Afioga ile Ao Mamalu ole Malo ma lau Masiofo Afioga ile Sui ole Fono a Sui Tofia ma lou faletua
HE Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General & your delegation
Ministers of Cabinet Hon Speaker
Hon Chief Justice & Judiciary Members of the Diplomatic Corps Invited Guests — Ladies and Gentlemen
It is my distinct honour and privilege to welcome you all to this special dinner in honour of our esteemed guest, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. We are pleased that you have followed through your commitment to visit our Blue Pacific region where the situation of vulnerabilities are stark and to be able to witness some of our lived realities as small islands states. Your visit marks a significant milestone, coinciding with the tenth anniveTsary Of the last visit by a UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in 2014.
Tonight, we gather to express our deep appreciation for your invaluable advocacy towards the special case of Small Islands Developing States like Samoa to achieve resilient prosperity but also to be able to do it together with the international community through global cooperation. Furthermore you have consistently maintained that SIDS are the test case for both climate and financial justice and that we are the world’s conscience in the climate crisis. As small island economies we continue to aim for amplified ambition in our climate actions.
We are heartened that there is dedication towards deep reforms to the outdated, dysfunctional and unjust global financial architecture, so that an appropriate financial system is in place that puts the interests of developing countries first and is able to work as a global safety net. While we see thèse goals as maybe long term, we can begin with early wins such as simplifying processes to access finance.
It can also mean revisiting the rules for access to concessional financing, to include the swift endorsement of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index. This is key to access to finance.
In our role as chair of the Alliance of Small Islands states, thèse are some of the issues we continue to promote in the Pacific region as well as through the multilateral system that must continue to be voiced with collective vehemence.
As we enjoy this evening together, let us take a moment to reflect on the values and principles that the UN and you Secretary General embody. Your encouragement and emphasis on why the UN is so essential today, as it is “giving peace a chance and ending conflicts that jeopardize li\/es, futures and global progress bodes well with us.
The importance of making a difference in people’s li\les as reflected in the UN’s work to end extreme poverty, reduce inequalities, in pursuit of the Sustainable development Goals, resonate wiÎh us. lnterconnected global crises, including increasingly serious natural disasters, make it clear “that we have no time to lose” and must achieve sustainable development. We aGknowledge the focus of the work of the UN in Samoa based on thèse principles. Alongside the goals of safeguarding the planet, the UN is also ensuring human rights for all as well as balancing the scales of opportunity and freedom for women and girls.
Thank you Mr Guterres for visiting Samoa albeit a brief one. We look forward to the opportunity for further consultations with the Pacific leadership in the coming week.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Please join me in raising a glass to Aontonio Guterres, a remarkerble individual whose contribution continue to shape and enrich our world. May we all draw inspiration from their axample and strive to make a positive impact in our own endevours.
END.
Photo by Government of Samoa (Leaosa Faaifo Faaifo)
