at the Opening Plenary Session of the Conference on "Financing for Development"

Geneva, 6 December 2000

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Colleagues, 

Welcome to this conference on Financing for Development which is a regional intergovernmental meeting organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in cooperation with EBRD and UNCTAD.

As you know, this meeting is a part of a global process launched by a General Assembly Resolution and which will culminate with a global level event on Financing for Development. Through this conference, the UNECE as a regional commission of the United Nations will provide our regional perspective to the global event and ensure the global visibility of the reality of our region.

This regional debate certainly has its own value for us here who care for Europe’s development and integration. We have met here to exchange views, knowledge and experience. There is a huge potential in Europe for lesson sharing, for drawing on existing experience, for working together on finding solutions to our problems. We must use this potential, because we need a Europe that feels responsible for its less developed, less successful regions and countries.

During this conference we will discuss both problems, and ways and means with which they can be addressed and solved. We will also discuss what needs to be done at home and what is the role of the international community. We have here representatives of the business community, non-governmental organizations, international organizations and financial institutions. So, there is everybody we need for a real partnership for development in our region.

I am sure that we will have a good and open debate that will make us all go back to our daily chores enriched, with a clearer vision of what to do and how to push forward transition, development and integration in Europe.

Let me now ask the Chairman of UNECE, His Excellency, Ambassador Harald Kreid, to proceed with the election of the Officers.

Thank you.