Rousbeh Legatis interviews DR. ARJUN K. KARKI, International Coordinator of LDC Watch

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 5, 2011 (IPS) - Maximising time, energy and resources toward improving living conditions for millions of people in the poorest countries of the world - the so-called Least Developed Countries (LDCs) - means that the "business-as-usual" approach must yield to a holistic strategy, says Arjun Karki, a longtime expert on grassroots, democratic peace-building and development.

With an eye on the upcoming Fourth U.N. Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC IV) in May, Karki underscores that unless there is a decisive shift, the world is heading toward "another unproductive decade" in terms of LDC policy- making.

The major gathering of head of states, civil society and the private sector in Istanbul represents a "historical opportunity" to "pave the road of translating rhetoric into action", Karki says.

Rethinking old patterns would make it possible to halve the number of LDCs by 2020, he argues.

For more than 10 years, LDC Watch has monitored policy- making and the outcomes for people on the ground. U.N. correspondent Rousbeh Legatis spoke to Karki about flaws in the past and his hopes for the future. Excerpts from the interview follow.

Statement by Dr Arjun Karki, International Co-ordinator, LDC Watch And Chair and Spokesperson of UN LDC Civil Society Forum, to the Second Meeting of The United Nations Group of Eminent Persons for the Least Developed Countries
19 January 2011, Egmont Palace, Brussels

Mr. Co-Chairs of the Group of Eminent Persons  H.E. President Alpha Oumar Konare and Mr. James Wolfensohn,  members of the Group, Under Secretary General Mr. Cheick Sidi Diarra, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for this opportunity to bring to you the concerns and ideas of civil society in relation to future strategies for promoting effective, sustainable and equitable development in LDCs.  I bring this message on behalf of LDC Watch, the Steering Committee of the UN LDC IV Civil Society Forum, and the various CSO campaign and advocacy groups active in defending interests of LDCs and their citizens.  This is the result of some exhaustive engagements with CSOs from LDCs at national and regional levels.

Kathmandu, Jan. 14

The First Session of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee for the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) was held from 10 to 14 January 2011 at the UN headquarters in New York.