Serbian President Boris Tadic stated Monday that solidarity with the developing world is the only way to save the natural treasures of our planet, and ensure the health and prosperity for all of humankind.

Addressing the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the United Nations on the Millennium Development Goals in New York, Tadic said that Serbia is deeply aware of its share of responsibility related to implementing Millennium Development Goals - be it at the local, national, regional, or global level.

"The only efficient way for mankind to address numerous challenges of modern civilization is through investment of each and every country in science, innovation and education, in synergy with politics and economy," said Tadic.

The Millennium Development Goals include eight goals that the United Nations member states have committed themselves to achieve by the year 2015 by signing the United Nations Millennium Declaration in September 2000.

The goals include eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, achievement of universal primary education, promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women, reduction of child mortality rate, improvement of maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development.

Addressing representatives of the U.N. member states, President Tadic underscored that he is confident Serbia will meet all eight of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, adding that the absolute poverty rate was reduced by half in Serbia in the past five years.

"We are working very hard to establish truly sustainable and socially responsible long-term development, in line with the overall strategic intent of the Millennium Development Goals," said Tadic.

"We have effectively synergized our efforts to meet some of the goals through Serbia's Poverty Reduction Strategy - itself an integral part of the Serbian Government's efforts to achieve our central strategic priority: membership in the European Union.

“We have committed to across-the-board, evidence-based policymaking. This has resulted in a more efficient use of public funds, combined with greater transparency and a successful fight against corruption and organized crime.

The Serbian Government has also taken measures to ensure that the prices of basic food items, such as milk, cooking oil, flour, and so on, will never again be manipulated by speculators."

"In these difficult economic times, we have placed a premium on expanding the social safety-net. The enforcement of equality of opportunity, gender equality and the empowerment of women and minorities is being emphasized, and we have re-doubled efforts to ensure pensions and savings are protected by maintaining macroeconomic stability," said President Tadic.

In regard to environmental protection, Tadic said that in Serbia and throughout Southeast Europe, paying environmental infrastructure is a very important public policy priority, but that it is becoming more difficult to cover the costs. "But it is not just about finding ways to pay for environmental sustainability.

On a broader, conceptual level, it is about working towards a knowledge-based economy. That is why we are working to implement inventive educational policies and scientific breakthroughs and raise awareness, so that further environmental degradation can be prevented, and long-term sustainable development can be achieved," said Tadic.

After the three-day plenary meeting on the Millennium Development Goals, a general U.N. debate will start on Thursday with a series of addresses by high-level state representatives in the so-called national capacity, who will present their views on the international situation and on what they believe is important for their countries. The debate will end on September 30.