The fourth UN Conference on LDCs held from May 9 to 13 had adopted the resolution proposing to halve the number of LDCs by 2021 through various measures. Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal had participated in the conference in his capacity as prime minister of the current chair of the LDC group of countries. [break]
Addressing the General Assembly after the adoption of the Declaration, Shanker Das Bairagi, Charge´ d´Affaires of Nepal to the UN, expressed sincere thanks to all the members of the UN, the development partners of LDCs, the Republic of Turkey as the host of the LDCs conference and the UN Secretary General, among others, for their contribution to the successful outcome of the Conference.
According to a press statement issued by Nepal´s Permanent Mission to the UN, Bairagi underlined the need for the full and effective implementation of the Program of Action for LDCs to meet its overarching goal of overcoming their structural challenges to eradicate poverty, achieve internationally agreed development goals, and enable graduation from the LDC category.
Nepal has been chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the 48 least developed countries since September 2009.
The Istanbul Declaration on LDCs reaffirms that solidarity and partnership with the poorest, weakest and most vulnerable countries and their peoples is not only a moral and ethical imperative, but also an economic and political one which corresponds to long term interests of the international community and serves the cause of peace, security and prosperity for all.
The 48 LDCs have a combined population of 880 million and only three countries have graduated from LDC status. Among other things, the Declaration commits to assisting LDCs to enable half of them to meet the criteria for graduation from LDC status. It also promises to work on developing and implementing smooth transition strategies for graduating and graduated LDCs.
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