David Miliband

Goodbye to 2008

The year that was will be remembered for the economic crash, and for very difficult conflicts from Afghanistan to Sudan.  The pain of Zimbabwe's people deepened.  The shadow of terrorism hit India hard.  But there were dogs that did not bark.  In the western Balkans the independence of Kosovo and its aftermath did not produce the conflict some predicted.  In Iraq progress on security and economy was maintained.  Kenya consolidated its democratic government. Europe concluded its legally binding climate change commitments.

The priorities for 2009 write themselves.  The conflict in Gaza highlights the price being paid for the slow pace of the political track for a Middle East settlement.  That remains key for us.  2009 needs to be a year of progress in Afghanistan and Pakistan - consolidating democratic governance, improving security, improving livelihoods.  In Africa there is pressing need to renew the combination of conflict prevention, good governance, social investment and open trade that is the foundation for meeting the Millennium Development Goals on combatting poverty.  And 2009 needs to be the year when the world agrees a global climate change deal - at the Copenhagen summit called for the end of the year.

Posted at 17:13 03 January 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[7]