Iraq’s Representative to United Nations Delivers a Speech at Joint Briefing Session of the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council

The Representative of Iraq to the United Nations in New York Dr. Abbas Kadhom Obaid, delivered a speech on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, during the joint briefing session by the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.

In his speech, Dr. Obaid stressed the importance of enhancing collaboration between the United Nations agencies to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, indicating the major financial challenges that hinder the implementation of these goals. He called for strengthening international cooperation and accelerating the pace of work to ensure compliance with the obligations and achieve comprehensive development.

Additionally, Mr. Obaid said that the current stage requires more than ever to address global challenges by strengthening unity, solidarity and multilateral cooperation, with a collective response to international challenges. As well he underlined the need for the Economic and Social Council to play a pivotal role as a principal body of the United Nations agencies and major follow-up processes, and to work to identify implementation priorities and ensure fulfillment of obligations, especially with regard to financial means of implementation, such as official development assistance, debt relief and restructuring.

At the end of his speech, Dr. Obaid expressed the commitment of the Group of 77 and China to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the work of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, stressing the readiness to work together in a positive and constructive spirit to achieve common goals.