The UN in Azerbaijan, in close partnership with the Academy of Public Administration, brought together leading scholars, researchers, senior government officials and policy-makers on 23 April, to discuss economical, social and environmental issues. The forum took place within wider consultations in Azerbaijan that incorporate different stakeholders including civil society organizations, disadvantaged and minority groups, the private sector, academia, women’s organizations and youth, and other constituencies to identify priorities and to formulate a national vision for the Post-2015 Development Agenda that will succeed the MDG framework.
 
“In Azerbaijan, we are fortunate that the Government, in its ‘Vision 2020’, has been already been putting into perspective many relevant issues, enabling us to narrow the discussion on sustainable development goals (SDGs) and make it rather ‘locally colored and more focused,” said Mr. Antonius Broek, the UN Resident Coordinator while addressing the session.
 
Representing the UN Department of Public Information (UN DPI), Envera Selimovic said that the latest Baku forum, “enriched by the speeches and initiatives of renewed specialists, also provided a great platform to discuss challenges that ordinary people face on a daily basis that should be considered while going that extra mile towards ‘working together – finding solutions,’ for the post-2015 world.”
 
The UN DPI office gave strong media support to this session, similar to other forums held within the national consultations, and will be a close partner with the office of the Resident Coordinator until the results of consultations on Azerbaijan’s contribution to the SDGs, are presented to the Government of Azerbaijan at the end of May during the validation workshop.
 
“I am very happy to be part of this joint thinking for sustainable development and especially pleased by the deepening connection between environment and development in the ‘world we want,’” said Mr. Huseingulu Bagirov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources. “Let us hope that this dialogue will further stimulate creative thinking on how to put our nation on a more environmentally sustainable path and that our innovative ideas and inputs can be transformed into solutions that promote environmental sustainability and ‘green’ the Post-2015 future,” Bagirov added.

The UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Jakarta in collaboration with the Bank of Indonesia and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) organized the Indonesia launch of the the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2013 at Bank Indonesia today, part of a simultaneous launch in 37 locations around the world. The Indonesia launch included the participation of Members of Parliament, the diplomatic community, economists, and the media.

The launch of the survey was marked by a panel discussion featuring Dr. Katinka Weinberger, Director of the Centre for the Alleviation of Poverty through Sustainable Agriculture representing UN ESCAP, Mr. Dody Budi Waluyo, Executive Director of Monetary Policy of the Bank of Indonesia, and Dr. Andrianus Mooy, former Governor of the Bank of Indonesia and former Executive Secretary of ESCAP.

 "In quantity, the region is capable of overcoming the crisis, shown by its fast recovery," Dr. Mooy said, pointing out however that "global volatility still exists." He emphasized the need for increased attention -- both in Indonesia and in the region a a whole -- to the quality of economic growth rather than the "quantity."

On behalf of UN ESCAP, Dr. Katinka Weinberger emphasized on the importance of implementing forward-looking macroeconomics policies for inclusive and sustainable development. "There is an urgent need for a paradigm shift in macroeconomic policymaking to focus on its developmental role, which has been overshadowed by emphasis on debt and inflation control over the past three decades," she said.

Addressing the issue of how central banks can promote sustainable economic growth Mr. Dody Budi Waluyo stated that "there is a growing need for a new development agenda which focuses on improving efficiency, fostering innovation, and developing human capital." Moderating the discussion was UNIC Jakarta Director, Mr. Michele Zaccheo.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia (left) and the UN Resident Coordinator (right)

More than 420 trees were planted by the representatives of the UN Office (UNO) Armenia, Government, international community and civil society during a Tree Planting Day organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UNO Armenia, the Charitable Foundation “Armenia Tree Project” in the Avan administrative district of Yerevan.  The event was supported by the administration of the Avan district.

The tree planting was organized to celebrate International Mother Earth Day within the framework of the International Year of Water Cooperation. The trees and all necessary planting equipment were kindly provided by the “Armenia Tree Project” (AT).

Bradley Busetto, UN Resident Coordinator said: “Every citizen has a right to live in a safe and healthy environment and it is our obligation to protect it. That is why protection and sustainable use of natural resources is absolutely vital, and a focus of the UN here in Armenia. I am happy to join this tradition, introduced by our Armenian partners and plant trees, thus contributing personally to the restoration of the green areas in this beautiful country, thus protecting natural resources as well.”

 Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted that the Armenian Government pays special attention to the protection of forests, greening of its cities and villages and preservation of other natural resources through broader involvement with local communities. “Together, we work to strengthen the management, conservation, and sustainable development of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.  I call on each of my fellow citizens to plant at least one tree every year, thus personally contributing to restoration of parks and forests” he said.

 “There is no more important work than cooperating with the Armenian Government, its agencies, and the UN on projects dedicated to improving Armenia’s environment,” commented Thomas Garabedian, Managing Director of the Armenia Tree Project.  “The planting of these trees reinforces ATP’s commitment to the well being of Armenia’s citizens and to the protection of the Armenian environment.”

The UN will continue its cooperation with the Government and civil society on projects aimed at sustainable development of Armenia, protecting the environment and natural resources, thus contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  
 
The event is organized within the framework of activities aimed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, since on April 5th, the world marked 1,000 Days to the end of 2015 – the deadline for achieving MDGs.

To celebrate World Water Day, the UN Office (UNO) Minsk jointly with the National Scientific and Technical Library held a seminar in the form of a scientific café "Cooperation in the field of water management and natural water quality assessment in Belarus".

In attendance were experts of the Belarusian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Central Research Institute for Complex Use of Water Resources, National Center for Radiation Control and Environmental Monitoring, Belarusian National Technical University, International NGO "Partnership EcoProject", and the UNDP Project "Management of the Niemen River basin with account of adaptation to climate change".

After the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20), the UN has been holding open-ended consultations to establish the priorities of people post-2015.  Water was identified as one of the 11 thematic areas of these consultations.  

To achieve the global objectives of future sustainable development, effective management of water resources is imperative.

“It will not be an overstatement to say that the recent presentations made by water management experts from international, public and non-governmental organizations may be deemed as Belarus' contribution to the process of national consultations on the development agenda post- 2015”, stated UNO’s Victor Radivinovski in his opening speech.

The scientific café was co-organized by the UNO, the State Committee for Science and Technologies of the Republic of Belarus and National Scientific and Technical Library in commemoration of the World Water Day and International Year of Water Cooperation.