Väyrynen satisfied with the results of the UN conference

Press release 173/2009
25 June, 2009

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen considered it important that an extensive consensus on future activity was reached at the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development. Väyrynen points out that the conference in New York concentrated on the impact of the financial crisis on developing countries. The reform of the financial system is handled primarily under the auspices of the World Bank Group.

Väyrynen underscored the need to increase appropriations for development and use them more efficiently than before.

“However, increasing the appropriations and their more efficient use are not enough as such. We must enhance the effectiveness of development policy as a whole. Reduction of poverty must be the primary objective in any climate, environmental or trade negotiations. Operations relying on the principles of sustainable development produce rapid and lasting results,” the Minister underlined.

Minister Väyrynen participated in the summit as the chairman of the Finnish delegation.

Additional information: Deputy Director General Pasi Hellman, Department for Development Policy, tel. +358 40 761 1551, and Advisor to the Minister Päivi Nevala, tel. +358 40 753 4375