Press Release

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Executive Secretary to participate in EBRD’s Board of Governors meeting

Geneva, 15 May 2009 --

Ján Kubiš, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), will attend the Annual Meeting and Business Forum of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on 15-16 May in London.

Under the motto “Investing for the future: opportunities in a tougher climate”, the meeting will bring together Ministers, senior government officials and business leaders from more than 60 countries to discuss the impact of the financial crisis in central and eastern Europe and central Asia and identify lines of action supporting the recovery.

Ján Kubiš is the first UNECE Executive Secretary in the recent period invited to participate in the EBRD’s Board of Governors meeting.

The EBRD, a key regional bank operating in the UNECE region, was established in 1991 to support the development of market economies and democracies in countries from central Europe to central Asia. UNECE and the EBRD share broadly the same membership. The two institutions have been cooperating closely on a variety of projects including, among others: environmental issues, the promotion of Public-Private Partnerships, projects financed under the Central European Initiative (CEI), which was launched in 1991 to support those countries which are not yet members of the European Union, etc.

Ján Kubiš will have bilateral meetings with leading officials and members of the Board of Governors of the bank, including Brigita Schmögnerová, Vice President for Environment, Procurement and Administration, and former UNECE Executive Secretary (2002-2005). He will actively participate in some of the 20 country presentations that will review the economic situation and assess opportunities for development, and meet with their participants to discuss UNECE-related activities.

Ref: ECE/OES/09/P04