Vienna ChapterG-77 Chapter inaugurates its Liaison Office For the first time in its 34-year history, the Group of 77 has a permanent liaison office for its Vienna Chapter. Providing a link between the Permanent Missions of the G-77 member countries accredited to the Vienna-based international organizations, the new facility will connect those organizations with the G-77 chapters in New York (United Nations Headquarters), Geneva (UNCTAD and WTO), Rome (FAO and IFAD), Paris (UNESO), Nairobi (UNEP and Habitat) and Washington D.C. (IMF and the World Bank). It will also link them up to the Group's 132 member countries.
Welcoming the UNIDO gesture, the Chair of the Vienna Chapter, South Africa Ambassador Mrs. Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko underlined the crucial role of physical premises in the chapter's operations. Until now this had been the missing link. "It is more than a conveniently located suite of offices, with a staff of two, some desks, computers and e-mail address," she said. "Today is the start of our institutional memory. The G-77 Member States are very grateful to Director-General Magariños for his personal interest in solving this problem." The offices and its facilities will be available to all G-77 Permanent Missions, but will be especially useful as a local base for visits to the Vienna-based organizations by Permanent Missions located outside Austria. |