site.bta "We Target Developing Green, Energy-Efficient Economy," Bulgarian Head of State Tells UN

"We Target Developing Green, Energy-Efficient Economy," Bulgarian Head of State Tells UN

New York, April 21 (BTA) - Addressing a plenary session of the High Level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at the UN Headquarters on Thursday, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said, quoted by his Press Secretariat, that it is time to adapt national development strategies to the new commitments under the Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted in September 2015.

"Bulgaria has already started work on the mechanism for implementation of the 2030 Agenda by the start of a debate on the Bulgaria 2030 National Development Programme," the head of State said. "We target developing a green and energy-efficient economy which should spare the environment and guarantee sustainable economic growth for all citizens," he added.

"Progress in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals will depend on three steps: national-level actions, support for the most vulnerable countries, and stronger United Nations," the President stressed.

"If we want to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we must pay more attention to the most vulnerable. Official development assistance must focus on people's ability to make decisions and be more self-confident, and Bulgaria actively shares in the supporting efforts of the EU and the international community," the head of State said.

Plevneliev warned, however, that this process must take account of environmental issues. He cited the Green Climate Fund, to which Bulgaria has been contributed since 2015, as an adequate collective action instrument.

The third important step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, according to the speaker, is "building a stronger and more coherent, more transparent and more effective UN development system."

"While working on our new and sustainable development level, we must, however, remember the ultimate addressees of the Sustainable Development Goals: children," the President said. He recalled that the Council of Europe Sofia Strategy for the Rights of the Child was adopted in April 2016, within the framework of the Bulgarian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers.

On Friday, Plevneliev will sign the Paris Climate Agreement on behalf of Bulgaria at an official ceremony in the UN General Assembly Hall.

"The Paris Climate Agreement is a historic event which will pave the way to the future of our societies by 2100. This is an agreement on the future of the planet, clearly committing every society and every country to act environmentally responsibly in the interest of succeeding generations," the President said in New York. "Bulgaria should be one of the first countries to ratify the Agreement. In this way, it will show that it has a vision for the future and a will to be among the leading countries," the head of State said in connection with the signing ceremony that will take place on April 22.

In the conditions of a migrant crisis, Bulgaria is one of the few countries strictly adhering to the rules, acting responsibly and guarding properly the EU external borders. "Sometimes, we are not aware of what we have achieved, but these efforts are assessed in highly positive terms in the US," the President said after a session with representatives of Jewish organizations in the US. "Bulgaria is becoming an ever more important factor in the EU because it offers solutions to the problems rather than causing them," Plevneliev said at the meeting, singling out his country as a factor of stability in the region and an example of a responsible approach.

Bulgaria's strategic partnership with the US and Israel topped the agenda of the discussions. The President praised the performance of the five US-Bulgaria working groups, which have already yielded results in energy diversification, defence, cybersecurity and rule of law.

"We also received a very clear sign about the support of Irina Bokova's bid for UN Secretary-General. We are aware that the race will be stiff, but the Bulgarian institutions are mobilized," the head of State also said.