In what has been widely hailed as a major achievement in the global effort to eradicate poverty, a landmark United Nations conference in Monterrey, Mexico, today approved a series of measures to help impoverished countries and promote economic growth around the globe.

As a major United Nations forum on fighting poverty entered its fourth day in Monterrey, Mexico, UN officials and the heads of international trade and finance agencies exhorted rich countries to step up their financial aid to developing nations and to create opportunities for market access and debt relief that would help stimulate economic growth.

As he headed to a major United Nations forum on development currently under way in Monterrey, Mexico, Secretary-General Kofi Annan stressed the importance of unlocking badly needed resources to help countries pull themselves out of poverty.

Wrapping up an official visit to Honduras today, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the UN’s global efforts to combat poverty and disease are well-understood by small nations, which themselves are making important contributions to the world body.