Statement by the Deputy Minister of Shipping of the Republic of Cyprus, Ms Marina Hadjimanolis, at the LLDC3 Plenary General Debate

From:

Shipping Deputy Ministry

06/08/25 16:34 | Speech / Address | Shipping

The third International Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) convened by the United Nations and Member States was held in Awaza, Turkmenistan, from 5-8 August

At the outset, allow me to express Cyprus’ appreciation to the Preparatory Committee for all the work that has been accomplished since 2023 for the preparation of this Conference.

I also wish to thank our host, the Government of Turkmenistan, for the excellent organisation of all parallel discussions, as well as all of you for your meaningful statements and contributions to the General Debate.

Cyprus aligns with the European Union (EU) statement, and I would like to add the following remarks in my national capacity.

The Third United Nations (UN) Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC) offers a timely and unique opportunity to define an ambitious and forward-looking framework for LLDCs.

Together, we must confront persistent structural challenges, strengthen resilience to future shocks, and accelerate our collective progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Our meeting here in Awaza, taking place shortly after the successful conclusion of the Fourth Conference on Financing for Development, reminds us that this agenda is not only about LLDCs.

It is also about reaffirming our shared responsibility to rebuild trust in multilateralism, to renew international cooperation and solidarity, and to advance the implementation of Agenda 2030.

With only five years remaining, our window for action is narrowing. We must act decisively to ensure that no one is left behind – including the Landlocked Developing Countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

Cyprus welcomes the Awaza Programme of Action for the Decade 2024–2034, adopted by the General Assembly in December 2024. We view this Programme as an essential roadmap to empower LLDCs and to ensure their priorities are fully integrated into the broader global development agenda.

Cyprus stands in full solidarity with Landlocked Developing Countries. We recognise their unique geographic and structural constraints. As a small island state, Cyprus is likewise familiar with the development implications of geography – from reliance on trade corridors and high logistics costs to exposure to external shocks.

This parallel experience informs our strong empathy and our consistent advocacy for differentiated support mechanisms – both within the UN system and across regional and international development efforts.

In this context, Cyprus underscores the strategic importance of enhancing regional transport corridors, boosting digital connectivity, and advancing multimodal transit systems – particularly across Africa, Asia, and Central Europe.

The EU’s experience in integrating landlocked and remote regions through cohesion policy, infrastructure investment, and regulatory alignment offers valuable lessons that can be adapted globally.

We also strongly support improving access to development financing for LLDCs, including through blended finance instruments, climate adaptation funding, and South-South and Triangular Cooperation mechanisms.

The role of the UN Office of the High Representative for LLDCs, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is vital to this effort, and we stress the importance of aligning LLDC support with global financing frameworks, such as the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

Chair,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We wish to send a clear message: sustainable development cannot be separated from the broader contexts of peace, governance, and resilience.

In this framework, Cyprus supports integrated approaches that link development and humanitarian responses that ensure inclusive growth reaches all communities – particularly women, youth, and marginalised groups.

At the same time, we firmly believe that the development challenges of LLDCs, LDCs, and SIDSs must be addressed in a coherent and complementary manner. Our commitment to inclusive multilateralism reflects the necessity of leaving no one behind.

This guides Cyprus’ broader engagement within the multilateral system. As a former member of the Group of SIDSs, Cyprus has benefited from mechanisms that promote equitable participation.

For this reason, we remain a stable donor to the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund, established by the Human Rights Council to support the meaningful participation of LDCs and SIDSs in the work of the Council.

We firmly believe that every State elected to multilateral and intergovernmental bodies carries the responsibility to uphold the spirit of multilateralism – through honest, constructive engagement, rooted in mutual respect, and oriented toward the universal enjoyment of human rights and sustainable development.

As a member of the Human Rights Council for the term 2025–2027, Cyprus will continue to champion key priorities, including access to education without discrimination, the protection of the rights of the child, gender equality and women’s rights, equality in employment, the promotion of economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as for the rights of older persons, and addressing the human rights impacts of climate change.

In the Human Rights Council, and in all other multilateral bodies we participate on or are elected to, Cyprus pledges to actively support the implementation of initiatives like those found in the Awaza Programme of Action, which we consider not only timely, but essential for a fair and inclusive international order.

Thank you.

(KA/GS)

Statement by the Deputy Minister of Shipping of the Republic of Cyprus, Ms Marina Hadjimanolis, at the LLDC3 Plenary General Debate

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