His Excellency Mr. Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon, represented by Dr. Inaya Ezzeddine,
Your Excellency Mr. Nasser Shraideh, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Jordan, and Chair of the Arab Forum for Sustainable Development 2022,
Your Excellency Dr. Abdallah Bou Habib, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon,
Your Excellency Mr. Ahmad Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States,
Your Excellency Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning!
From a hopeful Beirut, we began our meeting with hope!
With children that represent both our present and our future.
They are our cherished responsibility.
We have an obligation to provide them with a promising future.
Not to burden them with our failures.
Our failures today are their future crises. And the future is not far off.
There is a great deal of work to be done.
Hard work to advance on the only viable path towards our desired future: the Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals that are prevented by economic, environmental and social obstacles,
And numerous other challenges!
Increasing poverty.
16 million additional poor people owing to the COVID-19 pandemic!
And the wealth erosion of the poorer half of the population.
Youth unemployment,
The highest in the world!
Inequality and violence against women.
Stark disparities in wealth.
The richest 10 per cent in the region own over 80 per cent of its wealth!
Global warming and desertification, and a slow transition to renewable and clean energy.
Rentier economies. Deficient social protection. War, conflict and occupation.
Mass displacement. 66.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, the State of Palestine, Lebanon, Libya and Yemen.
Weak institutions. Public debt that has reached historic levels: to $1.4 trillion.
In a region that needs an additional $462 billion to recover from the pandemic!
As if these challenges were not enough,
The current war between Ukraine and the Russian Federation has made the situation worse. By disrupting the supply chains of vital goods for several Arab countries.
Leading to a 35 per cent rise in the price of food supplies in a few weeks!
To a sharp rise in energy prices.
To escalating inflation, and a continual decline in the population's purchasing power.
And of course... to more poverty!
Ladies and gentlemen,
The situation is very alarming. But the future can be bright!
Through good education. By creating decent job opportunities for young people. Through tax reforms. And smart spending.
Through comprehensive social protection. And sustainable financing.
Through a green recovery. With effective and transparent government institutions that keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Through digital transformation. Through national and regional dialogue.
And more importantly, through collaboration between our Governments, and solidarity between our countries.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen,
The future is promising!
We are convinced that we can achieve an inclusive recovery for all, and strengthen our resilience. In the light of this conviction, we at ESCWA are working to develop an Arab vision that will pave the way for an inclusive revival.
A revival that restores hope for a bright future under the 2030 Agenda.
In conclusion,
Let our meeting today be pivotal.
Let it be an opportunity to renew our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
A chance to renew hope for us, and for our children,
to achieve prosperity for our countries ... and human dignity!
Thank you.
