The following is a summary of the Mountain Focus Group
meeting that I attended yesterday. It
was one of the things I worked on today and I feel that it, although brief and
not a full accounting of the meeting, helps any who care to read it to
understand the level of devotion that those who attended represent.
The Mountain Focus Group (MFG), hosted at the Permanent
Mission of Italy to the United Nations, and a large group of constituents met
on October 17, 2013, and addressed a wide range of issues pertaining to
Sustainable Mountain Development (SMD). Such members of the constituency
include, Peru, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Switzerland, the Mountain Partnership, etc.
The meeting was opened by the Ambassador from Italy, His Excellency Ambassador
Sebastiano Cadri. Ambassador Cardi addressed to the importance of the meeting
and what specific foci he hoped the meeting considered. Of particular
importance to the Ambassador was the cooperation of those who were present in
coming up with actionable goals as opposed to the seemingly ubiquitous amounts
of data that is constantly shared.
His comments sprang forth an abundance of optimism and
enthusiasm among the attendees. One of which was Slovakia and its promise to
support, even in a non-member capacity, the workings of the Mountain Focus
Group and its constituents. Another was the country of Afghanistan; who claimed
that, whether a member or not, as a mountainous country, it is important to
emphasis the support that a country has to institute policy briefs; for the
sake of Sustainable Mountain Development.
Peru, another attendee and actual member of the Mountain
Focus Group, called upon members to remain focused. Asking that the Mountain
Focus Group not be confused, and determinedly “focus on the targets or the
goals” of the Group. To show their determination in following such advice they
promised to present a resolution on mountains and asked for its support (as has
often been given).
Of most significance though was the unified efforts of the
Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic, His Excellency Ambassador Talaibek Kydyrov
and Former Ambassador now professor at Utah Valley University Prof. Baktybek D.
Abdrisaev. Together, they stressed the importance of the time. Meaning, that
now is the time for a concentrated effort in the UN concerning the progression
of SMD-advocacy. Their comments were used as a springboard for further
discussion and even more need for active participation.
Respectively—Ambassador Kydyrov mentioned the importance of
December 11th and the International Day of Mountains. Calling for a
celebration and a collaborative effort of the Mountain Focus Group in promoting
a SMD- agenda that could be presented and focused on in the United Nations.
Prof. Abdrisaev stressed the importance of proper
documentation of the efforts made by the members of the Mountain Focus Group.
He called to reference the recent, if brief and not entirely informative,
efforts of Utah Valley University and their mention in a recent General
Assembly Resolution (A/68/307). Additionally, he stressed the importance of
utilizing the youth in the efforts of SMD. He pointed to the $150 thousand
dollars that Utah Valley University had raised to date.
Their comments combined though were a unified front on
improving SMD relations and bringing an otherwise not-well-known issue to the
fore.
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