State Secretary Hans Winkler at presentation of 2008 Millennium Development Goals Report

Vienna, 12 September 2008 - "We can attain the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals if we take energetic steps on the donor side, on the side of the partner countries, within the framework of international organisations and at the level of civil society. Let's take advantage of the momentum created by increased attention and international efforts," said State Secretary Hans Winkler at a press conference held on the occasion of the presentation of the 2008 Millennium Development Goals Report at the Vienna International Centre.

"I think that cautious optimism is justified. But we also have to remain realistic. The positive economic development worldwide, the ascendancy of many Asian states and closer international cooperation have led to favourable changes and a reduction in some areas of global poverty. Botswana and Cape Verde are no longer on the list of the least developed countries. Wars and conflicts, the food and energy crisis and the current weakening of the global economy are certainly not conducive to the attainment of the goals, however, and the principle of coherence is therefore of increasing importance. There can be no development without peace, and there can be no peace without development. We can attain the goals only if, in addition to raising funds and increasing the efficacy of development aid, we pay attention to peace, international security and the respect of human rights," stated Winkler.

At the press conference Winkler mentioned the increased and intensive efforts at the international level in the course of a trilogy of conferences on the various aspects of development policy, ranging from a conference on increasing the effectiveness of development cooperation in Accra and a meeting of heads of government and state to attain the Millennium Development Goals in New York during the General Assembly to a conference to examine the financing systems to be held in Doha in November.

"Our efforts must continue to focus on Africa, in particular the countries to the south of the Sahara. Five out of seven Austrian Development Cooperation countries outside Europe are located in Africa. In recent years Austria has extended, intensified and concentrated its cooperation with African partners, also within the framework of the EU, to attain higher efficiency. This year Austria also reaffirmed its pledge to make available increased funds for development cooperation in 2010 and 2015. I hope that these efforts, which were initiated by State Secretary Christoph Matznetter and myself within the Official Development Cooperation Path working group, will be continued by the new government," concluded the State Secretary.

Contact:
Federal Ministry for
European and international Affairs
Office of the State Secretary
Katharina Swoboda
Tel.: ++43 (0) 50 1150-3469
E-Mail: katharina.swoboda@bmeia.gv.at