UN World Summit Begins - Blair Looking to Tackle Terrorism & Poverty

The largest ever summit of world leaders will commence today, Wednesday 14th September 2005 in New York, USA. A great hope has arisen for the UN World Summit to tackle many of the world’s biggest problems, and the gathering has been described by the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity”.
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Two of the focal issues that will be discussed by the world leaders at the summit will be the world’s reaction to tackle terrorism and to eradicate poverty.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is due to address the UN on the need of worldwide unity to tackle religious preachers that incite hate and terrorism among communities. It is believed that Blair will table a resolution requesting that governments around the world join a crackdown against troublemaker clerics.

Since July’s London terrorist bomb attacks the controversy surrounding religious leaders that praise terrorism and give their backing to suicide bombers has increased greatly. Just as was seen in New York after 9/11, UK political leaders have been put under escalating pressure to tighten security and ensure that the spread of hatred is cut off.

The British Ambassador to the UN, Sir Emyr Jones Parry reported to the BBC that he felt dissatisfied that the World Summit had not been able to agree on a universal definition of terrorism.

Sir Parry said, “The text was not as comprehensive as I would have wished. What is clear is that there is an affirmation against terrorism. We have committed ourselves to agreeing the global convention [on terrorism] and we have taken forward the aspect of developing within the UN a counter-terrorism policy

The UN World Summit will last for three days from 14-16 September 2005, and is also billed to be full of debating regarding the issue of world poverty, in addition to a reformation of the UN after 60 years in existence.
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However, already prior to the summit commencing formally, many campaigners have already expressed that they predict the outcome may be one of the biggest let-downs on tackling poverty and injustice in the world.

New York will gather leaders from 191 nations, for what is meant to be a stage where open discussion can take place between the world’s most influential people to tackle and solve the world’s major problems. However, sceptics are already saying that many UN promises will be scrapped or watered-down.

Over the past week last-ditch talks have seen many pledges wanted by the UN’s Secretary-General fail to materialise. The result of weeks of bitter wrangling has vowed to honour fully the anti-poverty goals, but it has also seen many other more specific points diluted and others completely omitted.

In particular, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told reporters the draft document had two serious omissions: non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and disarmament.

Earlier this year, hundreds of UK organisations rallied together for a Make Poverty History campaign, which went a huge way to making the issue of world poverty, particularly in Africa, be put back at the top of the world agenda.

Although many of the G8-member nations at that time pledged to offer millions in increased aid, the new UN draft agreement being placed before the World Summit fails to include timetables to cut maternal deaths and halve the spread of Aids by 2015. In addition, ambassadors have also failed to agree firmly on proposals to scrap ‘unfair export subsides’, which many condemn as benefiting only the richer nations.

Nicola Reindorp, a lobbyist with the UK charity Oxfam told reporters, “On overseas aid, the draft simply repeats past agreements. Un ambassadors have been up all night negotiating just to stand still on previous commitments.”
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Annan’s Chief of Staff, Mark Malloch Brown commented on the compromised draft saying, “We knew we would not get the full loaf. We’ve got to start counting slices. Half will do at this stage.”

Meanwhile, in the build-up to the World Summit Christian leaders have stated their commitment to engage in partnerships with governments to fight world poverty.

Over 30 Christian leaders from various denominations and traditions gathered in Washington, D.C., from Sept. 11-13 for the "Consultation of International Religious Leaders" conference to sign a communiqué that was delivered to the United Nations on Tuesday, affirming that churches were prepared to take on the challenge.

“We believe that our communities of faith, representing millions of people and sponsoring numerous human-development initiatives, can provide new models for advancing a global movement against poverty,” the leaders affirmed in the communiqué titled “A Call to Partnership.”

The UN World Summit will conclude in New York, USA on Friday 16th September 2005.