14 Sep 2005

Millennium goals are achievable if developed countries make a greater effort - NZ academic

2:05 pm on 14 September 2005

An expert in international relations says Millenium Development Goals are achievable if developed countries meet their promises.

New Zealand's Council for International Development says many Pacific countries are facing increasing poverty levels approaching those of the world's poorest countries, such as in sub-Saharan Africa.

Millenium Development Goals include halving the number of people living on less than US$1 a day and giving every child a primary-level education.

Ray Goldstein, a senior lecturer at the department of Political Science and International Relations at Victoria University, says the goals are achievable but not at the current rate of contribution by countries such as New Zealand.

"There are those who criticise that some of the goals are not inclusive enough or demanding enough, in several areas. But these are the goals that the leaders all signed up to in 2000. The whole purpose is to see what progress has been made and what needs to be done if these goals are to be met."

Ray Goldstein