ID :
29849
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 23:20
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/29849
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Ban to focus on developing countries at G-20 summit
United Nations, Nov 12 (PTI) Ban Ki-moon, who becomes the first U.N. Secretary-General to be invited to G-20 meeting, said his main thrust at the summit in Washington this week would be on ensuring that steps need to be taken to protect the most vulnerable developing nations from the global financial crisis.
"I would welcome any measures and initiatives to address the global financial crisis, including the reinvention and reform of the basic structure of financial institutions. But I am more interested, and my focus, will be more on how to insulate the interest and well-being of developing countries from the financial crisis impact," he told reporters Tuesday.
The discussion on restructuring or institutional reforms, he said, would take time and the U.N. will actively participate in the process of an inclusive multilateralism.
But at present, there is a need to focus more on the vulnerable as well as ensuring that the U.N. development goals, including on climate change, food crisis and financing for development, are met.
To a query, he said this is only the beginning and he expects many more discussions and consultations to follow.
He would emphasise the importance of tackling the systemic roots of the crisis, Ban said.
The U.N. chief also warned of the negative impact of the
financial crisis on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (M.D.G.s) – the globally agreed targets to halve extreme poverty and other ills by 2015 – as well as on efforts to deal with climate change, which he has described as the "defining challenge of our era."
He said the current financial crisis is an opportunity to
address climate change, noting that "at a time of growing
economic hardship, green growth can create millions of jobs."
The U.N. chief said he would also carry these messages
with him when he travels to Doha, Qatar, for the 'Financing
for Development' conference later this month.
"My chief concern will be to ensure that the interest in
well-being of the most vulnerable nations of the world will be
fully heard," he said. "We cannot allow the financial crisis
to become an excuse for not delivering on our commitments to
the M.D.G.s." PTI
"I would welcome any measures and initiatives to address the global financial crisis, including the reinvention and reform of the basic structure of financial institutions. But I am more interested, and my focus, will be more on how to insulate the interest and well-being of developing countries from the financial crisis impact," he told reporters Tuesday.
The discussion on restructuring or institutional reforms, he said, would take time and the U.N. will actively participate in the process of an inclusive multilateralism.
But at present, there is a need to focus more on the vulnerable as well as ensuring that the U.N. development goals, including on climate change, food crisis and financing for development, are met.
To a query, he said this is only the beginning and he expects many more discussions and consultations to follow.
He would emphasise the importance of tackling the systemic roots of the crisis, Ban said.
The U.N. chief also warned of the negative impact of the
financial crisis on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (M.D.G.s) – the globally agreed targets to halve extreme poverty and other ills by 2015 – as well as on efforts to deal with climate change, which he has described as the "defining challenge of our era."
He said the current financial crisis is an opportunity to
address climate change, noting that "at a time of growing
economic hardship, green growth can create millions of jobs."
The U.N. chief said he would also carry these messages
with him when he travels to Doha, Qatar, for the 'Financing
for Development' conference later this month.
"My chief concern will be to ensure that the interest in
well-being of the most vulnerable nations of the world will be
fully heard," he said. "We cannot allow the financial crisis
to become an excuse for not delivering on our commitments to
the M.D.G.s." PTI
