For information only - not an official document
UNIS/OUS/247
27 June 2014
Re-issued as received
VIENNA, 27 June 2014 (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - The Group of 77 Vienna Chapter and China this week commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the Group with celebrations at the Vienna International Centre.
The cultural performances featured Sri Lankan drummers and dancers provided by the Ministry of Skills Development and Youth Affairs, as well as Shani Diluka, a Sri Lankan pianist, and Valentin Erben, an Austrian cellist. Food festivals and a charity event also took place.
LI Yong, Director General of UNIDO, speaking at the formal launching of the celebration, recalled the Organization's productive partnership with the Group of 77 and China, and in particular the Vienna Chapter of G-77 and UNIDO. Li highlighted the continued relevance of the ideals of G-77 as the United Nations are engaged in the elaboration of the post- 2015 Development Agenda and the advancement of Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development. He also welcomed the Special Summit of the Group of 77 and China held in Bolivia from 14 to 15 June. It adopted the Santa Cruz Declaration which attached the highest priority to poverty eradication in the post-2015 development agenda.
The Vienna celebration was also addressed by Yury Fedotov, Director-General of the United Nations Office in Vienna (UNOV) and Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), also took part in the celebrations. Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was represented by his deputy, Kwaku Anning.
Ambassador Abdul Azeez, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative and Chair of G-77 Vienna Chapter, said that the G-77 in Vienna had made a significant contribution towards the multilateral processes. He added that the G-77 proactively pursued the common objectives articulated by its founders half a century ago and contributed to advancing South-South cooperation. He thanked the representatives of the Permanent Missions in Vienna, the United Nations Office in Vienna and the international organizations for their active support for and contribution to the commemorative activities.
Marking the 50th anniversary, the G-77 in Vienna launched the first issue of its newsletter.
The proceeds from the charity event were sent to St. Anna Kinderspital for cancer research for children.
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For more information please contact:
Annemarie
Heuls
Liaison Officer
Telephone 0043(1) 26026 3628
Fax: 0043(1) 26026 7 3628
Email: A.Heuls[at]unido.org
