Looking Back and Peering Forward
A Short History of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
by Yves Berthelot and Paul Rayment
Geneva, 24 April 2007 -- The United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE) is celebrating its Sixtieth Anniversary in 2007. In
anticipation of that special occasion, Marek Belka, Executive Secretary
of the UNECE, invited Yves Berthelot and Paul Rayment to write a book on
the history and future of the Commission.
Looking Back and Peering Forward, A Short History of the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe, 1947-2007 offers an account of the
UNECE, its evolution over six decades and its significant contributions
to European economic cooperation and integration.
As two former UNECE insiders, the two authors were well placed to take
on this task: Yves Berthelot was the UNECE’s Executive Secretary
from 1993 to 2000. Prior to that he was Deputy Secretary-General of the
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). He was also
the Head of Research at the Development Centre for the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). From 1981 to 1985, he directed
the Centre d’Etudes Prospectives (CEPII) in France.
Paul Rayment worked for many years in the UNECE, from 1970 to his retirement
in 2001. From 1994 he served as Director of the UNECE Economic Analysis
Division.
Looking Back and Peering Forward strongly emphasizes the idea
that the UNECE still has the capacity to contribute to the region’s
cohesion. The publication tackles the different decisive eras of the Commission,
from the unique part it played as a bridge between East and West to the
transition era, through the achievements of the early Cold War-period
and the search for sustainable growth.
The launching of Looking Back and Peering Forward, A Short History
of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, 1947-2007,
will take place on Wednesday 25 April, immediately following the closure
of the UNECE session in Conference Room XIX.
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]
Ref: ECE/GEN/07/P04