Press Release.............................. UNESCAP News Services

1 September 2003
Press Release No: L/23/2003

Fifty-ninth session (Phase II)
1-4 September 2003
Bangkok

Opening statement by
Mr. Kim Hak-Su
Under-Secretary General of the United Nations
and Executive Secretary of UNESCAP
(Monday, 1 September 2003)

Mr. Chairman, Honourable Deputy Prime Minister,
Excellencies, Distinguished Representatives,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to extend to all of you a very warm welcome to the second phase of the 59th session of the Commission.

At the outset, I should like to express my sincerest appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Korn Dabbaransi, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, for graciously consenting to inaugurate this session. Excellency, your presence here today underscores Thailand's continuing strong commitment to the aims and ideals of the United Nations and to the important role of ESCAP in promoting sustainable economic development and social equity in this vast and diverse region.

I am very much pleased to inform this august body that ECOSOC, at its substantive session this July, has approved the resolution on admission of Timor-Leste as a full member of the Commission. With the inclusion of Timor-Leste, the Commission now comprises 53 members and 9 associate members.

We are confident that, with the strong support and close cooperation of all member states, we will be able to tackle the numerous and daunting challenges ahead.

Thank you.

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