José Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of Cabo Verde, said his country — an active and dynamic small island developing State committed to the multilateral agenda - currently holds the vice presidency of Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).  Cabo Verde participated in the Third UN Ocean Conference and co-facilitated with Australia the negotiations that led to the Nice Declaration “Our Ocean, our future, our responsibilities”, containing firm commitments to the sustainability of the oceans.  Stressing the need to operationalize the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, the mechanisms for converting debt into climate finance and the Loss and Damage Fund, he stated:  “The Antigua and Barbuda Plan of Action stands,” as its implementation into resilient prosperity is small island developing States’ greatest ambition.

Citing the historic achievement of the entry into force of the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, he further welcomed the Special Meeting on Climate convened by Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazil’s President Lula da Silva in preparation for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil - a crucial moment for implementing the Paris Agreement.  Small island developing States “demand clear commitments from all States, especially the largest emitters”, to limit the temperature increase to 1.5ºC.  “This is not a mere claim, it is a matter of survival for all,” he stressed.

On threats to global peace and security, he condemned coups d’état, terrorism, genocide and assaults on the territorial integrity of countries - voicing support for a just, durable peace for the resolution of the war in Ukraine.  He further called for the two-State solution, with “Israel and Palestine living side by side, in peace and security”.  On Africa, he expressed commitment to preventing and combating terrorism and conflict, advocating for multilateralism and a strong and effective UN, converging with the principles of the Chinese Global Governance Initiative.

Cabo Verde belongs to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a space of economic integration and neighbourhood, and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, a space for cultural affinities.  Citing a “special partnership with the European Union”, he noted the country’s currency has been linked with a fixed parity to the Euro since 1998.  “Due to our location” between Africa, Europe and the Americas, he said the European Union, the United States and Brazil are first-line partners in cooperative maritime security, preventing and combating drug trafficking, human trafficking, maritime piracy, illegal fishing and cybersecurity.  Hailing “stable Cabo Verde, open to the world, and guided by trust in the relations with our partners”, he pointed out the country holds one of the vice-presidencies of the General Assembly.