VATICAN CITY, NOV 24, 2004 (VIS) - Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, spoke yesterday before the General Assembly on Item 55a, Follow-up to the Outcome of the Millennium Summit. This summit took place in September 2000 and "171 governments from the North and South (hemispheres) signed the Millennium Declaration in the U.N. General Assembly."
"It is encouraging," he began his talk, "to hear from previous delegations of their commitment to development that has a human face. Indeed, forging links between human rights and development, and recognizing basic freedoms and equality before the law, eliminate many violent conflicts that threaten hopes for the realization of economic and social rights."
The archbishop noted that there has been progress in accomplishing the Millennium Development Goals, and some countries "have been able to set up a significant process of economic growth, allowing them to pay by themselves the economic cost of the MDGs." Yet, "scarce economic aid and international economic conditions have not allowed the poorest countries to achieve the most important targets in education, health and access to water and sanitation."
Archbishop Migliore said that total official aid fell far short of "the long-agreed aid goal of 0.7% of national income. ... The ability of the poorest countries, mostly found in Africa, to obtain export and fiscal revenues is dwarfed by rich countries' export subsidies and by tariffs levied on African exports, sometimes ten times higher than those levied on goods traded within OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries."
The nuncio underscored that "enlightened leadership is expected from the United Nations" which must "help ensure that important new ideas see the light of day, rather than being sidelined" and that "steps will be taken to make national and international governance more consistent."
DELSS/MILLENNIUM GOALS/UN:MIGLIORE VIS 20041124 (300)
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