UN pledges to address Africa problems

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In remarks to the opening of the African Union Summit on Sunday, Ban announced that the United Nations will convene a gathering in September on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) -- a set of internationally agreed targets to eradicate poverty and other social ills by 2015.

The September Summit on the MDGs will take place along with the opening of the General Assembly, where leaders of the 192 UN Member States meet each year at its Headquarters in New York.

"We have made great strides toward the Millennium Development Goals, but there is not much time to the 2015 deadline, and still much distance to travel," Ban said in his message to the 14th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The global rececession, energy crisis, food insecurity and climate change have all made development more difficult and more urgent, he told more than 50 heads of State and Government attending the three-day meeting.

"Now is the critical time to mobilize action," he stressed, adding that the September Summit will focus on harnessing support for the success of the MDGs, identifying gaps that need urgent attention, emphasizing priority areas for action and building a coalition capable of taking action.

"We have seen a sharp decrease in malaria and measles deaths across the continent, vital gains in primary school enrollment [and] marked improvements in child health," said Ban.

He noted, however, that too many "women still die in childbirth, too many children still never live to see their fifth birthday, and too many women are unable to realize their full potential," underscoring the need for donors to deliver on their promises.

Productive employment and decent work for all Africans, especially for women and young people, should be the development priority for the continent, said Ban.

"The most important employment sector remains agriculture, with more than half of the workforce," said Ban. "And of course, we must invest in women and girls. When we empower women, we empower Africa."

The Secretary-General also commended the African Union Summit for highlighting the potential of knowledge and Information and Communication technology (ICTs) in spurring development.

In addition, Ban announced the creation of the MDG Advocacy Group, consisting of eminent personalities from all walks of life who will "sound the global call for action" at the September Summit and put their influence to work for the cause.

Turning to global warming, Ban praised nations which signed the Copenhagen Accord at the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in December and urged others to follow suite,
stressing that nowhere are the linkages between sustainable development and climate clearer than in Africa.

"African nations are among the least responsible yet the most susceptible to climate change impacts," he said. "We must keep up the momentum towards achieving a binding global climate agreement as soon as possible."

Highlighting the need of developing countries to rapidly scale-up their clean energy programmes and their need for significant support to adapt to the consequences of climate change, Mr. Ban said some USD 30 billion is slated for immediate circulation over the next three years.

"Looking forward, USD 100 billion annually is to be mobilized per year by 2020 for developing countries," he added. "We hope to move quickly to secure these resources and implement programmes on the ground."

In a wide-ranging speech, Ban also promoted the effectiveness of conflict prevention over intervention between warring parties, pointing to the recent successful cooperation between the UN, AU and other partners in Guinea.

"I strongly urge our partners to support the transition, prepare for the elections and implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry that investigated the 28 September massacres in Conakry," he said, adding that of the 13 African nations scheduled to hold elections in the next two years, six are in countries with UN peacekeeping or peacebuilding operations.

Ban said that he attended a mini-summit earlier on Sunday on the future of Sudan, where time is of the essence," he stressed. "The elections are just three months away [and] the two referenda to determine the future shape of Sudan are in just under a year."

At the same time, millions continue to be displaced in Darfur, noted Ban, expressing approval that African leaders supported UN efforts to secure a peaceful resolution to the Sudanese North-South and Darfurian conflicts.