Press Release
Hon. Mr. Kamal Thapa, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, addressed the High-Level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals convened by H.E. Mr. MogensLykketoft, President of the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York today. In his address, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that the current global efforts and cooperation were not adequate to help disadvantaged countries to come out of their difficulties. He underlined the need of a robust collaboration with the international community for means of implementing the SDGs. International cooperation including financial resources, technology, and partnerships required to be complemented by our own efforts under national leadership and ownership, he added.
The Thematic Debate was organized with a twin-purpose of increasing international awareness and political momentum for effectively implementing the SDGs and showing its strong interlinkages with the Paris Agreement, which is scheduled to be signed during a High-Level Signature Ceremony to be convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations tomorrow, 22 April 2016.
Addressing the Opening Ceremony of the High-Level Thematic Debate, H.E. Mr. Lykketoft thanked world leaders for their participation in the High-Level Thematic Debate as well as their commitments to effectively implementing the Sustainable Development Goals with a view to “leaving no one behind”.
Hon. Deputy Prime Minister also attended High-Level Lunch on Partnership for Implementation of the SDGS hosted in the United Nations Headquarters by H.E. Mr. Lykketoft, where the latter highlighted the need of global partnership and urged leaders to join hands for effective implementation of the SDGs.
Also today, the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Thapa addressed the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on the World Drug Problem convened at the United Nations Headquarters in New York since 19 April 2016. In his address, Hon. Mr. Thapa said that drug abuse is a “multi-dimensional problem” across the globe, posing a serious “threat to our civilization”. He added that Nepal had a strong policy framework as well as robust institutional mechanism to counter this problem. While mentioning that Nepal was “doing her level-best to address drugs problems”, he stressed the need of enhanced cooperation from the international community as envisioned in the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Earlier today, the Deputy Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Political Affairs, and exchanged views on further strengthening the Nepal-United Nations relations.
Similarly, Hon. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Thapa inspected theConsulate General of Nepal in New York in the evening yesterday.
Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations
New York
21 April 2016