Annan urges Russia to remember MDGs

Millennium Development Goals fundamental for Russia and the CIS
Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the UNO, has urged Russia and the CIS (the ex-Soviet Union minus the three Baltic States) to focus on achieving the MDGs while making their economic reforms.

Speaking at the 8th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (a forum for economic opinion leaders and businessmen), Kofi Annan's spokesperson, Sergei Ordzhonikidze declared that "after years of difficult transition, many of the countries in the CIS have entered a new phase", adding that the region has been one of the most dynamic anywhere in the world in the last four years.

However, despite the fact that the Human Development Index of the UN Development programme shows that living standards have improved considerably, other indicators, such as the World health organization, give cause for concern.

For this reason, the UN Secretary-General stresses the importance of achieving the Millennium Development Goals, since these establish eight key areas of development with fixed time limits. These areas are the reduction of extreme poverty, education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, HIV/AIDS and other diseases, the environment and forming a global partnership.