Leonel says Sustainable Development Goals will be a key component for ensuring peace in the world

The former President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández, said on Wednesday that the design and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals for the next 15 years will allow the nations of the world to successfully navigate through the great turmoil affecting the world today.

Fernández, who is also President of Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) and the Dominican Liberation Party, made the statement during his speech at the
Third Geneva Dialogue on the Development Agenda Post-2015, an event that is part of the commemorative activities marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

"In this rapidly changing world, there are many great opportunities ahead," proclaimed the former Dominican President, after highlighting the great challenges that UNCTAD faces in the future, especially with regard to the issue
of trade, which, he said, represents a great opportunity for the less developed countries to achieve the goals set by the UN.

"To reduce the risk in the vulnerable areas and poverty, decision-making at the international level is essential, due to the impact of external factors on the internal dynamics of the economies of the developing countries," he said.

He acknowledged that despite the great efforts made by UNCTAD, conflicts of
interest and the lack of political commitment to eliminate subsidies in the agricultural sector have stopped trade negotiations, creating great uncertainty in the process.

He argued, however, that despite the pessimism, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has become an effective forum for Member States to negotiate trade agreements. "The WTO dispute settlement mechanism is one of the key elements that have contributed to the success of the organization,"
he said.

In his speech, former President Fernández also highlighted the leadership and vision of Argentine Economist Raúl Prebisch, who was the first Secretary General of UNCTAD, whom, he said, was a key person for the success of this UN initiative.

He said that Prebisch managed to achieve consensus on a post-World War II era, at a time when there was ideological confrontation at the international level due to the Cold War.

Speaking
of the Sustainable Development Goals designed by the UN to be achieved by the year 2030, former President Fernández said that they will be an important component to facilitate peace and welfare for the peoples of the world.

"I am sure that, just as has happened in the last half century, UNCTAD, once again, because of the wisdom and commitment of its leaders and actors, will rise and lead the voiceless into a new world of hope and prosperity," said the
former Head of the Dominican State.

Further exploring this subject, Fernández reported that various agencies are already working in the drafting of the new targets to be achieved by 2030, in order to ensure that they focus on issues such as poverty eradication, food security, health, population dynamics, education, information and information and communication technologies.

Other aspects that are taken into account for the post-2015 agenda are gender
equality, water, energy, sustainable infrastructure, decent employment, equality, environmental protection, conservation of natural resources, and the rule of law.

The document containing the set of suggested goals for the next 15 years should be delivered to the UN General Assembly in September of this year. Its preparation is the responsibility of the Task Force of the UN System, the UN Development Group, the Open Working Group of the Economic and Social Council, and
the High Level Group of Eminent Persons on the Development Agenda Post-2015.

Former President Fernández was accompanied at the head table by the Secretary General of UNCTAD, Mukhisa Kituyi; the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage of Qatar, Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari; and, the Ambassador of Finland in Switzerland, Pertti Majanen.

Some of the members that integrated the head table at the Third Geneva Dialogue on the Development Agenda post-2015. In addition to Fernández, the Secretary General of UNCTAD, Mukhisa Kituyi; the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage of Qatar, Hamad Bin-Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari; and, the Ambassador of Finland in Switzerland, Pertti Majanen.