Least Developed Countries (LDC) Chair Ambassador Madhu Raman Acharya met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Written by UN Nepal Mission

Saturday, 10 October 2009 14:02

Press Release

In Nepal’s capacity as the chair of the group of Least Developed Countries (LDC), Permanent Representative of Nepal, Ambassador Madhu Raman Acharya discussed issues of importance to the LDCs with Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon at his office today.

Ambassador Acharya appreciated Secretary-General’s continued advocacy and support to the LDCs from the shocks of climate change, global economic and financial crisis world food crisis, which had hit the least developed countries most, Saying the LDCs were are the receiving end of the problems, Ambassador Acharya called for renewed measures and urgent implementation of already agreed commitments in the form of Millennium Declaration, the Brussels Program of Action and the conferences on financing for development and global financial and economic crisis and their impact on development.

He highlighted the concerns of the disproportionate effects of global financial and economic crisis on growth, aid, trade, investment, remittances, tourism, jobs, and development gains in the LDCs. That required for streamlining and increased financial and technical support to the LDCs cope with crisis, Acharya said.

Secretary-General Mr. Ban congratulated on Nepal’s election of the chair of the LDC and stressed the importance of providing the required support to the most vulnerable countries, including the LDC in the face of current economic crisis, food crisis and in the ongoing negotiations on climate change. He said that he would continue to give high priority to the issues of interest of the LDCs.

Referring to the Ministerial declaration of the LDC Ministerial meeting on 29 September 2009, Ambassador Acharya highlighted the need to take urgent action in all areas of concern to the LDCs.

Stressing the need to seal the right deal at the Climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, Acharya stressed the deal should take into account of the adaptation, mitigation, technological and financial needs of the LDCs. The Secretary-General pledged to continue his advocacy and stressed also for a timely deal on climate negotiations. Mr. Ban appraised the progress made in the recent climate change negotiations in Bangkok.

On the global food crisis, Acharya stressed the World Food Summit in Rome should establish accountability on short-term food supply and long-term sustainable agriculture development in the LDCs. Mr. Ban said that he attached strong importance to this issue and referred to his co-hosting of a high-level meeting on food security and adoption of framework of action in the task force he has convened on food security.

Ambassador Acharya asked for an active engagement and participation of the stakeholders, including the United Nations system for the Fourth UN Conference of the Least Developed Countries to be held in Turkey in 2011. Mr. Ban pledged full support to the preparatory process and a fruitful outcome of the Fourth Conference of the LDCs and highlighted the importance and complimentarity of the MDG review to be held next year to the process. He hoped that the Fourth Conference of the LDCs would be a great success under Nepal’s chair of the group.

Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai, Minister Counsellor and Mr. Mani Ratna Sharma, First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Nepal and a few UN officials were also present on the occasion.

Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN

New York

9 October 2009