"Secretary-General refers to special needs of Least Developed Countries"

30 June, GENEVA - In his address to the High Level Segment of the Economic and Social Council on the Theme of Rural Development, the Secretary General, Kofi Annan, made reference to the special needs of the Least Developed Countries.
               While addressing the issues of trade and the upcoming Doha Development Round, he stressed that: "Of course, even a successful outcome on trade will not mean that developing countries can manage without aid and debt relief. This is especially true of the Least Developed Countries". Referring to the theme of the High Level Segment, Mr. Annan pointed out that, "rural development means focusing on the least developed countries, in accordance with the Brussels plan of action, whose progress you will be reviewing for the first time here". The first annual comprehensive progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action is to be presented at this year's ECOSOC substantive session in Geneva.