African environment ministers meeting this week at the U.N. Environment Program's Nairobi headquarters issued a statement yesterday outlining a common position to be pursued when delegates convene in Johannesburg next September for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The ministers said poverty alleviation and environmental regeneration will be key priorities for the summit, and that Africa will urge attendees "to adopt concrete measures to provide a solid foundation for an immediate and focused international assault on some of the worst aspects of global poverty and hence environmental degradation."