ON EVE OF AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT MEETING, UN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR RESOLUTE LEADERSHIP

ON EVE OF AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT MEETING, UN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR
RESOLUTE LEADERSHIP

ON EVE OF AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT MEETING, UN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR RESOLUTE
LEADERSHIP
New York, Sep 19 2008 8:10PM
Resolute leadership is needed to transform existing commitments to meet
African development needs into action, a senior United Nations official has
stressed, days before a major United Nations General Assembly gathering on
the issue.

Under-Secretary-General Cheick Sidi Diarra, the UN Special Adviser on
Africa, told a press conference yesterday that Monday's high-level meeting
in New York on African development is expected to be attended by
representatives of more than 160 countries, including many world leaders.

He said the meeting should serve to help streamline actions and upgrade
priorities towards the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the
internationally agreed plan to help improve the continent's economic
performance.

Mr. Diarra warned that Africa's economic development still faces enormous
obstacles, including violent conflict, internal public mismanagement and, in
some cases, a lack of international support.

Her added that "resolution and leadership [is needed] to turn existing
African and international commitments into results," urging the
international community to show greater support.

Many countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, are lagging in the race to
achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - such as the halving of
extreme poverty - by the target date of 2015.