The government does not want the Millennium Summit to produce some kind of long-winded Declaration that makes no difference in practice. Rather, it hopes for a punchy new agenda on which there is agreement between countries. It is not seeking to amend the Charter, which could be made even weaker in the process. A key document will be the Secretary- General's paper, to be published in March. This will set out issues and proposals.
Poverty eradication is likely to be a key theme.
Action would do more good than harm. Seven Pattison said that he would be very glad to meet with a group of NGOs to discuss preparations for the Summit. The UN's view is that it should be looking to draw out guidelines on a variety of issues as recognition of a response to the changing nature of these issues.