CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE PRESIDENT: MILLENNIUM

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000388 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/ES-CR AND S/ES-O, IO/EDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC ECON PREL UN SUBJECT: CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE PRESIDENT: MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS HIGH- LEVEL EVENT ¶1. USUN received via fax on April 30 a letter dated 25 April 2008 from UNSYG Ban Ki-Moon and President of the General Asembly Dr. Srgjan Kerim to President Bush. The letter invites the President to a September 25, 2008 high-level event on the Millenium Development Goals. Text of letter follows in para 2 below. ¶2. Begin Text of letter: Excellency: Since 2000, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have provided a global framework to tackle the world's most urgent development challenges by 2015. Over the years, these goals have become a catalyst for global action for international cooperation between developed and developing countries and contributed significantly to improving the lives of millions of peoples. Yet, progress is uneven and many countries remain off track. Recent developments, such as the effects of climate change, the rising food prices as well as the current international financial instability are threatening the attainment of the MDGs and could undo important gains made in fighting poverty, hunger and infectious diseases. These challenges must raise our sense of urgency to intensify our efforts to meet these important goals. In this important endeavor, we must strengthen the global partnership for development. For this, we must make use of all key development processes to advance the implementation of development commitments and improve the effectiveness of development cooperation, in particular the ongoing review of implementation of the Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development, culminating later this year in the Doha Conference. As we are passing the mid-point towards 2015, we have the honor to invite you to participate in a one-day high-level event on the Millennium Development Goals in New York on 25 September of this year. This meeting will be an opportunity to review the progress achieved so far, reaffirm our commitment and dedication to the MDGs and suggest concrete measures which can be urgently taken to advance their implementation. The high-level event should also allow us to send a strong and unequivocal message to people most in need of our unflagging determination to free them from their condition. Representatives of the civil society, private sector and foundations, will also be invited to participate in the event and encouraged to announce tangible contributions to support the effective implementation of the MDGs. We are convinced that if all stakeholders act decisively now, the MDGs can still be achieved. We look forward to your participation in this important meeting in September. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Signed: Ban Ki-moon. Dr. Srgjan Kerim His Excellency, Mr. George W. Bush President of the United States of America Washington, D.C. END TEXT. ¶3. The original letter was pouched to S/ES-CR on April 30. Khalilzad