United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan expressed disappointment Friday that the world's leading industrial powers have not opted to provide greater debt relief to impoverished countries.
"We have had too many promises and too little action," said Annan in a statement.
Annan noted that Group of Seven leaders -- the G8 minus Russia -- had promised last year to forgive the debt of some of the world's poorest countries.
"But thus far, only nine out of 41 Heavily Indebted Poor Countries have qualified for relief worth some fifteen billion dollars," Annan said.
The delay in granting debt relief, he continued, has "a profoundly negative impact on the lives of poor people.
"I urge all parties to commit themselves to resolving their differences on this vital issue as a matter of urgency," the statement concluded.
The Group of Eight comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States - WASHINGTON (AFP)
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