This afternoon the Economic and Social Council continued its Annual Ministerial Review, hearing national voluntary presentations from Japan, Bolivia and Mali on measures their Governments have taken to implement national development strategies towards the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, and in particular the health-related Millennium Development Goals.

Shintaro Ito, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan, introducing the report of Japan, noted that Japan attached great importance to the issue of global health. In order to address global issues such as terrorism, infectious diseases, environmental degradation, poverty and conflict effectively, Japan had promulgated the concept of human security, which aimed to protect the vital core of all human lives in ways that enhanced human freedom and fulfilment through protection and empowerment of both individuals and communities. A comprehensive approach was necessary, including a disease-specific approach involving all stakeholders. Japan had steadily fulfilled its commitments to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and was firmly implementing comprehensive health assistance programmes particularly tailored towards achieving the health Millennium Development Goals. However, the progress in this was seriously lagging behind, despite the honest efforts of Japan and all other countries.

In the discussion on Japan, speakers took note, among other things, of the Tuberculosis Control Project in Cambodia, which had been implemented with significant success from 1999 to 2009. With Japan’s support, almost everything had been done, including data aggregation, formulation of evidence-based national programmes, development of networks for early diagnosis, treatment and prevention and capacity-building of health workers. Countries like Japan, with its best practices and expertise should continue to share this with the rest of the international community. Among the questions raised was what was Japan's position towards general budget support, and what was Japan’s approach or stance towards a coordinated health approach.

Speaking in the discussion were the representatives of Cambodia, Norway, Zambia, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Philippines.

Johnny Suxo, Vice Minister of Planning, introducing the report of Bolivia, said for Bolivia, achieving the goals and targets contained in the Millennium Development Goals required deep structural changes that had now been included in the Constitution and the national development plan called “Living Well”. Within the framework of the foundations for change, resources to move forward in fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals stemmed mainly from internal resources, which increased during the process of nationalization of hydrocarbons. Among other achievements, the rate of extreme poverty had fallen from 41.2 per cent in 1996 to 31.8 per cent in 2008, with the largest reduction – 6 percentage points – achieved been between 2007 and 2008. In terms of chronic malnutrition, there had been a decline in the period 2003 to 2008 by 5.3 points, reaching 20.3 per cent. As for infant mortality, it had been lowered to 50 deaths per 1,000 live births. In addition, pregnant women attended by health personnel increased from 43 per cent to 64 per cent between 1998 and 2008, which represented an increase of 49 per cent in 10 years.

In the dialogue on Bolivia, speakers noted the very positive advances that had been recorded, which were held to be a clear example of the enormous things that could be achieved by a country committed to alleviating the situation of the poorest. President Morales had pushed forward an ambitious system of changes, reconstructing a society that was based on equity, harmony, social justice, and the ancestral wisdom of the indigenous people. Many advances had been made over recent years, bringing the country to an excellent position with regard to Millennium Development Goal achievement. Several speakers supported Bolivia’s proposal to discuss access to water as a human right – as fundamental as the right to health.

Speaking in the discussion on Bolivia were representatives of Cuba, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela Uruguay, Nicaragua and Barbados.

Maiga Sina Damba, Minister for the Promotion of Women, Children and the Family of Mali, introducing Mali’s report, noted that, in terms of human development, Mali was among the least developed countries. Between the years 1997 to 1999 a national study had been conducted which had called upon all Malians to describe their vision for Mali to be reached in 2025. That study had provided a basis for the creation of strategic frameworks to combat poverty, improve governance and participation, development of human resources and basic infrastructure. With regard to the Millennium Development Goals, success had been achieved in many areas. On eliminating extreme poverty and hunger, Mali had ensured food security and worked to combat malnutrition over the last decade. The obstacles were many, and included non-respect for deadlines for payment of funds by partners which resulted in cash flow problems, which could further aggravate the situation in least developed countries. International donors and partners should respect their commitments in official development assistance in conformity with the Paris Declaration.

Speakers in the ensuing discussion on Mali’s report highlighted that Mali had achieved progress in health, education, management of drinking water and food security. However, the results achieved remained fragile. With respect to the Millennium Development Goals, the targets related to access to drinking water and the fight against HIV/AIDS were within reach and achievable. With additional concerted effort, those related to universal primary education and the fight against extreme poverty could also be met. There was progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, which was very impressive and should be supported. Despite its economic and financial difficulties, Mali was engaged in a process to eliminate poverty, showing the conviction of the Government that any social development must necessarily be accompanied by sustainable economic growth.

Speaking in the discussion were the representatives of Canada, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Saint Lucia and Algeria.

Michael Marmot, Chair of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health, moderated the discussions on the national voluntary presentations.

The Council will continue its Annual Ministerial Review tomorrow, starting at 9:30 a.m., when it will continue hear national voluntary presentations by Sri Lanka and Sudan on measures to meet the health-related Millennium Development Goals, following which it will hold a special event on Africa and least developed countries.

National Voluntary Presentation on Japan

SHINTARO ITO, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan, presenting the report of Japan, said Japan attached great importance to the issue of global health. In order to address global issues such as terrorism, infectious diseases, environmental degradation, poverty and conflict effectively, Japan had promulgated the concept of human security, which aimed to protect the vital core of all human lives in ways that enhanced human freedom and fulfilment through protection and empowerment of both individuals and communities. A comprehensive approach was necessary, including a disease-specific approach involving all stakeholders. Neither a single approach nor a single stakeholder was sufficient in tackling the diverse and multidimensional issues of global health, including for tackling the threats of emerging infectious disease. Japan had steadily fulfilled its commitments to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and was firmly implementing comprehensive health assistance programmes particularly tailored towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals.

However, progress in that endeavour worldwide was seriously lagging behind, despite the honest efforts of Japan and all other countries. If the current trends persisted in sub-Saharan Africa, then the prospect was that none of the health-related Millennium Development Goals would be met. In the worst-case scenario, there would simply be no progress at all by 2015. Japan had thus committed itself to bringing this issue to the attention of the international community, raising it at international conferences, including the Group of Eight (G-8) summits, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach in that regard. Japan took a distinct approach in developing the Tokyo Framework For Action, inviting all stakeholders to participate in the elaboration process. Japan had learned some good practice in achieving prominent health goals through strengthening national health systems, such as the Tuberculosis Control through Directly Observed Treatment project in Cambodia. Japan was living up to its commitments, training thousands of health workers in Africa, and its health partnerships with international organizations and its bilateral partners also placed a specific focus on health system development.

Japan was committed to continue to take the lead in the field of health system strengthening. However, considering the seriousness of health issues the world was facing today, it was clear that no single country or organization could take that on alone. All bodies, international organizations, the private sector and civil society, as well as others, should take part and play their respective role in that endeavour. Health sector strengthening should be enforced through a participatory approach to reinforce mutual effort. Funding gaps should be filled in order to reach the Millennium Development Goals in 2015, and Japan had been doing its best in that regard. The international community should be contemplating the ways in which resources could be honestly and effectively distributed to those who needed it most. In that context, the financial crisis could be seen as a golden opportunity for the international community to distribute resources to their fullest potential. Japan would take the opportunity to promote the global health sector and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

SUN SUON (Cambodia) said that Cambodia was honoured that the Tuberculosis Control Project had been implemented with significant success from 1999 to 2009. Tuberculosis was one of the leading causes of mortality in Cambodia. With Japan’s support for the project, almost everything had been done, including data aggregation, formulation of evidence-based national programmes, development of networks for early diagnosis, treatment and prevention and capacity-building of health workers and so on. Through those approaches, Cambodia’s case detection rate and cure rate of tuberculosis had been raised to the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 70 and 85 per cent, respectively. In view of the best experience and practices applied so far in Cambodia, did Japan intend to maintain or increase the fund to assist poor countries in the area of combating infectious diseases at the global level?

SINGNIN MOGEDAL (Norway) said that Norway and Japan were heavily engaged in promoting global health, and coordinated closely with one another within the framework of international conferences and meetings on global health strategies. Both Norway and Japan shared the view that there was an urgent need to collect data on which to base policies and results. Now was the time to ensure consolidated platforms for national health systems. No national health system could take the risk of being totally dependent on external support. It was on that basis that Norway welcomed the joining of forces to establish a basis for national health systems. Norway was at the forefront of promoting global health to achieve policies and systems to achieve security and a high level of health care. Japan had made human security a building block for its global health security. Norway asked what was Japan’s approach or stance towards a coordinated health approach?

DARLINGTON MWAPE (Zambia) said the health support plan project in Zambia had been cited as an example of good practice both in the report and in the statement made by Japan. Under the reforms instituted in 1992, Zambia had sought to reconstruct its health system into an efficient and comprehensive one. Japan had provided technical cooperation. As a result, all district health offices and hospitals had prepared and submitted capital investment plans to the Ministry of Health, using relevant data. One of the prominent outcomes of that was that the health information compiled, as well as the capital investment plan developed from the information, was effectively used by the Government and the donor community to invest capital appropriately. In that connection, what was Japan's position towards general budget support, the speaker asked.

SHINTARO ITO, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan, in a first round of responses to questions, said that Japan had also provided support to other countries affected by tuberculosis, such as Afghanistan. At the same time, it had provided targeted support to Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Zambia. Japan would continue its commitments, both bilaterally and multilaterally in those projects. Japan noted that reinforcing the development of health systems to continue the fight against infectious diseases was crucial. The fight would not become effective unless there was a solid backing of a health system. The concept of human security was a leading principle, empowering the people on the ground, and was often transformed into a multisectoral approach, including the health sector, education, water and sanitation. It was true that development policy was often evaluated on a sector-by-sector basis, but all sectors were interrelated. Japan appreciated Norway’s efforts to coordinate aid efforts and shared Norway’s view regarding aid effectiveness. Japan was committed to the Paris Principles and would continue to contribute to aid effectiveness. Japan had always put an emphasis on project-based assistance. It did not deny that there were cases when budget support was needed. However, if budget support could work at all, the recipient country would have to have a stable management structure, transparency and accountability, as well as a transparent exit strategy to avoid aid dependency. Unfortunately, many developing countries were not able to provide those conditions.

MRI SIMONEN, of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), applauded the leadership that Japan had exercised and continued to provide in reaching the international health goals and in particular Millennium Development Goals 5 (improving maternal health) and 6 (Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases) and universal access to reproductive health, and the goals sete at the International Conference on Population and Development. A major achievement for Japan was that it gave priority to strengthening health systems with a special focus on maternal, newborn and reproductive health, which was not easy to maintain considering other competing priorities. It was critical that those efforts be sustained as they moved forward. UNFPA welcomed the commitment by the Government of Japan to maintain health centres and official development assistance, despite the current global economic climate.

With regard to the national voluntary presentations made this morning, UNFPA noted with great interest the measures taken by Jamaica with regard to adolescent and reproductive health, and in the case of China, measures taken to address the gaps that still existed with respect to health care coverage in rural areas.

ERLINDA BASILIO (the Philippines) said the Philippines had benefited from generous support from Japan to strengthen its health system, including the delivery of health and medical services, helping to improve and upgrade many of its provincial hospitals, and further enhancing public health facilities. There had been many projects that had been underwritten by Japan in the provision of laboratory and health equipment, and that was appreciated, as was Japan's continuing work to assure the international community that it would continue to work to improve global public health. Countries like Japan, with its best practices and expertise, should continue to share that with the rest of the international community. The Philippines urged Japan to continue its leading role, and acknowledged the tremendous help given in trying to lift up the new members of the Assocation of Southeast Asian Nations, including Cambodia.

SHINTARO ITO, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan, responding to this second series of comments and questions, on the issue of coordination of aid, said that Japan could not do everything alone, but it would do everything it could. For example, Japan could provide expert knowledge in financing or medical knowledge. Regarding the concept of human security, two types of coordination were needed: coordination with sectors such as industry or bureaucracy was needed and also coordination with other sectors. Human beings could not be happy with health alone, but health was needed. That meant that health experts were needed, but also education experts, for example. In addition, nothing could be done without investment. To lower the maternity mortality rate in Japan, the Government had given out handbooks as well as sufficient funds for the delivery of the child and support for the employers whose employees would be off for maternity leave.

National Voluntary Presentation on Bolivia

JOHNNY SUXO, Vice Minister of Planning of Bolivia, introducing the voluntary national presentation of Bolivia on progress in implementing national development strategies towards the achievement of internationally agreed development goals and in particular the health-related Millennium Development Goals, said that, for Bolivia, achieving the goals and targets contained in the Millennium Development Goals required deep structural changes that had now been included in the Constitution and the national development plan called “Living Well”. Within the framework of the foundations for change, resources to move forward in fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals stemmed mainly from internal resources, which increased during the process of nationalization of hydrocarbons. State revenue for taxes and royalties on hydrocarbons which were $350 million in 2005 had reached $2.647 billion in 2008. During the period from 1987 to 2005, public investment averaged $497 million. Between the years 2006 to 2009, public investment had tripled. Similarly, public investment during the period from 1990 to 2005 had come from external resources for financing. In 2009, 70 per cent of public investment was financed by domestic resources, in comparison to 36.2 per cent in 2005. That allowed a sovereign and non-conditional allocation of resources of public investment to cover the social costs for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

On 31 December 2008, the Bolivian debt stood at $4 million, representing 14.5 per cent of gross domestic product. Over the past 15 years, the average international reserves for Bolivia had fallen below the $1,000 million line. In the current Government, reserves had reached $7.772 million as of 12 June 2009. In 2005, reserves represented 18 per cent of gross domestic product; in 2008, they accounted for 46 per cent. It was noteworthy that in the current context of the international crisis, Bolivia’s reserves had remained at levels higher than $7,000 million. The issue of health was a main priority. This year, the Government had begun to pay the mother-child voucher “Juana Azurduy”, an incentive for safe motherhood and integral development of children from birth to two years of age, which aimed to reduce maternal mortality levels and child malnutrition in children less than two years of age. As of 2009, the “Juana Azurduy” voucher had benefited 14,000 people and was expected to reach 250,000 mothers and 260,000 children in less than two years, Mr. Suxo underscored. The amount of that voucher was approximately $270, to be paid to the mother according to her pre- and post-natal check-ups. The voucher would cover 74 per cent of households that had no access to social security in the short term.

In 2005, there had been 13.5 million healthcare consultations. That number had risen to 17 million in 2008, representing an increase of 26 per cent. As of 2005, only 434 health establishments had existed in the country. In 2006, 545 new public health establishments had been created. With regard to the reduction of extreme poverty, that rate had fallen from 41.2 per cent in 1996 to 31.8 per cent in 2008. It was also noteworthy that the largest reduction – 6 percentage points – had been between 2007 and 2008, Mr. Suxo highlighted. In terms of chronic malnutrition, there had been a decline during the period 2003 to 2008 by 5.3 points, reaching 20.3 per cent. As for infant mortality, in Bolivia it had been lowered to 50 deaths per 1,000 live births. Pregnant women attended by health personnel had increased from 43 per cent to 64 per cent between 1998 and 2008, which represented an increase of 49 per cent in 10 years. Furthermore, the numbers showed that the difference between rates of completion of primary education between men and women had been virtually eliminated. In the period 2001 to 2007, the gender gap had fallen by 3.7 percentage points for men in 2001 to 2.1 percentage points for women in 2006.

RESFEL PINO ALVAREZ (Cuba) said Bolivia’s presentation spoke about results as well as challenges on the national and international level. Cuba fully subscribed to the vision of Bolivia on the need to increase official development assistance and to reform the international financial architecture with a new vision for the world and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The very positive advances that had been recorded by Bolivia were a very clear example of the enormous things that could be achieved by a country committed to alleviating the situation of the poorest. Ever since he was elected, President Morales had pushed forward an ambitious system of changes, reconstructing a society on the basis of equity, harmony, social justice, and the ancestral wisdom of the indigenous people.

Many advances had been made over recent years, bringing the country to an excellent position with regard to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. In the area of education, it was important to mention the priority importance placed on combating illiteracy, with 96 per cent of illiterates now literate. The Government had pushed forward initiatives with very good results, and there was a voucher programme to ensure safe motherhood and infancy. The Government had also increased healthcare facilities. Without any doubt, effective international cooperation based on respect and support for national efforts was essential for the fulfilment of all Millennium Development Goals by developing countries. Bolivia should tell the Council what specific areas within the country would benefit from international cooperation.

MARIA NAZARETH FARANI AZEVEDO (Brazil) said that for Bolivia and for Brazil the promotion of fundamental rights – such as the right to health, to education, to employment, to development, to housing and to food – were all essential components of public policies. For example, the special programme of vouchers against school dropout had led to success rates. Many children in developing countries suffered from the competition between work and school, as their families did not have enough income. In the area of health, there was an important increase in medical attention. The special voucher programme for mothers and children had caused a drop for chronic malnutrition for children under two years of age and a drop in child mortality.

However, there was still much to do. It would be interesting to know what Bolivia was able to receive from the United Nations Development Programme or the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and what the situation was in terms of combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Bolivia had also played a fundamental role in the establishment of the Union of South American Nations. The goal of the Union was to favour a more equitable development in South America. Brazil and Bolivia had acted together in combating the effects of the economic crisis. Brazil was convinced that there would be no prosperity for Brazil if there were no prosperity for its brothers in South America.

CARLOS SANTOS (Ecuador) noted with pleasure the progress made by Bolivia to build a just and equitable State. There had been great expectations for change in the 1980’s; however, over the years, the dialogue towards achieving sustained development and progress had been sidetracked by corruption, which plagued that country and others in the region as a result of the privatization of strategic companies of the State, among other things. It was now clear that the Government of Bolivia was pushing forward projects aimed at creating an environment of participatory democracy, building a new, inclusive, national, dignified and sovereign State. Bolivia’s successful management of its foreign debt, distribution of land, especially to indigenous persons, and the increased coverage of services to rural areas were welcomed.

JULIO CESAR ALVIAREZ (Venezuela) said the path followed by the Bolivian people to improve their quality of life had not been easy, but it was on the right path to the eradication of poverty. Venezuela supported Bolivia, and was working to promote complementarity in policies in the region. The inclusion of the people strengthened support in those initiatives, reaching a new social and economic order in full harmony between nature and humanity. The work of Bolivia gave a clear picture of how it was recovering its natural resources, which now belonged to the people, and were administered by the State for their benefit.

Venezuela supported in particular the proposal to discuss access to water as a human right, which was as fundamental as the right to health, and could not be discussed as merchandise. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank should be restructured in order to serve the people and not serve as neo-colonial bodies, imposing liberal models, and not helping. The people of Bolivia would reach all the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 in a context of peace and spiritual harmony, living well, and had the support of Latin America.

GABRIEL WINTER (Uruguay) said Uruguay fully subscribed to the importance which was attributed by Bolivia to the access to drinking water. It welcomed Bolivia’s view of that right as a basic human right and supported Bolivia’s further efforts. Uruguay also welcomed the importance attached to children in the framework of the Millennium Development Goals. Uruguay complimented Bolivia on its Juancito Pinto voucher programme against school drop out, as well as the Juana Azurduy voucher programme, which had led to a drop in maternal and infant mortality, as well as a drop in malnutrition. Uruguay asked what concrete results Bolivia had achieved so far through its programmes against malnutrition.

NESTOR CRUZ TORUNO (Nicaragua) welcomed the report and presentation of Bolivia. Nicaragua believed that it was important to know what the national experiences were in other countries, because the exchange of best practices helped others address their challenges and to meet the Millennium Development Goals. The positive impact of the changes made in Bolivia showed the political will of the Government to continue on that path. Could Bolivia share more information about the experiences they faced in light of the global economic crisis, including whether the Government had made any changes as a result, and what those changes were?

CHRISTOPHER F. HACHETT (Barbados) said the presentation was very comprehensive, and Barbados had asked for the floor merely to compliment the Minister for his presentation, and the Government for its management of the fiscal accounts, which had led to a surplus, most of which was being used to assist in the implementation of programmes to achieve the Millennium Development Goals at the national level. Those programmes were very impressive, and the national approach was an interesting model, with policies moving the very poorest out of poverty. It was hoped that Bolivia would be able to continue that progress despite the financial and economic crisis, and receive support from the donor partners without conditionality.

JOHNNY SUXO, Vice Minister of Planning of Bolivia, said that Millennium Development Goals, mainly on poverty, had to be looked at from a comprehensive point of view, not only the social point of view. The approach needed had to be broader. Efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals would be underpinned by various financial resources, and it had to be noted that those resources were now available thanks to the processes of recovery of national resources. Funds that had simply been transferred during earlier Governments were now used for the Bolivian people and used in a much more effective way. It was important that topics of poverty should not be limited to the visual side of poverty. It was not only a question of the poor people, but also of the rich.

Bolivia questioned the practices of the World Trade Organization, as Bolivia was also looking at the financial side. Cooperation with Cuba was valued very highly because it was in line with the joint pooled efforts, such as North-South and South-South trade. That type of cooperation would be very effective if it was supplemented by the restructuring of international institutions proposed. Mr. Suxo underlined that there was a need to protect small farmers. Efforts should also be concentrated on new medicines for neglected diseases, such as tuberculosis; financing; exchange of best practices; access to primary education; and conditions placed on trade. Bolivia was also very concerned about infant health and had undertaken measures to support breastfeeding for example.

National Voluntary Presentation on Mali

MAIGA SINA DAMBA, Minister for the Promotion of Women, Children and the Family of Mali, introducing the national voluntary presentation of Mali, noted that Mali was country in the heart of West Africa, with a population of 13 million as of 2008. In terms of human development, Mali was among the least developed countries. Between the years 1997 to 1999 a national study had been conducted which called upon all Malians to describe their vision for Mali to be reached in 2025. That study had provided a basis for the creation of strategic frameworks to combat poverty, improve governance and participation, and to develop human resources and basic infrastructure. With regard to the Millennium Development Goals, success had been achieved in many areas. On eliminating extreme poverty and hunger, Mali had ensured food security and had been combating malnutrition over the last decade. Two programmes had been created to address that Millennium Development Goal, one called the “160 Communes Initiative”, aimed at addressing the needs of the most vulnerable communes in the country, and the other called the “National Programme for Food Security”.

With regard to ensuring primary education for all, the growth rate in 2008 had been 80 per cent as compared with 77.6 per cent for 2006-2007 in Mali. The girl-boy ratio had gone from 68 for every 100 students in 2004 to 81 for every 100 students in 2008. That had been made possible as a result of increased funding for educational development programmes, Ms. Damba underscored. However, the insufficiency of training for instructors, resources and facilities remained challenges. The maternal mortality rates remained high, where there were between 500-600 deaths for every 100,000 births. Similarly, the child mortality rate was also still high. With regard to combating HIV/AIDS, as of 2001, 1.7 per cent of tests for the disease had been positive, whereas in 2006 that figure had decreased to 1.3 per cent. The constraints facing the Government with regard to HIV/AIDS were based on the slowness of the transfer of resources to communities, the insufficient sanitary plans in some areas, non-coverage by communities, the absence of community law on health and the lack of access in some of the regions in the north of the country, as well as the lack of qualified personnel at all levels. Despite that, in Mali free treatment was provided for pregnant women and children under the age of five with malaria.

With regard to promoting equality between men and women, that issue remained a concern of the Government. The level of literacy among women remained a handicap. However, the Government had taken measures to establish better access for women to microcredit programmes and ensuring equal access for women to Government, either by election or by appointment to public office, among other things. The obstacles were many, and included non-respect for deadlines for payment of funds by partners which resulted in cash flow problems, which could further aggravate the situation in least developed countries. With regard to funding to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, there was a gap of 2,810 billion CFA francs (or approximately $5.7 billion). The Government expected to contribute 14 per cent, with another 13 per cent made up by donors to various development programmes and projects. In conclusion, Ms. Damba urged international donors and partners to respect their commitments in official development assistance and in conformity with the Paris Declaration.

PETER OLDHAM (Canada) said Mali had achieved progress in health, education, management of drinking water and food security. However, the results achieved remained fragile. The Government was determined to achieve further progress, and donors should also respect their commitments, in particular those related to the increase of international assistance and the implementation of the Paris Declaration. With respect to the Millennium Development Goals, the targets related to access to drinking water and the fight against HIV/AIDS were within reach and achievable. With additional concerted effort, those related to universal primary education and the fight against extreme poverty could also be met. On health-related Millennium Development Goals, tangible progress had been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and a measurable improvement in access to health services. Nonetheless, significant challenges remained in lowering infant and maternal mortality rates. The Government had put in place several initiatives worth underlining, including on education, health and social development, and justice, and exerted significant efforts at reforming the public sector and improving and modernizing the management of public finances.

JEAN-BAPTISTE MATTEI (France) said that France intended to remain a strong partner of Mali in international development. There was a major gap in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals which required the support of the international community. The most vulnerable were likely to suffer most from the effects of the economic crisis. France wanted to support Mali in setting up social safety nets, as well as health care insurance. There were regional disparities, as well as inequalities between men and women, that should be dealt with. There was also progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, which was very impressive and should be supported. France encouraged Mali to continue its structural reforms and also encouraged the international community to help Mail achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

JEAN FEYDER (Luxembourg) welcomed efforts taken by Mali in the area of development. Luxembourg was cooperating with Mali to implement a strategic framework for development, with basic health care chosen as the main area for cooperation between the two countries. That bilateral cooperation in the area of health care aimed at improving health care conditions in regions in the country which should be accessible for the population from a geographical perspective as well as from an economic one. With regard to multilateral cooperation, Luxembourg supported projects carried out by United Nations agencies in conjunction with the Mali Government, for instance the United Nations Population Fund project against female circumcision. In addition, the project to combat malaria by Doctors without Borders was worth highlighting.

JEAN GRAULS (Belgium) said Mali’s presentation had been very frank and convincing. Belgium had been building solid cooperation bonds with Mali, allowing a new indicator cooperation programme to be concluded between the two countries, providing for Belgian financing in support of sectors essential for social and economic development in Mali, including food security and decentralization of the State. Dynamic cooperation had also been developing in other areas.

Mali was evolving towards becoming a country that respected human rights, and was concerned with the economic and social development of its population. Despite economic and financial difficulties, it was engaged in a process to eliminate poverty, showing the conviction of the Government that any social development had necessarily to be accompanied by sustainable economic growth. The participation of Malian women in local development was also encouraged. The presentation showed Mali’s commitment to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The international community should honour its commitments to Mali, despite the current international financial environment. The Malian Government was conducting a successful fight against terrorism and drug trafficking in the North of the country, two scourges which constituted a hindrance to its development, and Mali deserved the active assistance of the international community in that context as well.

DONATUS ST AIMEE (Saint Lucia) said that if there was this kind of commitment by friends of Mail that had the bags of money, there was a good chance for Mali to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. A good primary education provided a good basis for development and they should not think to far, as to universities etc. Saint Lucia supported Mali in that priority. Saint Lucia was happy to hear the commitments from all the friends of Mali that had made commitments and for its part lent its moral support.

IDRISS JAZAIRY (Algeria) said it was essential at this stage to have the voice of the brotherly African country in this room, and regretted that there were no others. Mali was a model country. Mali was not just a friend, but a brother, and was able to demonstrate that one did not need to be wealthy to be democratic, that one did not need to be rich to promote human rights and in order to remain a symbol of national unity. Mali was successful at ensuring national unity and national security while it aimed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Mali’s achievements were astounding given the circumstances, given that external assistance was limited. Algeria called on the international community within the framework of trade policies to support the cultivation of Mali’s lands.

MAIGA SINA DAMBA, Minister for the Promotion of Women, Children, and the Family of Mali, responding to the questions and comments made by delegations, thanked those countries that had supported Mali's proposals. Last week the President had submitted to a similar exercise within the Africa Union, where there was a mechanism for evaluation of the situation of the State. That had been a very positive exercise for Mali, and the support of countries was also a great pleasure, inciting it to continue to move forward, not to lose hope, and continue to work hard. There was disparities between regions, but decentralization could help to genuinely reduce those through the transfer of skills and resources. Both men and women had to work together to move forward, or there would be problems.


For use of the information media; not an official record


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