<p>On International Youth Day, let us recognize the potential of youth in tackling the greatest challenges of our times.</p>

<p class="bodytext">Ladies and Gentlemen,</p> <p class="bodytext">It is an honour for me and UNFPA to be with you for the launch of the <a href="http://ochaonline.un.org/humanitarianappeal/webpage.asp?MenuID=11187&Page=1667">Mid-Year Review of the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) for 2008.</a> </p>

<p>Today as we commemorate World Population Day, let us renew our commitment to human dignity and the right to live in freedom from fear and want. Let us accelerate efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals to eliminate extreme poverty and hunger and to improve the health of people and our planet.</p>

<p class="bodytext">Mr. President,</p> <p class="bodytext">Distinguished Delegates,</p> <p class="bodytext">Colleagues and Friends,</p> <p class="bodytext"> </p> <p class="bodytext">It is always a pleasure to address you as members of the Executive Board. It is particularly enjoyable when we meet here for the annual session in this beautiful city of Geneva.</p> <p class="bodytext"> </p> <p class="bodytext">My colleagues and I look forward to our discussions this week, and to working with all of you as Board members throughout the year.</p> <p class="bodytext"> </p> <p class="bodytext">In my statement today, I will report on our work over the past year and update you on new developments, UNFPA’s reorganization, finances and funding.</p> <p class="bodytext"> </p> <p class="bodytext">At the last Board session in January, a delegate thanked me for my 11-page, single-spaced speech. I think he was trying to tell me something. I have given it some thought and believe that part of the United Nations reform should be fewer and shorter speeches. Today, I will do my best to do my part, though I have not succeeded as I intended. There is so much that I want and need to share with you.</p>

<p class="bodytext">Excellencies,<br/> Honourable Ministers,<br/> Distinguished Delegates,<br/> Colleagues and Friends,</p> <p class="bodytext"> </p> <p class="bodytext">I would like to thank you for coming together to accelerate progress in the fight against AIDS. Accelerated action is urgently needed to achieve our goal of universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010. Time is of the essence if countries are to reach all, including the poorest and most marginalized, in the next two years. Your presence at this event shows your renewed commitment. I would like to call on you to do three things, which I believe are fundamental to an effective response.</p>

<p class="bodytext">Assalamou Alaikoum- Peace be upon you.</p> <p class="bodytext"> </p> <p class="bodytext">Brothers and Sisters,</p> <p class="bodytext"> </p> <p class="bodytext">It is my honour and pleasure to address you tonight.</p> <p class="bodytext"> </p> <p class="bodytext">As people inspired by faith, we know the importance of hope in our lives.</p> <p class="bodytext"> </p> <p class="bodytext">And nowhere is this hope more important than in our response to people affected by HIV and AIDS.</p>

<p>It is my honour to join you in beautiful Yokohama for the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV). I would like to thank the Government of Japan for hosting this historic Conference, TICAD IV, towards a vibrant Africa. Thank you for bringing all of us together to focus on boosting economic growth, ensuring human security and addressing environmental issues on the great African continent.</p>

<p class="bodytext">Around 100 million more people face food shortages this year compared to last year as a result of the recent increase in world food prices. The price increase is due to many factors, including the high price of oil and fuel, the conversion of food grains into biofuels, market speculation on agricultural commodities, droughts and floods in some countries, and increasing consumption.</p>

<p class="bodytext">Thank you very much Anders for the kind introduction and for inviting me to Stockholm to deliver this keynote address. All of us at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) value our strong partnership with the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) and we look forward to continued collaboration.</p>

<p>It is an honour to receive this Distinguished Alumni Award. I would like to thank Mary Ann Tyler-Allen, President of the Wayne State University Alumni Association and Robert Thomas, the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for this honour.</p>

<p align="left">UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, joins the Secretary-General in saying that words cannot express our sense of shock, outrage and anger at the terrorist attack on United Nations offices in Algiers on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Every day, midwives are saving women’s lives by making delivery safe.</p>