'The illegal unilateral coercive measures imposed by the US and the passivity of the international community towards it, have turned the development into a decorative and absurd slogan,' Ali Hajilari said addressing the High-Level Political Forum of the UN Economic and Social Council in New York.
'The US’ illegitimate unilateral coercive measures, including the imposition of illegal unilateral sanctions on developing countries, on the one hand, and the international community’s inaction towards that, on the other hand, have turned the pivotal ideal of sustainable development namely “no one should left behind” into a purely decorative, absurd and meaningless claim,' he added.
He noted that this slogan is the back-bone and the "DNA" of development, without its realization, any effort or plan to promote development in developing countries is more like a bitter joke.
'Iranian diplomat called for immediate and effective action by the international community to end illegal and illegitimate sanctions against developing countries.
The right to development, as an inalienable human right, will not be achievable while multilateralism is under increasing pressure and the unilateral measures taken by a small number of countries endangers the foundations of international cooperation,' he reiterated.
'In order for the ideal of "no one should left behind" to be realized, the international community needs to take integrated, coherent, constructive and effective steps to end any unilateral coercive measures, including illegitimate sanctions,' Hajilari said.
'This will not happen unless immediate and united measures taken both against these illegal measures as well as against countries that impose such illegitimate actions on others,' he added.
The High-Level Political forum of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is held annually at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to address the challenges faced by developing countries on their way towards achieving sustainable development.
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