Reform tops agenda at meeting of six UN system chiefs

United Nations reform, major events in 2005 and the present challenges facing the world body were at the top of the agenda for the yearly meeting of the heads of the UN systems six major organs.

The research director of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, Stephen Stedman, briefed Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the Presidents of the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Trusteeship Council and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on its findings yesterday ahead of the public release of its report in December.

Panel members, who were in New York for more discussions and who met Mr. Annan today, were to examine current international threats, analyze future challenges and recommend the changes and structures necessary to ensure effective joint action.

Major events of the coming year include a review of the efforts poor countries have been making to reduce poverty by achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agreed on in 2000. It will also be the International Year of Microcredit and the UN's 60th anniversary.