

the supply of military and humanitarian goods to

Afghanistan through the transit centre at Manas

International Airport. We believe that the international

community’s efforts have contributed to the relative

stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan and helped

the Afghan authorities to assume their leadership role

and responsibility in the fields of public administration

and development. We are determined to continue our

strategic dialogue with partners on all issues of mutual

interest. We believe that in the fight against terrorism,

drug trafficking and other security challenges stemming

from Afghanistan, regional organizations have proved

their effectiveness and should be even more involved. I

am talking here in particular of the Collective Security

Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation

Organization. Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship of those

international and regional organizations this year has

once again confirmed the need to have comprehensive

measures in place to stabilize the situation as soon as

possible, both in Afghanistan and in the region as a

whole.

Along with other measures to combat security

challenges and threats, it is necessary to pursue a policy

of industrialization aimed at building a sustainable

Afghan economy in order to achieve socioeconomic

growth in the country. It is also important to involve

Afghanistan in the development of regional cooperation

and the implementation of major joint socioeconomic

and infrastructural projects such as the export of

electricity and the building of roads and railroad

networks.

In that respect, Kyrgyzstan stands ready to expand

its trade and economic relations and to implement

various infrastructural projects, including the export

of electricity to Afghanistan as part of the CASA-1000

project and the establishment of a tripartite — Kyrgyzstan-

Tajikistan-Afghanistan — agro-industrial consortium,

with the assistance of the United Nations.

Today we must take a fundamentally new approach

to solving Afghanistan’s problems, based on a new

philosophy and paradigm of social development: the

right to development.

I should like to take this opportunity to invite

representatives of Government and academia to

take part in the international research conference on

“Afghanistan — 2014”, to be held on 10 October 2013

in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek.

We are following developments in the Arab world

with special attention. The continuing two-year armed

conflict in Syria is of great concern. Kyrgyzstan

expresses its serious concern about the numerous

victims of the armed conflict, the humanitarian disaster

it represents and the further escalation of the crisis. We

call upon both sides to immediately call a ceasefire

and resolve the crisis peacefully through a dialogue

between all political forces of the country under the

mediation of the United Nations.

We support the initiative of the transfer of Syrian

chemical weapons and their subsequent destruction,

under international supervision, and Syria’s accession to

the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,

Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons

and on Their Destruction. We wish to see the restoration

of stability in the country and the preservation of the

sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, without

external military interference.

The changes occurring in the modern world and

its increasing diversity require the strengthening of the

United Nations so as to ensure that it continues to play its

central role of ensuring global security and the effective

implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

That can be achieved through reforming the United

Nations, which should be done in accordance with the

purposes and principles of the Charter of the United

Nations and on the basis of a broad consensus on the

part of States Members of the United Nations.

We believe that all States Members of the United

Nations should strictly comply with the decisions of

the Security Council; we are in favour of expanding its

membership in order to make it more representative,

transparent and democratic.

We attach particular importance to the work of the

Economic and Social Council. Kyrgyzstan therefore

welcomed the adoption last week of resolution 68/1, on

strengthening the role and enhancing the effectiveness

of the work of the Council. We hope that a strengthened

Council will become an effective mechanism for the

implementation of the post-2015 development agenda

and continue to serve as an important platform for

multilateral political dialogue on global social and

economic issues.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the need

to move forward firmly and resolutely by means of joint

efforts and a common resolve on the part of all countries

in order to overcome threats and challenges, maintain

peace and well-being and promote development for

future generations. Kyrgyzstan is fully prepared to

engage in such constructive and effective international

cooperation.