United Nations Radio

The international community must act together, and do so above all, to ensure that the negative impact of the financial crisis on the world’s economies does not undermine the major UN efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

The call comes from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy with whom he had earlier discussed the international financial crisis and its serious impact on all nations, particularly the poorest among them.

He offered the UN facilities in New York for a meeting on the crisis, saying that holding it here will lend it universal legitimacy.

The Secretary-General urged the international community to keep up the fight against the effects of climate change and address the food crisis.

Secretary-General Ban, who was in Quebec City where he attended the 12th Summit of the Francophonie, also met with a number of leaders.

During his exchanges with the world leaders in Quebec City, the Secretary-General also noted the urgent need to devise a concerted and decisive response to the financial crisis should be reflected in the consultations at the International Conference on Financing for Development, which is due to take place on November 29th in Doha, Qatar.

And here at Headquarters, A UN spokesperson says the Secretary-General intends to make the financial crisis and its possible impact on all nations and on all UN development initiatives, including the MDG’s, the main focus of the planned meeting of the UN System’s Chief Executive Board. That meeting is due to take place in New York on Friday.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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