PACIFIC NATIONS START TALKS FOR INTERNATIONAL MEETING

ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES

APIA, SAMOA, 5 August -- The first multinational gathering leading up to next year’s International Meeting on Small Island Developing States is taking place in Apia, Samoa this week to review the progress achieved in ensuring the positive long-term development of small islands.

SITUATION OF WORLD’S LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES NOT MUCH BETTER SINCE 2001

GENEVA, 17 July (UN Information Service) -- Halting progress in the world’s 49 least developed countries (LDC’s) was reported this week to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), along with a call to set their plight higher on the international agenda.

LANDMARK REPORT URGES GOVERNANCE REFORMS TO ARREST DECLINE OF WORLD’S ENVIRONMENT

(Reissued as received.)

Preparatory Committee for Landlocked

Developing Countries Conference

9^th Meeting (PM)*

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES CONFERENCE

CONCLUDES CURRENT SESSION

Scheduled for 28 - 29 August in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Ministerial

Conference Will Negotiate Issues of Concern to Landlocked Developing Countries

Preparatory Committee for Landlocked

Developing Countries Conference

3^rd and 4^th Meetings (AM & PM)

GEOGRAPHICAL BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENT FOCUS OF PREPARATORY

COMMITTEE’S HIGH-LEVEL PANEL

Preparatory Committee for Landlocked                                                DEV/2418*

Preparatory Committee for Landlocked

Developing Countries Conference

2^nd Meeting (PM)

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR LANDLOCKED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CONFERENCE

BEGINS DISCUSSION OF DRAFT OUTCOME DOCUMENT

Calls for Specific Action in Transit Policy,

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES CONFERENCE TO MEET, 23-27 JUNE

The first session of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee for the Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and the Donor Community on Transit Transport will take place at Headquarters from 23 to 27 June.

SEEING THE WHOLE ‘ELEPHANT’:  GLOBALIZATION AND MEASURING

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF MULTINATIONALS

(Reissued as received.)

RURAL AREAS RECOGNIZED AS KEY IN ANTI-POVERTY FIGHT,

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL TOLD

Growingrecognition that the rural areas –- where 75 per cent of the world’s poor live -- are key in the fight against poverty is coupled with newly rising levels of international assistance, Lennart Baäge, the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, told a meeting of the United NationsEconomic and Social Council (ECOSOC) today.