United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday during a visit to the headquarters of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) that the bank improved its efforts on several global initiatives and vowed the UN would continue to work closely with the IDB to benefit future generations.
"The IDB and the UN have been working very closely on issues such as climate change, water and food security, economic issues and many others for decades.
“I commend the IDB on its efforts and wish to devote much more work to developing issues in the IDB's 56 member countries," Ban said.
He added that it is important to the UN to continue its cooperation with the IDB and strengthen its partnership to meet targets of both organizations while calling on the bank to participate in the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development on June 20-22 in Rio de Janeiro.
"We are about 15 days to go until the Rio+20 meetings and I hope the IDB member states will have a concrete, concise package for sustained development to present to the world," Ban said.
Ban said the UN has been working to resolve a number of global issues, but that there are still many that remain unresolved and that need innovative solutions.
"I am sure that the Rio conference will have a strong effect and political directive that will come out of the meeting concerning the 26 primary areas needing solutions including energy, food security, global education and environmental needs and hope that the IDB member states will have an agreement," Ban said.
The UN secretary-general said if the conference is unsuccessful this time in coming up with solutions to global problems, the current generation would have to remain waiting when, while in fact there is no more time to wait.
"We have to have a clear, concise vision to either provide prosperity or tragic human consequences in respect of generations to come," the UN chief said.
Ban wants IDB input at Rio+20 meeting
