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Position Paper
Related to country: Burundi

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General Assembly- Second Committee


Republika y'u Burundi, République du Burundi, The Republic of Burundi


The issues before the General Assembly's Second Committee are:

1. The Economic and Financial Crisis: Impact on Achieving the Millennium Development Goals
2. Climate Change and Post-Kyoto Arrangements: A Big Challenge to the Achievement of the Millennium Development


1.The Economic and Financial Crisis: Impact on Achieving the Millennium Development Goals

The government of Burundi feels strongly about this issue presented to the General Assembly and is fully aware of the extent of the economic and financial crises that we are facing today around the world. However, the goals the international community set at the end of the previous century are crucial for the survival of humankind and although we have come across some serious difficulties, the Republic of Burundi and its people emphasize the importance of pursuing our goals within the framework of the Charter and international agreements that followed.

The Republic of Burundi is an economically underdeveloped landlocked country with the economy mainly based on agriculture and limited amounts of resources. Even though Burundi is not significantly exposed to the international trading and it is not expected for the majority of African countries to experience a major decline in their economy and trade decrease, it is crucial to emphasize that Burundi's economic growth depends mainly on coffee and tea exports. With the fall of commodity prices, the measures the government of Burundi has taken to empower the country economically are now at risk of failure. Burundi also depends on the loans from the international financial institutions. Moreover, the government of Burundi is currently engaged in a number of undertakings to reform and reestablish the weakened legal system and the administrative capacity; all of them are mainly financed by the multilateral and bilateral donors. The Republic of Burundi fears that the current crisis may severely interfere with the ongoing reforms that can result in even higher poverty rates, the spread of HIV/AIDS and lack of proper treatment which will lead to deaths of many, poor healthcare and poor education rates.

The above given information portray how important the Millennium Development Goals are for the people of Burundi and how eager the government of Burundi is to cooperate with the international community to solve many problems that should concern the entire world. The Millennium Development Goals Progress Chart shows a slow progress in sub-Saharan Africa, but the world should bear in mind that for this region the MDGs are not only important for the development in the future, here they represent the only way for our nations to survive.

Therefore, the Republic of Burundi recognizes the need to discuss this matter before the General Assembly. The government of Burundi is willing to contribute, in all its effort, to finding a solution for the current situation so that the good work on the Millennium Development Goals can be duly continued. For that matter, the government of Burundi suggests that the General Assembly:

- should determine priorities and focus on the countries more exposed to the negative effects of today's living, having in mind the limited resources the United Nations have in their disposal due to the economic and financial crisis;

- should keep insisting on eradicating poverty as a phenomenon that is at the core of all the problems the world is facing today;

- should, in accordance with its previous good practice, continue with reforming the UN system so it can successfully meet any contemporary challenge.

The Republic of Burundi would like to emphasize its strong commitment to General Assembly's Resolutions 62/242, 58/222, 59/240, 60/184, 60/187, 60/265 and all the other resolutions adopted by the General Assembly that elaborate the Millennium Development Goals and show deep understanding and concern for the problems of the African people. Burundi would also like to stress the importance of the Secretary General's Report- Strengthening efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger, including through the global partnership for development (2007) as a document that also shows full comprehension of African issues.



2. Climate Change and Post-Kyoto Arrangements: A Big Challenge to the Achievement of the Millennium Development

Tackling climate change is undoubtedly the biggest responsibility of the modern world. We have come to a point where protecting the Earth is not only something we have to do for the future generations, it is something we have to do to protect the life on this planet today. The Republic of Burundi, as a mainly agricultural and underdeveloped country, is doing little to harm the Earth, but the people of Burundi encourages all efforts to stop the dramatic outcome and is prepared to participate in a joint venture against climate change.

The Kyoto Agreement is one of the most significant agreements the international community reached, unfortunately maybe later than it should have. The Republic of Burundi expresses a great commitment to this Agreement and its Protocols and all the other related documents adopted subsequently by the international community. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change gave the world much needed information that can be used as guidelines for future actions. Developed countries have a crucial role in fighting climate change, implementing Kyoto and post-Kyoto agreements and developing the Millennium Development Goals. Developing countries should be under constant surveillance of the international community in order to insure maximum protection of the environment and create sustainable development. Underdeveloped countries, unfortunately, can only feel the negative influence non-environmental-friendly activities have on life.

Therefore, the Republic of Burundi will, in all its power, support measures taken by the international community and every individual country to combat climate change and protect the life of everyone. Burundi suggests the following measures to be discussed and analyzed:

- provide aid for the developing countries to prevent them from becoming another source of greenhouse gas emissions;

- reinstate which countries are the world's largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions and suggest mandatory measures to be taken by them in order to reduce the negative effects on the environment;

-suggest international sanctions for those countries which do not act in accordance with their commitment

-promote green growth and green economy

-insure sustainable development

-consider additional financing throughout UN mechanisms and mechanisms provided by regional organizations

-setting global rules for waste management

- invest in renewable energy

The Republic of Burundi appeals on other nations to take part in this effort to find a solution for the current situation and take an active part in the decision-making process.

The Millennium Development Goals are highly dependant on the progress made in combat against climate change. Taking global actions in this field will lead to saving up a significant amount of financial means that can later be invested in realization of MDGs.


July 27, 2009 | 5:32 AM Comments  0 comments

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