The promise of the promotion of good health and food security made in 1945 when the UN was established, should be fulfilled now as then, Minister of Finance and Development Planning Dr Timothy Thahane has said. 

Encouraging the nation to join hands in the fight against HIV/AIDS, poverty and hunger during 60th anniversary celebrations of the United Nations, at the Convention centre on October 24, Dr Thahane said younger people should be equipped with the necessary skills that will enable them to be more productive. 

As part of the UN, Lesotho is working hard to promote peace, stability and the rule of law as without them it is impossible to plan any long term commitments aimed at improving the quality of people's lives, Dr. Thahane said.

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ponts'o Sekatle, expressed the government's heartfelt gratitude for the coordination and collaboration of the UN in programming and administration in relation to HIV/AIDS and the poverty reduction strategies.

The UN in Lesotho works hand in hand with the government to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by all the member states in September 2000. While all the MDGs are strongly inter-related and mutually dependent, in Lesotho none appears more critical for progress than the goal of reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS, she said.

The UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Hodan Haji-Mohamud read the message of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan.

25 October 2005