UNIS Vienna: Summary Report of the 2008 Preview Press Briefing

VIENNA, 5 February 2008 -- UNIS Vienna held its annual preview press briefing, to provide an overview of key events and plans of the UN system entities in Vienna for 2008. The speakers were: Nasra Hassan, Director, UNIS Vienna, Adrie De Groot, Director, Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Group United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); Annika Thunborg, Spokesperson and Chief of Public Information, Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO); Walter Kemp, Speechwriter and Acting Spokesperson, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); and Marc Vidricaire, Spokesperson and Director of Public Information, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Ms. Hassan opened and moderated the press briefing. She paraphrased the Secretary-General: "The year 2008 provides a unique opportunity to enhance the central role of the United Nations in world affairs… In 2008, the Secretary-General proposes to proceed on three fronts simultaneously: working to deliver results; to create a stronger UN through full accountability of all parties; and to advance the global common good by securing global public goods". She also provided an overview of general UN Secretariat issues and communication priorities for 2008, as received from DPI: the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the Millennium Development Goals and the high-level meeting convened by the Secretary-General in New York in September; the strengthening of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the deployment of UNAMID; moving forward with a process to determine Kosovo's future status; and keeping up the momentum with the UN's work on climate change.

Ms. Hassan also pointed out this year's highlights for several Vienna based programmes: for the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the expected approval of the draft Convention on the carriage of goods [wholly or partly] [by sea]; and the promotion of educational materials titled "Indicators of Commercial Fraud". For the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs Office (UNOOSA), a meeting of UN-SPIDER in Salzburg from 7 to 9 February; the issuance of its annual publication, "Highlights in Space 2007"; and several events and exhibitions to mark World Space Week from 4 to 10 October. Ms. Hassan also mentioned the launch of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) Annual Report on 4 March. For the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), she highlighted the February launch of the European Alert System for the Danube, International Danube Day on 29 June and the Findings of the Joint Danube Survey 2, to be issued in September.

Mr. De Groot enumerated the three areas of focus for UNIDO: poverty reduction through productive activities, trade capacity-building, and energy and environment. Major events planned in 2008: in April, a Global Agro-Industrial Forum in New Delhi, India and an International Conference on Renewable Energy in Africa, in Dakar, Senegal. He highlighted that UNIDO's Director-General had been selected as Chairman of UN-Energy. UN-Energy facilitates the sharing of information, knowledge, experiences and good practices on energy-related initiatives and activities in the UN system.

Ms. Thunborg presented the current status of CTBT, with 178 signatures and 144 ratifications, including 35 Annex 2 States. The Latin American and Caribbean region is now close to becoming a complete CTBT area. With regard to the verification regime, 90 per cent of facilities were now operational. CTBTO was also providing tsunami warning data for Asia. The CTBTO website had been updated to provide consolidated information on nuclear-testing issues and on treaty negotiations.

Mr. Kemp underscored UNODC's recent anti-corruption conference in Bali; the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) to help developing countries recover stolen funds; the results of a rapid assessment survey on opium cultivation in Afghanistan; the Vienna Forum against Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) to take place later this month; the publication of UNODC's annual report; the launch of a report titled " Crime in the Balkans and the Affected States"; and UNODC's flagship publication " The World Drug Report" to be issued in June.

Mr. Vidricaire drew attention to the IAEA's main events for 2008, including the Board of Governors meetings in Vienna in March, June, and October, the General Conference and a scientific forum in September. Key areas of work for the IAEA this year would be verification to ensure non-diversion of nuclear materials; nuclear non-proliferation; and technical co-operation. He also pointed out that the mandate of its current Director General would end in December 2009, and that the names of the short-listed candidates for the post would be available by the end of this year.

Furthermore, information on highlights in 2008 for UNOOSA, UNCITRAL, UNDP, ICPDR and UNEP -  ISCC was distributed, and representatives of several of these entities attended the briefing to answer questions. UNDP's Regional Communications Officer (based in Bratislava, Slovakia, was also present to answer queries -- UNDP's last report (focused on climate change) was for both 2007 and 2008).

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