UN General Assembly
2000

the issue and deal with it under its authority. Poverty continues to be the major concern for the developing world. The fact that the number of least developed countries is stagnant at 48, with the possibility of another 3 countries being added to the list, is testimony to the fact that current programmes are not working. The Secretary General's report entitled “We the peoples” lists some ambitious initiatives to accomplish freedom from want for humanity. We strongly endorse the call for setting time- bound goals in making resolute commitments to the world's poorest and most vulnerable. Next year's conference on least developed countries and financing for development will be our first test since the Millennium Summit of our sincerity to move from rhetoric to action on the important issue of poverty alleviation. 24 The Pacific is a region that demands special attention. Projections by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific estimate growth in the Pacific region to be only about 2 per cent during the next three years, as compared to around 6 per cent