The Largest Gathering of World Leaders to Be Held September in New York On 8 July, 2005 a press briefing was held in the UN Office in Azerbaijan. The briefing was aimed at informing media representatives on the World Summit of world leaders to be held New York on 14-16 September 2005. Opening the event, Mr. Fargan Abbaszadeh, Chief of Public Affairs and Information Department of the UN Office in Azerbaijan stressed the importance of the year of 2005 for the United Nations. According to him, the Summit with the participation of the 191 UN member states will focus on the implementation of commitments on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Mr. Abbaszadeh also briefed the media representatives' on the concept of MDGs and the commitments on them. Mr. Shahin Panahov, Senior Adviser to UN Resident Coordinator made a comprehensive presentation on the report by the Secretary-General Kofi Annan "In larger Freedom" to be presented during the World Summit. He underlines that the above-mentioned report is focusing on extreme poverty reduction, development and protection of human rights. Touching upon the triangle of development, security and human rights, the three directions of the Summit discussions, Mr. Panahov stated: "Unless all these causes are advanced, none will succeed". Today more than 40 countries in the world have been scarred by violent conflict. During these conflicts 25 million people became IDPs and more than 10 million people became refugees, 1/3 of which are beyond reach of UN assistance. He also noted that 40 million people have been infected and 20 million people died from HIV/AIDS. Mr. Panahov also drew media representatives' attention on 1 billion people living on less than a dollar a day. According to him, the most interesting point of World Summit deliberations will be related to poverty reduction. In line with the recommendations put forward in the report developing countries should adopt 10-year national development strategies by 2006. Report suggests that developed countries should support developing countries by allocating 0.7% of their gross national product (GNI) and meeting their target by 2015. Mr. Panahov noted that according to the statistics of the international institutions Azerbaijan is considered to be a middle-income country. And for this group of countries international institutions suggest that the countries should rely on the domestic opportunities rather than on donor support. Speaking on the other issues to be discussed at the Summit, Mr. Shahin Panahov noted that the Summit participants would also focus on the free access on the world market for developing countries. UN Secretary-General urges developed countries to cancel debts of the poor countries. The UN official considers it to be a fair decision and said that "In general, main part of incomes of poor countries goes to repaying of debts. Thus, 100% debt cancellation would be an important step for the development of a certain country." He noted that Member States would discuss duty and quota free market access for all exports from Least Developed Countries (LDCs). During the Summit, the World Leaders are also expected to discuss such issues as: combating terrorism, establishment of Human Rights Council, development of a fissile material cut-off treaty and instrument to regulate marking and tracing of small arms. World leaders will also focus on the challenges like, climate change, biodiversity and desertification. Issues like reformation of the UN main bodies and giving more authority to the UN Resident Coordinators in the field are supposed to be in the Summit agenda. For more information contact: Mr. Shahin Panahov, Senior Adviser to Resident Coordinator Tel: +99412 498 98 88 (ext.111) Photo gallery

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