Annan looks to world's future

Annan: Development offers opportunity

LONDON, England -- Lifestyles in the developed world will have to change if the planet is to remain habitable, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said.

Speaking on Monday at the London School of Economics, Annan said the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held in South Africa later this year, "must mark a break with business as usual."

The summit will offer heads of state, business leaders and pressure groups a chance to agree on practical ways to reduce poverty, expand access to fresh water and sanitation, and adopt cleaner and more efficient use of energy.

Annan said: "As our attention has been focused on conflict, on globalisation, or most recently on terrorism, we have often failed to see how these are connected to the issue of sustainability.

"Far from being a burden, sustainable development is an exceptional opportunity -- economically, to build markets and create jobs; socially, to bring people in from the margins; and politically, to give every man and woman a voice, and a choice, in deciding their own future."

The secretary-general earlier met British Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, Iraq and developments in Africa.

Afterwards, Annan was asked about reports that U.S. President George W. Bush is considering extending the war on terrorism to an attack on Iraq.

"I don't think Washington has taken any decision yet as to what to do about Iraq, but I am on record as saying that any attack on Iraq at this stage would be unwise," Annan said.

Turning to the Mideast he said it was "important to find creative ways of breaking the impasse and getting the people back to the table."

He also said the situation in Zimbabwe as the March 9-10 presidential elections approach, was "worrying."

"I would appeal to the government of Zimbabwe not to interfere with the process and allow the people ... to express themselves freely," he said.

The Sustainable Development summit, to be held in Johannesburg from August 26 - September 4, will take place 10 years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where countries adopted Agenda 21, the blueprint for sustainable development.