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The President of the Republic participated in a summit meeting in New York
20.09.2004


President Arnold Rüütel today in New York at the UN Headquarters participated in the Summit Meeting "Action Against Hunger and Poverty". The objective of this event was to stress the importance of implementing the UN Millennium Development Goals subscribed by 189 countries. The summit convened at Brazilian President Luiz Inįcio Lula da Silva's invitation.

The Estonian Head of State emphasized the need to implement the above goals also in his remarks given this morning at the globalization forum of the International labour organisation, saying: "We have to move on with the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals, promoting cooperation between donor countries and developing countries. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the main responsibility for one's development lies with each country itself."

The summit "Action Against Hunger and Poverty" on Brazilian President Lula's suggestion discussed recommendations made by a group of experts who had analysed possibilities to assist developing countries. French President Jacques Chirac and Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero called for implementing the commitments taken and for enhancing the efficiency of development aid. Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson stressed the need to proceed from words to deeds. Several statements echoed the view that, although there were funds available, it was the political will that was lacking thus far.

The meeting adopted a declaration (New York Declaration on Action Against Hunger and Poverty) calling upon donor countries to more actively work on innovative approaches to additional financing of development. The declaration set out a task to submit concrete proposals to the UN summit meeting scheduled to take place in September 2005, which will assess the current implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. Estonia, too, voted in favour of the declaration.

The European Union has named pursuing these goals a high priority in its development cooperation and would like to take the leading role in organising this assessment event. The EU Member Countries including Estonia, one of the signatories to the Millennium Development Goals, have a commitment adopted at the Barcelona Summit in 2002 to increase by 2006 the budgetary funds earmarked for development aid at least up to 0,33% of their GDP. This commitment was confirmed by the Dutch Minister of Finance who spoke on behalf of the European Union.

Therefore Estonia, in accordance with its growing possibilities, intends to increase its contribution to the development cooperation, and supports strengthening of the EU leading role in combating poverty and a concerted approach for assessing the process of implementing the Millennium Development Goals.

This evening, President Rüütel will attend a reception hosted by German Federal Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer at the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel. Tomorrow, the Estonian Head of State will take part in the opening of the 59th Session of the UN General Assembly.


Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
New York, September 20, 2004


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