UNUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Press Release

[Index]

Sixtieth Anniversary Session of the UNECE

Remarks by Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze
United Nations Under-Secretary-General
Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva
Palais des Nations (Conference Room XIX), Geneva

Thursday, 26 April 2007, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Executive Secretary,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Palais des Nations. I greatly appreciate this opportunity to be with you and to congratulate the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on its first – very dynamic – sixty years. The Secretary-General regrets that he is not able to join you today on this important occasion. Instead, he has asked me to deliver his message to you and to extend his best wishes for a successful session.

So, allow me to begin by presenting to you the Secretary-General’s message:

“This 60 th anniversary is an occasion to celebrate the difference the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has made to the progress of the Continent and the well-being of its citizens.

You have done this by adapting and rising to the challenges of change. As the first of the UN’s Regional Commissions, the ECE was confronted since its inception with the needs of a region divided by the Cold War. Faced with two different economic and social systems, the ECE was able to convince both sides of the need for international norms and standards, and of the need to build and preserve a bridge between the two. By developing cooperation on a wide range of technical issues, ECE kept dialogue alive.

When the Cold War ended, ECE again rose to the occasion and shifted its focus towards helping countries meet the challenges of transition. Since 1997, it has adopted two reforms to adapt to the ever-changing European architecture.

I applaud ECE for this capacity to change, in order to better serve the needs of Member States and their citizens. Your debates today are forward-looking, focused on how to move ahead with the 60-year movement towards pan-European integration.

It is sometimes easy to forget Europe in the debate about development -- precisely because Europe is such success story. But that success is not shared equally by all. The challenge for ECE and its partners is to help spread the success, and build on it further.

I am pleased that at this segment, you will be discussing the links between security, development and environment in Europe, as well as the challenges to greater economic integration. May your debates help stimulate you in your mission to widen the circle of peace and prosperity for all of your citizens. ”

That was the end of the Secretary-General’s message. Allow me now to add a few remarks of my own:

The work of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe – the ECE – illustrates how the United Nations can have a direct impact on the daily lives of people. By elaborating standards, promoting transparency and trade, and by providing technical assistance, the ECE has helped countries to mobilize resources, attract investment, build essential infrastructure, and to expand production and trading capacity. Through these efforts, the ECE has contributed to consolidating stability in the region. The support from Member States for this anniversary session clearly demonstrates that this contribution has been recognized – and is highly valued.

Economic growth, social development and stability are closely connected. Efforts to achieve these aims must go hand-in-hand. The work of the ECE – together with that of the four other regional commissions – is therefore an integral part of the United Nations’ wider efforts to promote peace, prosperity and progress. Our regional commissions link global, regional and national development activities, which – in turn – reinforce our efforts to ensure stability and security.

This anniversary session is an opportunity to reflect further on how we can enhance this critical regional dimension and integrate it more closely into our collective efforts. I have no doubt that the presence here of the Executive Secretaries of all five of our regional commissions will make a significant contribution in this regard.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The political and economic landscape of the European region has changed dramatically since the establishment of the ECE. The Commission has amended its mandates and adjusted its work programmes to reflect these ever-evolving realities. The willingness and ability of the ECE to adapt to be able to respond to current challenges and needs is an example for the wider United Nations system in the ongoing reform process.

The ECE has set a valuable example in the way it has initiated innovative collaborative activities with other members of the United Nations family to advance common objectives in a coherent and coordinated manner. Likewise, the Commission has been at the forefront of efforts to integrate different dimensions of the developmental challenge for a comprehensive approach. The ECE’s concerted efforts to include environmental concerns are particularly illustrative in this respect. The experiences that the ECE has made in forging both institutional and substantive linkages can be applied in the global context.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is very appropriate that this anniversary session is divided into three pillars. The United Nations as a whole also works across three pillars: security, development and human rights. Through its initiatives to stimulate and facilitate development in the European region, the ECE contributes extensively to our broader efforts in all three areas. I trust that this session will be an opportunity to explore how this important work can be further strengthened for the benefit of people in Europe and beyond.

Thank you very much.

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Ref: ECE/GEN/07/P05