SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MESSAGE TO CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY CONFERENCE, PLEDGES

UNITED NATIONS HELP IN STRENGTHENING DISASTER RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the twenty-eight meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as delivered by Rosina Wiltshire, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Barbados, in Bridgetown on 1 July:

I am pleased to send my warmest greetings to the Heads of Government of the member States of the Caribbean Community.

The high degree of cooperation within the Caribbean Community is a wonderful example for other regions and countries.  In recent years, this partnership has been especially evident in your efforts to create a single Caribbean market.  This initiative promises to boost economic growth across the region and to provide a sound foundation for sustainable development.  CARICOM’s Regional Development Fund can contribute to this process and help the Caribbean region in the race to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in full and on time.

The United Nations is also determined to strengthen its role in the Caribbean region’s development.  CARICOM members play a crucial part in furthering the United Nations agenda of peace, development and human rights in the region.  Our Organization, in turn, assists CARICOM countries in tackling issues as diverse as HIV/AIDS, development assistance and the threat of global warming.

Climate change is, of course, of particular concern to small island developing States.  Let me assure you that addressing it is one of my highest priorities as Secretary-General of the United Nations.  In order to advance this agenda, I am convening a high-level meeting on climate change this September in New York.  It is my hope that this gathering will set the stage for a breakthrough agreement during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference in Bali in December.  I look forward to seeing you all in New York on 24 September.

This meeting takes place at the beginning of the annual hurricane season.  Caribbean nations remain extremely vulnerable to natural disasters, a trend which may be exacerbated by the effects of climate change.  The United Nations will continue to work closely with you to strengthen disaster response preparedness and mitigation throughout the region.

Finally, let me convey my delight at seeing Haiti as a full member of CARICOM.  Caribbean States have shown tremendous commitment to Haiti’s well-being, and the country’s active participation in your organization will no doubt help sustain its hard-won gains.

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For information media • not an official record