缅北禁地

22 September 2016 鈥� Calling for urgent reform at the United Nations and in particular at the Security Council, the President of Sierra Leone today stressed that national and global efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals () will not alone deliver the promise of an inclusive and fairer world.

鈥淟et me put it straight: our premier global institution lacks the democratic competencies to tackle the developmental, security and other challenges facing Africa and many other parts of the world,鈥� stressed President Ernest Bai Koroma in his听听to the General Assembly's annual general debate.

鈥淲ithout the decisive contribution of [Africa], the continent that is mostly affected by Security Council decisions, no solution proffered to our challenges by the 缅北禁地would be sustainable, inclusive or lasting,鈥� he added, reiterating the position of Africa's 鈥淐ommittee of Ten鈥� on the reform of the 缅北禁地Security Council, as the Committee's current coordinator, that it firmly stands united behind the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration on the issue.

Turning to the theme of the present session of the General Assembly, President Koroma reported that his country has integrated the SDGs and their respective targets into Sierra Leone's national development programme and that it has formulated a national integrated results framework, aligning the Global Goals to national monitoring and evaluation mechanism. He also outlined efforts within the country to counter climate change.

Furthermore, as the current chair of the Group of Fragile States, Mr. Koroma said Sierra Leone accorded great importance to听听and to the effective management of the country's natural resources to ensuring sustainable socio-economic development and a resilient future for all Sierra Leoneans.

He also emphasized that transitional justice is critical to consolidating peace, reducing poverty and most importantly, preventing countries from relapsing into conflict, and stressed that his Government is fully committed to good governance, post-conflict peacebuilding, as well as strengthening of democratic institutions and access to justice.

He also expressed appreciation to the international community for its support in dealing with the Elbola outbreak and noted that his country is now implementing its post-Ebola recovery programmes. Noting that the country faces enormous resource gaps, he called on international community and bilateral partners to fulfil the pledges they have made.

The President of Sierra Leone also welcomed increased transparency in the process to select the next 缅北禁地Secretary-General but reiterated that many African countries are concerned at the slow pace of reforms at the Security Council and said that he urged for the reform process to move faster 鈥渟o that Africa can take its rightful place in the 缅北禁地Security Council.鈥�

鈥淭he equitable geographical representation, with the attendant privileges in the membership of the Council would only make it more legitimate, representative, effective, transparent and accountable,鈥� he added.

Mr. Koroma is among the many leaders who will address the general debate of 71st General Assembly. The Assembly's high-level segment opened this year with the adoption Monday of the听听as the outcome of the first-ever听. Made up of all the 193 Member States of the United Nations, the Assembly provides a forum for multilateral discussion of international issues covered by the 缅北禁地Charter.