Sixtieth Anniversary Session of the UNECE
Palais des Nations (Conference Room XIX), Geneva
25-27 April 2007
Geneva, 20 April 2007 -- The United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE) will hold its Sixtieth Anniversary Session
from 25 to 27 April 2007 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva.
The Commission session affords the 56 member States* of the UNECE the
occasion to look at the technical and sectoral work of the ECE in a wider
context, thus providing them with the opportunity to set the strategic
directions of the Commission’s work for the coming biennium.
After a review on Wednesday 25 April of the reform adopted
in 2005, as well as specific issues calling for action, the Sixtieth Anniversary
session will be devoted to a series of high-level panel discussions.
The Thursday 26 April morning session will open with
a panel which will discuss the contribution the United Nations can make
to the development of the region. The Executive Secretaries of the five
United Nations Regional Commissions will participate in the debate, which
will be moderated by Mr. Marek Belka.
Later on that same morning, a panel will discuss cooperation for stability
and prosperity in Europe. This Panel is expected to focus on the strategic
framework for pan-European cooperation, covering such key issues as partnerships,
transatlantic cooperation, the role of Central Asia and the promotion of
subregional cooperation. Within this framework it will also address the
links between security, development and environment in Europe. Mr. Sergey Lavrov,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and Mr. Miguel Ángel
Moratinos, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister for External Relations and
Cooperation for Development of Spain will be keynote
speakers.
On Thursday afternoon a panel will address the issue of Pan-European
economic integration in a globalized world. It will examine the challenges
faced by Europe in terms of economic integration, including the issue of
competitiveness of the European economy; EU enlargement and the Euro;
the implications of sound environmental policies, and trade relations with
the rest of the world. Mr. Peter D. Sutherland, Chairman of British
Petroleum and Chairman of Goldman Sachs International and Special Representative
of the Secretary General for Migration will act as moderator for this panel.
On Friday 27 April, in the morning,
member States will tackle the issue of sustainable energy policies: the
key to energy security. Discussions will focus on how the UNECE could promote
more sustainable energy policies, including in the area of energy security,
and stressing the environmental dimension of these issues. Mr.
Jean-Christophe Füeg, Special Representative for International Energy
Affairs from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy will be moderator, while
Mr. Viktor Khristenko, Minister for Industry and Energy, Russian Federation
will be keynote speaker.
On Friday afternoon two panels will meet simultaneously. Discussions
in the first panel, on secure transport development: a key to regional
cooperation, will concentrate on the practical steps that need to be taken
to further develop efficient, secure and environmentally-sound transport
links in the ECE region, including the Transatlantic, Pan-European and
Euro-Asian links, taking into account their importance for the enhancement
of regional economic cooperation and stability. Mr. Janez Božič,
Minister for Transport of Slovenia, will act as keynote speaker.
The second panel will address the issue of the economics of gender in
the European economy, in particular how this has an impact on the economy’s
competitiveness and growth. Mrs. Brigita Schmögnerová,
Vice President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,
will act as moderator.
The session and discussions are open to the public.
For a detailed timetable see annex.
For further information please contact:
UNECE Information Service
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 44 44
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 05 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unece.org/commission/2007/62nd_index.htm
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* Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uzbekistan.
Ref: ECE/GEN/07/P03