New York, 16 March 2010 - Secretary-General's press conference
A few interesting things were mentioned ~
1. I (Ban ki Moon) have just presented to the General Assembly my report on the Millennium Development Goals, titled “Keeping the Promise.” Our purpose is to move toward the MDG Summit in September with a clear and simple message: we can do this.
Despite hard economic times, despite lagging progress on many fronts, we can still achieve the Millennium Development Goals by our target date of 2015.
2. Second, Haiti. upcoming donor meeting March 31st in New York
3. Third, the Middle East. As the Quartet said in its statement last week, we are deeply concerned over developments on the ground, and we condemned the Government of Israel's plan for 1,600 new housing units in Jerusalem.
As I have said before, I say again, directly and without equivocation: settlements are illegal under international law.
With regard to today's clashes in Jerusalem, a city holy to three religions: let me remind everyone that the status of Jerusalem is a subject of final negotiation. I call for restraint and calm by all.
As you know, I leave for the meeting of the Quartet in Moscow this evening, and I will work with our partners and the two sides to find a way to resume talks for a just resolution of this conflict. I will also have separate bilateral talks with the Russian leadership.
4. Fourth, climate change. I am encouraged by the response of governments, scientific institutions and environmental activists to the launch of the independent review of the IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change].
As we look to the forthcoming release of the final report on Copenhagen, I am pleased to note that 110 countries representing more than 80 percent of global emissions have expressed support for the Copenhagen Accord. This is an important advance toward Cancun.
5. This was a question that was asked at the end of the press briefing.
~snip
Q: I have two questions regarding the Millennium Development Goals.
So, my first question is that, given the up-and-down situation of the financial society -- especially that will lead to the currency fluctuation -- all the funding which has been allocated to the projects might turn out to be a big shortage. So, in order to complete all the projects on time, on schedule, on scope, especially for those which will be completed in the coming three years, do you think there is a point for the UN or organizations like this to call for the stability of the international financial situation?
And secondly, for MASSIVEGOOD, things provided to this project, such as the medicines treating tuberculosis, malaria, if they are for MASSIVEGOOD, especially in relation to the completion of the Millennium Development Goals in the least developed areas, do you think, can it be recommended with the multinational corporations if there is volatility of the money, of the currency, which leads to shortage of ability of buying the volume of the medicine -- is there any other arrangement, like lowering the royalty fee or anything in relation to that?
Thank you.
SG: So, how many questions have you asked? (Laughter)
Now, this may require some more expert-level discussions on this matter.
As a matter of principle, you know, everybody, most of you will be concerned about this current economic situation, including currency, financial fluctuations and, including lack of funding available.
There is clearly some lack of political will. I think the most important thing would be a political will. If you have a strong political will in addressing the Millennium Development Goals, global health issues or medicines and all this, support can be made possible.
But when you are going through this very difficult economic difficulties, as some countries on the European continent experienced, this clearly creates not favourable political conditions for the Millennium Development Goals and for the United Nations, which has to lead this initiative and campaign, because the United Nations ability depends upon how much and how generously and how committed Member States will be. That's a serious question for me as Secretary-General.
But I am cautiously optimistic, depending upon political will, and depending upon how Member States will commit themselves. That is why I have raised this issue, convening a summit meeting on the MDGs. And that is why I am now trying to generate the political will from the beginning of this year.
This morning I reported to the General Assembly and Member States, during the coming five, six months, will negotiate on very concrete action plans.
This will be a negotiated document which will have to be approved by the General Assembly as the will of the Member States. This will cover all the areas.
Good initiatives already have been done: the Monterey Consensus; we have again at least two G-20 summit meetings and G-8 summit meetings this year. And there will be many such political milestones where leaders of the major countries will commit and make this happen. That's what I am going to work very closely with Member States.
As I said this morning to the Member States, and I think during my statement earlier, we're not asking any additional commitments because of this situation to realize the Millennium Development Goals.
I am asking [them] to live up to their commitments already made.
The Gleneagles commitment has not been fully realized yet. The target of Gleneagles commitment is this year, 2010. Particularly when it comes to Africa, they have received the least from this Gleneagles commitment. And the L'Aquila food security initiative, which was agreed in the G-8 summit meeting in Italy -- that has not come yet. Therefore, I am asking to deliver what they had already committed.
