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

Date 22 May 2007
Press Release No. L/28/2007/CS63/24

Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between
secretariats of ECE, ESCAP and the secretariat of the Integration
Committee of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC)

Almaty, Kazakhstan
23 May 2007

Statement by Mr. Kim Hak-Su,
Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Excellencies,
Distinguished Representatives,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me very great pleasure to welcome you today for this signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between the secretariats of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the secretariat of the Integration Committee of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC).

The Memorandum of Understanding is aimed at strengthening cooperation between the EuAsEC secretariat and the two regional commissions with common membership in their activities in this region in support of the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

EurAsEC has been actively participating in projects organized by the two regional commissions in areas such as water and energy as well trade. This MoU broadens the areas of possible cooperation in sustainable development, transport and ICT. It presents an opportunity for partnership in delivering results for the benefit of the people. In particular, the three secretariats will cooperate in the implementation of activities under the framework of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) aimed at strengthening economic integration.  We are happy that the representatives of SPECA member countries are here today to witness the event.

I trust that the MoU signed today will form the basis of a close and long-term partnership between the two regional commissions and EurAsEC. I am confident that we will actively to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by this new collaboration.

Thank you.

And I would now like to pass the floor to my colleague Mr. Belka, Executive Secretary of ECE.

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Headquartered in Bangkok, UNESCAP is the largest of the UN's five Regional Commissions in terms of its membership, population served and area covered. The only inter-governmental forum covering the entire Asia-Pacific region, UNESCAP aims to promote economic and social progress. More information on UNESCAP is available from www.unescap.org