"First, the agenda should continue to focus on eradicating extreme poverty..."
Monrovia (ANTARA News) - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said a new Post-2015 development agenda must focus on poverty eradication and sustainable economic growth promotion.

"With regards to the principles of the new development agenda, First, we must focus on ending poverty while promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth," Yudhoyono said here, on Friday, when co-chairing the third UN High Level Panel Meeting with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and British Prime Minister David Cameron.

President Yudhoyono shared Indonesia`s experiences in eradicating poverty in the meeting attended by the Pane`s members from 24 countries, ANTARA`s News Director Akhmad Kusaeni reported from Monrovia.

On the priorities of a post-2015 development agenda, he stated that there should be four key priorities.

"First, the agenda should continue to focus on eradicating extreme poverty - the main objective of the MDGs, with a strong emphasis on human development. This includes extreme poverty and hunger, education, health, and equality for girls and women," he explained.

The agenda should also address the causes of poverty and put in place the building blocks of sustained prosperity, which include infrastructure, jobs creation, social protection, accountability, justice, and anti-violence.

He further said the agenda should promote a model of development that is sustainable, and recognizes as well as addresses the challenges of climate change, resource scarcity and environmental sustainability.

"And fourth, it should redefine the partnership on development between governments of all countries, the private sectors, and civil society organizations. Priorities within this partnership should include global governance, source and quality of development finance, foreign direct investment, South-South cooperation and responsible business practices," Yudhoyono stated.

He suggested that the progress of post-2015 development agenda should be reviewed every five years and promote clear accountability.

The agenda should also recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. It should provide sufficient policy space for every country, in line with their unique situation and specific needs.

During the meeting which produced a Monrovia Communique, Yudhoyono chaired a session on "National Building Blocks for Sustained Prosperity".

Following the meeting, Yudhoyono, Sirleaf and Cameron held a joint press conference.

The next UN High Level Panel Meeting will take place in Bali from March 25 to 27, 2013, where the three co-chairs would conclude their discussions and submit their findings to the UN Secretary General, and later launch the report in May 2013.

This report would be the reference document for the member states of the UN General Assembly in beginning their discussions for the next global development agenda after the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015.

President Yudhoyono and his entourage left Monrovia for Abuja, Nigeria, on Saturday.

(Reporting by Akhmad Kusaeni; Editing by Fardah; Check-editing by Otniel Tamindael)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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