Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik of Norway told press here this week that he sees good hope for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held in Johannesburg in South Africa in September.

”Even though it does not look bright after the recent preparatory conference at Bali, I see hope for a successful outcome. The summit should conclude on concrete and active goals in the areas given top priority by the UN Secretary General: water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity”, Mr. Bondevik said.

“Of these areas Norway particularly emphasises health, energy and the management of natural resources”, he added.

Mr. Bondevik said he last week had held phone conversations on the matter with South African President Thabo Mbeki and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

He said one of Norway’s major tasks in the international field in the coming months is to contribute to a successful outcome of the Johannesburg summit.

“Together with Minister of Development Cooperation Hilde Frafjord Johnson and Minister of the Environment Børge Brende, I will do my utmost in this regard. Our ambitions are high. We will intensify the struggle against poverty, we will strengthen the UN’s role in the efforts for a sustainable development”, Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik said.