In his speech at the high-level review meeting on the Mauritius Strategy for the Implementation (MSI) of the programme of action for the sustainable development of small island states – held at the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in New York – he stressed that the vulnerabilities of SIDS have to be factored into the multilateral development agenda and work programmes. 

Repeating the development challenge that he highlighted in his speech at the Millennium Development Goals summit, Mr Faure said: “The five-year review of the MSI comes at a time when… many small island developing states are wondering how they are going to build further on what they have achieved without becoming mired further in unsustainable debt.”

The MSI review process builds on the meeting on small island states’ development challenges held in Mauritius in 2005 and attended by President James Michel. Under his direction, Seychelles has continuously championed the cause of small island states at international forums, and the MSI process is a critical component of this process.

“Seychelles can be proud of its advocacy on these issues,” said Mr Faure.
“But while there has been some progress, we are still a long way from having a development framework which is conducive to SIDS development, particularly in the context of challenges such as climate change.

“We remain committed to ensure that the international community recognises the unique challenges of SIDS.”
 
Mr Faure also had a brief meeting with President Barack Obama at the official reception hosted by the United States to mark the opening of the UN General Assembly.    

In separate talks between the Seychelles delegation and the US government, it was agreed there will be increased cooperation on issues related to the country’s energy sector.

A US delegation will come to Seychelles next month to look at the possibilities of cooperation in the petroleum sector and in developing renewable energy.