New York/Information Office/04 October 2016/ The State of Qatar underlined that it seeks constantly to achieve sustainable development with all its economic, social and environmental dimensions. Addressing the general debate of the Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee) of the UN General Assembly, Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations Ahmed bin Saif Al Kuwari highlighted the Permanent Constitution of the State Qatar and the national legislations which attach a great importance to the issues related to economic growth, social development, preservation of the environment, and women's empowerment as a fundamental pillar of development. He noted that the year 2015 witnessed numerous milestones, particularly the adoption of the sustainable development plan for 2030, the 21st Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21), and the World Humanitarian Summit. He said that the experience of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals demonstrates that achieving those goals requires mobilization of the necessary means and promoting an effective international cooperation and a global partnership in order to create an international environment favorable for development, taking into account the different countries' capacities and levels of development, and the respect for national policies and priorities. He noted that the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, is one of the major challenges in achieving a sustainable and comprehensive development, which requires efforts that are commensurate with the gravity of this scourge, noting that there is still more than a billion people living in extreme poverty in the world. Meanwhile, he pointed out that Qatar National Vision 2030 identified the economic, social, human and environmental objectives to implement the national strategy for the overall development. The first phase of the strategy was completed for period 2011 to 2016. The second phase will be launched soon for the period 2017 to 2022. He stressed the important role of trade as a key instrument to achieve the goals of sustainable development, noting that making progress in the multilateral trade negotiations, as stated in the Doha Round, is a necessary issue to revitalize the global partnership for the sustainable development. The Third Secretary of Qatar's Permanent Mission to the UN warned that growing conflicts and humanitarian crises in the world have led to unprecedented levels of refugees and migrants, where the number of migrants in the world reached 244 million in 2015. Noting that the migrants issue represent a priority to the international community, and has severe consequences on international peace and security, Qatar was contributing to the international efforts aiming to find solutions to this problem, as it pledged commitment to the international cooperation to find solutions to the crisis of refugees and migrants, and stressed the need to deal with the causes of those crises, and to find a quick and sustainable solutions, including the peaceful settlement of disputes. The official also shed light on several challenges facing the world, including the unsustainable use of natural resources, climate change, land degradation, desertification, water scarcity and drought, calling for exerting more efforts and for strengthening cooperation at the national, regional and international levels, in order to increase food production, achieve agricultural development and food security, and alleviate poverty. He praised the initiative launched by the State of Qatar "Global Dryland Alliance" which seeks to combat desertification and drought, and preserve the environment. On the other hand, Al Kuwari said that Israel is still pursuing its repressive practices and discriminatory policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, in a clear violation of the international law. He added that the Israeli practices deprive the Palestinian people of their natural resources, badly affect the various economic sectors, and undermine peace, stability and sustainable development. Thus, he called on the international community to support the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan to obtain permanent sovereignty over their natural resources. Concluding, Al Kuwari underlined that the State of Qatar will exert every effort to support and succeed the works of the Committee, and will continue working with the international community to face challenges and achieve development, peace and prosperity for all peoples of the world.