UN chief pledges support to region
SECRETARY-GENERAL of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, has pledged to work closely with the Caribbean Community “across a broad spectrum of issues” to strengthen the UN and achieve shared goals.
Annan’s message to Caricom leaders, who will end their 24th conference in Montego Bay today, was delivered by the UN’s under-secretary-general and high representative for the least developed countries, Anwarul Chowdhury.
The secretary-general, in his message, said that he was concerned about the “slow progress” of international trade negotiations in areas of special interest to developing nations, like those of the Caribbean region.
Among his concerns were unfair competition faced by farmers and producers in poor countries; opening developed-country markets to developing-country goods, and giving poor people better access to affordable life-saving medicines.