SG/SM/10284
28 December 2005
Secretary-General Welcomes France's Levy on Airline Tickets to Benefit Health Sector of Developing Countries
NEW YORK, 27 December (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the adoption by the Parliament of France of a levy on airline tickets issued locally that will benefit the health sector of developing countries, starting July 2006. This is a significant step, raising additional sources of innovative financing in support of the efforts by developing countries to reach the Millennium Development Goals.
The Secretary-General strongly urges other countries to follow France's lead with similar measures.
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