By Prensa Latina,
United Nations : High-level UN representatives are holding a debate on Africa to assess the actions to be taken to develop that continent.
Africa, where two-fifths of the population is under extreme poverty and which faces serious problems such as food crisis, climate change and the escalation of fuel prices, has little possibilities to develop at present.
The high-level meeting, which will take place at the General Assembly, will deal about the Implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), adopted in 2001.
Half way the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), agreed upon in 2000, experts consider that all countries must be interested in solving Africa’s problems.
According to Undersecretary General and Africa Special Advisor Cheick Sidi Diarra, the world leaders must comply with commitments to boosting development in that region.
Instead of new promises, they must comply with the existing commitments and turn “vision into action”, he added.
A report prepared by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for the meeting, which must be attended by some 50 world leaders, stresses that Africa is far from achieving the MDGs.
The report, requested by the General Assembly, presents achievements and obstacles, analyses and recommendations, and what is needed to solve the current crisis.
The document confirms that some African countries are unlikely to achieve the MDGs, although some nations have made extraordinary achievements in some goals.
In addition to the plenary session and a roundtable discussion by the heads of State attending the General Assembly, 15 workshops and seminars will be held on Monday to discuss issues sponsored by several UN agencies and programs.