Minister Lehtomäki: UNCTAD focuses on the essential aspects of the poverty issue

Press release 142/2004
June 14, 2004

“UNCTAD focuses on the essential issues with respect to global development; that is to say, on the role of trade in alleviating poverty and on the measures that can be taken to ensure an increasing number of countries a better and more balanced status in the global economy,” says Paula Lehtomäki, the Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, who leads the Finnish delegation at the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, which opened in São Paulo, Brazil, on 14 June.

Minister Lehtomäki points out that the objectives for reducing poverty, laid down in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, seem to be slipping further away. “The objectives will be reviewed next year, and for many objectives it may have to be concluded that they cannot be met within the timetable desired.”

Measures taken by developing countries themselves also play a crucial role in reaching development goals. “I hope that developing countries’ own policy measures will be given sufficient emphasis in the UNCTAD final document. For instance, a large number of people could be raised from poverty merely by achieving a more even distribution of income,” says Lehtomäki.

It is also important that developing countries are given enough support so that they can utilise the opportunities already existing in the international system for implementing their development goals. Donor countries and organisations play an important role for reaching this objective.

“Development of the international system of rules so that it can meet the challenges of globalisation is essential when measures are taken to engage developing countries in the international economy,” Lehtomäki stresses. “Whenever rules are revised, it’s important that issues pivotal for reducing poverty are taken into account.”

According to Minister Lehtomäki, it has become clear that countries have different perspectives and emphasise different aspects during the UNCTAD conference. “Building trust between the parties is extremely important. This calls for much background work and discussions. International conferences, such as UNCTAD, are the only forums where joint agreements can be made. For this reason, it would be important for the conference to find a mutual understanding that has real practical significance.”

Further information: Press Attaché Anna Tonttila, tel. +358 40 5131 669