..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date 6 April 2006
Press Release No: G/L10/CS62/8

62nd Commission Session, 6-12 April 2006

Welcome Statement by Mr Kim Hak-Su,
United Nations Under-Secretary-Generaland
Executive Secretary of ESCAP
Thursday, 6 April 2006

Your Excellency Dr Hassan Wirajuda,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to the Senior Officials' Meeting of the sixty-second session of the Commission!

I am most grateful to the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Dr   H assan Wirajuda, not only for inaugurating the Senior Officials' Meeting, but also for his leadership of such a truly excellent team. The ESCAP secretariat is privileged to have the opportunity to work closely with Indonesia 's finest officers in the organization and servicing of this Commission session.

The secretariat has prepared substantial documentation to facilitate your consideration of current development issues and initiatives in the ESCAP region pertaining to the three themes of managing globalization, reducing poverty and tackling emerging social issues.

The post-World Summit Outcomes and their implications for the work of ESCAP will be considered today. In particular, how Millennium Development Goal action might be advanced in the ESCAP region is expected to be considered both in the formal session and at the lunchtime special MDG event to which you are cordially invited.

In addition, you will have opportunity over the next three days to consider, among others, such matters as:

• Programme performance report for the biennium 2004-2005;
• Draft strategic framework for the biennium 2008-2009;
• Resource mobilization; and
• The activities of the Advisory Committee of Permanent Representatives and Other Representatives Designated by Members of the Commission (ACPR).

Indeed, the rich and full programme for this Commission session is due in no small measure to the guidance of Commission members, particularly through ACPR. Let me point you to some programme highlights.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir will grace the opening of the Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2006 tomorrow evening, while His Excellency President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will deliver a breakfast time address at 07:30 on Saturday morning and inaugurate the Ministerial Meeting.