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Russia calls to ensure smooth transfer of powers to UNIDO new gen director

Russia supports UNIDO activity and spares no effort to strengthen its positions on the international arena

VIENNA, November 20 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia thinks it important to see to it that the authority in the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is passed over to its new director general smoothly, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Tuesday.

“We must see to it that in the difficult transition period the organization was left without its head who enjoys a corresponding political authority from member states,” he said at a session of the UNIDO Industrial Development Board.

UNIDO is to elect a new director general after the incumbent head of the organization, Kandeh Yumkella was appointed co-chair of the Secretary-General’s High-Level Group on Sustainable Energy for All and decided to leave his post in UNIDO ahead of due time.

“In these conditions, an optimal power-transition option would be a special General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in June 2013. UNIDO member states will be able to approve a new director general recommended by the Industrial Development Board who will waste no time to take office, form his own team and, based on recommendations from member states, will continue efforts to improve the efficiency of the organization,” Gatilov said and added he hoped that Yumkella “would continue his committed work with UNIDO till a new director general is appointed.”

“Russia supports UNIDO activity and spares no effort to strengthen its positions on the international arena. We attach great significance to UNIDO as a head structure within the United Nations system that tackles issues of cooperation in the area of industrial development and is a global forum facilitating the elaboration of an efficient policy in the industrial sphere, transfer of state-of-the-art technologies, promoting economic development of states, and strengthening medium and small business and the agrarian sector,” he noted.

The UNIDO Industrial Development Board has 53 members, elected for a four-year term on a rotational basis. It reviews the implementation of the work program, the regular and operational budgets and makes recommendations to the Conference on policy matters, including the appointment of the Director-General. The Board meets once a year.

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