Development in Africa tops talks between Assembly chief, Guinean official

The importance of African development and finding ways to reach the globally approved anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were under the spotlight during talks today between General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim and Guinea’s Planning and Cooperation Minister Djigui Camara.

Mr. Camara stressed the need to advance on the commitments made by United Nations Member States to achieving the MDGs, such as by exploring innovative ways of mobilizing resources, according to a statement released by Mr. Kerim’s spokesperson after the meeting in New York.

Mr. Kerim noted that the Assembly’s current session has a strong focus on development, with the MDGs and financing for development being among the main priority issues. The current global food and energy crisis is also being closely examined.

Mr. Kerim also drew attention to the Assembly high-level meeting on African development, scheduled for 22 September, and a separate leaders’ summit later that week on the MDGs, jointly organized by the Assembly President and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.