The Fourth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries began in Istanbul
The Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries is held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 9-13 May. The conference, organised every ten years, is one of the largest UN meetings this year. In addition to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, several heads of state, and NGOs representing a wide variety of interests are expected to arrive at Istanbul.
In the Istanbul conference, assessments will be made of the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action, drawn up ten years ago, and the results produced by development policy and cooperation and the efforts made by the developing countries themselves. In addition, the delegates will consider how the policies practiced should be changed, and how positive development could be enhanced. A new programme of action will be drawn up for the least developed countries for the decade 2011-2020.
The Finnish delegation in Istanbul is chaired by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen. Ambassador Jarmo Viinanen, who acts as Director of the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations, has chaired the negotiations concerning the final document of the conference. Finland has also supported the conference preparations financially and will contribute to the follow-up process.
In the previous Brussels Programme of Action, commitments were made to promotion of good governance, building productive capacities to make globalization work for the least developed countries, and enhancing the role of trade in development. The main goal is to halve the number of people living in extreme poverty and hunger by 2015 in accordance with the UN Millennium Development Goals, and to support sustainable development in the least developed countries. The programme emphasises partnership between developing countries and donor countries, and includes obligations for both parties.
Since 1971, three countries have graduated from the least developed country status; Botswana in 1994, Kap Verde in 2007, and the Maldives this year. Today, 48 countries are considered as Least Developed Countries (LDCs), 33 of which are in Africa, 14 in Asia, and one in Latin America. The total population of these countries is some 880 million people. The term 'least developed countries' refers to the poorest and weakest countries of the world, which are in the most vulnerable position economically, socially and environmentally.
Finland provides support for LDCs in many ways. Five of Finland’s eight long-term partner countries in development cooperation hold an LDC status. Finland channels its assistance also through UN agencies and funds. Enhancing the trading capacity of the least developed countries is one of the special priority areas of Finnish Aid for Trade development cooperation.
Additional information: Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, Head of Unit for UN Development Issues, tel. +358 40 721 7159, Counsellor Jarl-Håkan Rosengren, tel. +358 40 354 7549, and the website of the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/ldc/home
Interview requests: Information Officer Outi Einola-Head, tel. +358 40 519 4153