UN welcomes Summit of Americas pledge to support anti-poverty goals

The United Nations today welcomed the commitment by leaders of countries from throughout the Americas to support the anti-poverty goals set by the world body last year.

"We welcome the commitment by the Summit of the Americas to halve the number of people living in poverty by the year 2015," spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York.

Mr. Eckhard's comments came in reaction to yesterday's signing in Quebec, Canada, of an agreement endorsing the poverty alleviation goal, which was set by leaders attending the UN Millennium Summit in September, 2000.

On that occasion -- the largest ever gathering of heads of State and government -- the Summit adopted a visionary Declaration on the future role of the UN, spelling out clear targets for achieving peace, cooperation and development. In addition to setting a specific timetable for cutting poverty, the Millennium Summit pledged to ensure -- by the year 2015 -- universal primary education for boys and girls, a reduction in maternal mortality by three quarters, and a halt to the spread of HIV/AIDS.