Hungary’s intervention at the plenary meeting of the UN Conference on Oceans has been conveyed on 7 June by H.E. Mr Ákos Berzétei, Under-Secretary of State from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary.
The United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development took place from 5 to 9 June 2017, under the leadership of the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr Peter Thomson. The main objective of the conference co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Fiji and the Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden has been to gather commitment on reducing and preventing marine pollution, sustainably managing and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems, addressing the impacts of ocean acidification, as well as ensuring for sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and tourism.
The Hungarian intervention underlined that preserving and sustainably managing ocean resources is a challenge of global nature requiring partnership based on cooperation by all stakeholders. H.E. Under-Secretary of State Mr. Ákos Berzétei assured delegations of Hungary’s commitment to this cooperation as a member of several international organizations and agreements on preserving and protecting the health and the biodiversity of rivers and oceans, for example the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube river, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Standing Committee of the Washington Convention.
Based on the motto of the Budapest Water Summit of 2013 and 2016: Water connects!, Hungary is highly engaged in linking policy and decision makers to all key players, who are active in the international water arena. Hungary believes that complementary to water in general, ‘Oceans connect us all’ too!
To read the full statement, please click here.
