ELIMINATION OF POVERTY INCREASES SOCIAL COHESION

VATICAN CITY, JUN 22 (VIS) - Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, C.S., represented the Holy See in the 11th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), celebrated in Sao Paulo, Brazil from June 13 to 18. This organization, which the Holy See has been a member of since its founding in 1964, studies international commercial and financial relations and guides states and international organizations in formulating just economic policies which respect the human person.

  Archbishop Tomasi recalled that UNCTAD "remains a valid instrument to achieve its initial aspirations and to promote development and dialogue between developed and developing countries."

  "The elimination of poverty," he continued, "increases social cohesion and becomes a means for sustainable growth.  To this effect we must forcefully stress the importance of 'poverty education' as a common goal, and the road to achieve it passes through the strengthening of national markets and, above all, through investment in the development of human resources and through improving the capacity to participate in the opportunities offered by economic integration to the active population at first and then to the whole community."

  The Holy See delegate emphasized that "the sole goal of development is not to make persons 'more productive' but rather to guarantee their dignity and improve their capacity to act freely."
DELSS/TRADE:DEVELOPMENT/BRAZIL:TOMASI    VIS 20040622 (220)