I also commend the excellent progress made in Aceh.

I salute the positive spirit which prevailed during the negotiations in Pretoria.

Here, I pay tribute to the role of the chemical industry in support of the Convention.

I also commend you for your leadership and for the exemplary manner in which you are guiding our deliberations.

I applaud the efforts made so far in the run up to this summit.

I commend the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Mr. Egeland for the active role that they have played.

This flexibility is, I think, welcome in what you have outlined in terms of the ability of delegations to raise issues on whatever day.

I commend The Co Chairpersons for the work carried out under their leadership, and I express the hope that the present reforms will be implemented.

I commend Mr. Kofi Annan for his incisive report covering many aspects of United Nations and international affairs, including the Millennium Development Goals.

I pay particular tribute to the European Union for its willingness to provide that type of assistance to its developing partners in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

And the way I got interested in this was, I noticed in myself, when I was growing up, and until about a few years ago, that I would want to say thank you to someone, I would want to praise them, I would want to take in their praise of me and I'd just stop it.

In that context, I commend the Afghan National Army and Police, the International Security Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition for their contributions in improving security conditions, including for the electoral process in Afghanistan.

I commit my Government and country to the timed pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals and ask all countries, rich and poor, at the very minimum to implement fully the outcome document from this meeting, for which I commend the negotiators.