For information only - not an official document

UNIS/OUS/087/REV
17 June 2011

Re-issued as received

Círculo de Montevideo to Discuss Global Trends, Role of Latin America, During Vienna Meeting

VIENNA, 17 June (UN Information Service) - The current global changes and trends and the role of the countries in the Latin American region will be discussed during a meeting of the Círculo de Montevideo at the Hofburg in Vienna from 22 to 24 June.

The Círculo de Montevideo unites some 30 members, including current and former Presidents, and leaders of top financial, development, social, national or international institutions. Members discuss, among other matters, strategies for promoting sustainable industrial development in the Latin American region and beyond.

The Círculo de Montevideo was invited to Vienna by the United Nations Indutrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the Government of Austria.

Austrian President Heinz Fischer will host a reception for members of the Círculo de Montevideo.

During the Vienna meeting, French sociologist Alain Touraine will analyze the "new way forward" for the region, Rebecca Grynspan, UNDP Associate Administrator, will speak on "integration and social cohesion", Heraldo Muñoz, the head of UNDP's Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, will address the concept of the "State and citizenship", and the Secretary-General of the Secretaría General Iberoamericana (SEGIB), Enrique Iglesias, will focus on "access to energy sources and the protection of the environment".

Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, Mayor of Madrid, will speak about "civil society and political parties", Prof. Manuel Marín will address "entrepreneurial globalization and governability", the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, José M. Insulza, will look at the issue of "State, markets and balance", Carlos Magariños, the Director of the Bank of the Province of Buenos Aires, will focus on "international institutional structures", the economist José Antonio Ocampo will speak about the "financial structures", and entrepreneur Alejandro Bulgheroni on the "perspectives of energy and development".

Felipe González, former President of Spain, Ricardo Lagos, former President of Chile, Belisario Betancur, former President of Columbia, and Julio María Sanguinetti, former President of Uruguay, will be joined by political scientist Natalio Botana as they analyze the development of the contemporary State as a guarantor of growth and equality.

Members of Círculo de Montevideo are holding their annual session during the week of the Vienna Energy Forum. This year the Círculo celebrates its 15th anniversary.

There will be a press opportunity with the Círculo de Montevideo at the Hofburg (Geheime Ratstube) at 13:30, on Friday, 24 June.

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For more information on the event, please go to:

http://www.unido.org/index.php?id=1001610

or contact

Victor Hinojosa Barragan
Chief of UNIDO's Latin America and the Caribbean Programme
Email: V.Hinojosa[at]unido.org