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Annan reminds G-8 of their commitment to anti-poverty goals
United Nations, Jun 02: UN secretary-general Kofi Annan has urged leaders of the powerful Group of Eight nations meeting in Evian to renew their commitment to a series of anti-poverty goals set at a United Nations summit in 2000 and called for debt relief and better access to global markets for the developing world.
United Nations, Jun 02: UN secretary-general Kofi Annan has urged leaders of the powerful Group of Eight nations meeting in Evian to renew their commitment to a series of anti-poverty goals set at a United Nations summit in 2000 and called for debt relief and better access to global markets for the developing world.
Offering a "scorecard" on progress achieved in reaching the millennium development goals (MDGs), Annan pointed out that the proportion of people living in extreme poverty has actually increased in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, central and eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of independent states.
"Only East Asia and the Pacific are on pace to meet the poverty goal, while South Asia is making good progress," he observed in remarks to the G-8's afternoon working session.
"As you can see, formidable challenges lie ahead if we are to even come close to meeting the goals," he said. Acknowledging that developing nations have chief responsibility for attaining the targets, he told the assembled leaders these states "are applying the very policy prescriptions that you, the G-8 countries, have asked for."
"Their efforts deserve your support, since most cannot reach the MDGs on their own," he said, calling for debt relief and increased development assistance for poor countries.
Annan also urged "better access to global markets, which means a Doha round that lowers agricultural subsidies and brings down barriers to imports from poor countries." The secretary-general said Africa, South Asia and the Arab states need to greatly accelerate their progress if they are to achieve universal primary education.
Progress in promoting gender equality, empowering women and reducing child mortality has been made in all regions, but sub-Saharan Africa lags behind, Annan pointed out.
Concerning the Aids pandemic, he cited the fact that only Thailand and Uganda have managed to reverse the spread of HIV once it reached crisis proportions.
In addition to setting a specific timetable for cutting poverty, the millennium development goals call for ensuring -- by the year 2015 -- universal primary education for boys and girls, a reduction in maternal mortality by three quarters, and a halt to the spread of HIV/Aids. Bureau Report
"Only East Asia and the Pacific are on pace to meet the poverty goal, while South Asia is making good progress," he observed in remarks to the G-8's afternoon working session.
"As you can see, formidable challenges lie ahead if we are to even come close to meeting the goals," he said. Acknowledging that developing nations have chief responsibility for attaining the targets, he told the assembled leaders these states "are applying the very policy prescriptions that you, the G-8 countries, have asked for."
"Their efforts deserve your support, since most cannot reach the MDGs on their own," he said, calling for debt relief and increased development assistance for poor countries.
Annan also urged "better access to global markets, which means a Doha round that lowers agricultural subsidies and brings down barriers to imports from poor countries." The secretary-general said Africa, South Asia and the Arab states need to greatly accelerate their progress if they are to achieve universal primary education.
Progress in promoting gender equality, empowering women and reducing child mortality has been made in all regions, but sub-Saharan Africa lags behind, Annan pointed out.
Concerning the Aids pandemic, he cited the fact that only Thailand and Uganda have managed to reverse the spread of HIV once it reached crisis proportions.
In addition to setting a specific timetable for cutting poverty, the millennium development goals call for ensuring -- by the year 2015 -- universal primary education for boys and girls, a reduction in maternal mortality by three quarters, and a halt to the spread of HIV/Aids. Bureau Report