For information only - not an official document

UNIS/VIC/195
31 March 2014

UNOV head meets with President of Israel during state visit to Austria

Vienna, 31 March (UN Information Service) - The Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna (UNOV), Yury Fedotov, held talks today with the President of Israel, Shimon Peres, at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) during the President's state visit to Austria.

Opening the meeting, Mr. Fedotov said it was a privilege to welcome President Peres to UNOV. He said, "We honour you for your many years of distinguished public service and I am pleased that you took the time to visit us in Vienna."

In his own statement, President Peres acknowledged the importance of the UN around the world and its role as a unifying organization. He went on to say that the UN represented a "great hope to our children and must be taken seriously."

Mr. Fedotov also informed the President that the VIC was one of four headquarters established to advance the UN's founding goal of maintaining international peace and security across the globe.

"The UN's work in Vienna covers countering drugs, crime and terrorism, helping to oversee international trade, dealing with the effects of radiation, and the peaceful exploration of space, among many other global activities," said Mr. Fedotov.

Earlier, President Peres was greeted on arrival by an official party comprised of Yury Fedotov, Director-General of UNOV, Yukiya Amano, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency, Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and Akmel Akpa, Officer-in-Charge, UN Industrial Development Organization.

President Peres is the 9th President of Israel. He was twice prime minister, and was a member of the Knesset for 48 years. A minister in 12 Israeli cabinets, he has served his country in various capacities for over 6 decades. This was his first visit to the VIC as President of Israel.

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For further information please contact:

David Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Telephone: (+43- 1) 26060-5629
Mobile: (+43) 699-1459-5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org