Trade paths of the poor blocked, while others consume unsustainably - Annan

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said that too many poor people face obstacles to trading their way out of poverty, while others pursue unsustainable levels of consumption.

In remarks delivered in Rome by his Special Adviser and Personal Representative for the UN Dialogue among Civilizations, Giandomenico Picco, Mr. Annan said, "too many people in developing countries are still excluded from globalization. Too many people who want to trade their way out of poverty continue to face obstacles that tilt the playing field against them. And too many countries continue to pursue unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, treat the environment as an isolated category and resist efforts to fully integrate environmental considerations into economic policy-making."

Mr. Picco spoke before a meeting of the Pio Manzu conference, which is an Italian society concerned with UN activities.

Mr. Picco also thanked the group for their posthumous award to Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN diplomat who was killed in the terrorist bombing on 19 August of the UN's headquarters in Baghdad.

"Sergio was an outstanding servant of humanity, who exemplified the highest ideals of the United Nations," he said. "As we carry on his work we will continue to be inspired by his compassion, his courage and is profound commitment to relieving the sufferings of his fellow men and women, defending their human rights and upholding the principles of the United Nations."