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UNIS/VIC/83 |
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United Nations Commemorates 20 Years VIENNA, 30 September (UN Information Service) -- In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Vienna International Centre (VIC) the United Nations in Vienna will be hosting a high-level panel discussion on the theme "The International Organizations’ Contribution to Human Security into the 21st Century", on 9 October 1999. Following the panel discussion a new exhibition, detailing the activities of the United Nations organizations at the VIC, will be opened. The high-level panel will prepare a report to be presented to the Millennium Assembly which is taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in 2000. Participants for the high-level panel on the evening of 9 October will include: Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Louise Fréchette; Austrian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Benita Ferrero-Waldner; Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Canadian Parliament, William C. Graham, M.P.; Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei; Executive Secretary CTBTO PrepCom, Wolfgang Hoffmann; Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Carlos Magarinos; Director General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, Pino Arlacchi; the Mayor and Governor of Vienna, Michael Häupl and the Coordinator of the Austrian "Neighbor in Need" initiative, Kurt Bergmann. The Choir of the Vienna International School will open the programme and following the high-level panel discussion there will be a performance by the singer Sandra Pires. In the two days prior to this high-level panel discussion three related events are planned in which top policy makers and experts in their fields will be participating. These will be hosted by, respectively, the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP); the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)/the Provisional Secretariat of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). The reports of these events will be presented to and considered by the high-level panel. Controlling Drugs The United Nations International Drug Control Programme will host a symposium at the Vienna University/Interdisciplinary Research Center for Addiction and Drugs (IRCAD), Kleiner Festsaal on 7 October 1999, 9:00-14.00. A presentation by the University of Vienna with the title "The Interdisciplinary Addiction and Drug Research Project" will be followed by the UNDCP on "Current Perspectives on International Drug Control." The plenary session will be followed by three scientific workshops. They will cover the three main discussion fields of the Symposium -- "Addiction and Society", "Prevention" and "Diagnosis and Therapy." The workshop on "Prevention" will be chaired by the UNDCP and the other two workshops will be chaired by the University of Vienna. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bolognese-Leuchtenmüller will give a presentation on "Addiction and Society"; Univ.-Doz. Springer on "Prevention" and Univ. Prof. Dr. Lesche on "Diagnosis and Therapy." Group reports and a panel discussion will follow these workshops, which will be open to the public. Curbing Nuclear Weapons The International Atomic Energy Agency and the Provisional Technical Secretariat of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation will host a panel discussion entitled "Curbing the Spread of Nuclear Weapons." It will take place on Friday 8 October 1999, 10:30-13:00 at the Vienna International Centre, Room CV, 7th Floor. The discussion will be moderated by the Director of the Austrian Diplomatic Academy, Ambassador Ernst Sucharipa. Speakers will include the Director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs Sverre Lodgaard, who will speak on "Proliferation: Relevant Factors"; the Director of the International Organizations & Nonproliferation Project, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Tariq Rauf, who will speak on "The Non-Proliferation Regime: Successes"; Special Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Ambassador Sergio Gonzalez Galves, who will speak on "The Non-Proliferation Regime: Challenges"; the Resident Representative of the Netherlands, Ambassador Jaap Ramaker, who will speak on "The Non-Proliferation Regime: the role of the CTBTO"; and the Director of External Relations and Policy Co-ordination, Piet de Klerk who will speak on "The Non-Proliferation Regime: The Role of the IAEA." Economic and Social Development The United Nations Industrial Development Organization will host an Expert Panel Presentation at 16:00 on Friday 8 October 1999 at the Diplomatic Academy entitled "Climate Change: What Can and Should Be Done? -- Global Cooperation for Cost-Effective Abatement and Sustainable Development." Potential areas for discussion will include the science of global warming; energy policy; climate change and economics; the role of industry in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation; developing and developed country perspectives; design and monitoring issues in climate change projects; emissions trading and joint implementation; technology transfer and adoption and the impact of global warming on human security. The main speakers will include Jos Cozijnsen of the International Counsel, Environmental Defence Fund, Utrecht; Helmut Hojesky, Head of Department, Austrian Ministry for the Environment; Axel Michaelowa, Project Leader for Climate Policy, Economic Institute, St.Cloud, France; Norbert Nziramasanga, Technical Director, Southern Centre for Energy and Environment, Harare; John Palmisano, Director for Environmental Policy and Compliance, Enron International, Washington, D.C. Exhibition The Exhibition, designed by Austrian graphic artist Mario Buda in consultation with the United Nations, gives a detailed overview of the history and activities of the Vienna International Centre. The historical part gives an insight into life in the Kaisermühlen area 100 years ago. There are also sections on the Opening of the VIC on the 23 August 1979 and the major visits and events that have taken place over the past 20 years, as well as extensive contributions from the organizations themselves. The Exhibition will be on display in the Rotunda of the VIC from 9 to 24 October 1999. It will then be placed permanently in the display area of the United Nations Information Service (G05) , Vienna. The exhibition is open to the general public for individual tours from Monday to Friday at 11:00 and 14:00 and for groups at any time, including weekends, by prior arrangement - tel: (01) 26060-3328. * * * * * |
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