Remarks by Mr. Sergei A. Ordzhonikidze, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, at the 24th Universal Postal Congress

Mr. Chairman
Director General Dayan
Distinguished guests
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a distinct pleasure for me to be with you for the 24th Universal Postal Congress. I had the privilege of taking part in the UPU Dubai Strategy Congress in 2006, and I appreciate this opportunity to join you again as you chart the course of the Universal Postal Union, building on those discussions in Dubai.

Allow me, first of all, to congratulate the Universal Postal Union on the 60th anniversary as a specialized agency of the United Nations. Over the past 60 years, the UPU has made a significant contribution to the efforts of the United Nations across the three pillars of our work – security, development and human rights. And in our era of globalization, with increasing trade and investment flows, mounting international fund transfers and migratory movements and the growing importance of the information society, the role of the UPU in facilitating communication, exchange and financial services will continue to expand. The UPU may be among the smaller agencies of the United Nations and located by itself. But the UPU is not alone; it is a highly valued member of the wider United Nations family – in Geneva and across the world – and it has a tremendous reach.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, is very conscious of the UPU’s wide-ranging work in support of the broader efforts of our Organization, and it is with pleasure that I deliver his message to you on this occasion:


“It gives me great pleasure to send greetings to the 24th Universal Postal Congress.

I was privileged to visit the Headquarters of the Universal Postal Union last April for the UN Chief Executives’ Board session, and I thank your organization for hosting a very successful meeting.

This year, the UPU marks 60 years as a UN agency. What started as a relationship limited mainly to technical assistance has evolved immeasurably. Today’s UPU makes invaluable contributions in many areas, including migration and fund transfers, transport and trade, education and literacy, sustainable development, health and security, the growth of small business and the development of standards to ensure compatibility and interconnectivity.

We in the United Nations are keenly aware of the role played by the UPU and the postal sector in helping to achieve our shared aims, particularly the Millennium Development Goals. Postal services are universal, connecting people throughout the world. That is particularly important at a time when millions of people have migrated to seek better economic opportunities, or have been forced to flee areas afflicted by war or natural disaster, and are eager to share news and resources with loved ones.

I commend the UPU on its Development Plan for Africa, and for channelling 40 percent of your technical cooperation budget to the world’s least developed countries. I was also pleased to learn that the UPU has joined the “Aid for Trade” initiative aimed at helping poorer countries build trade-related infrastructure and supply capacity. And I am encouraged by the way the world’s postal outlets are serving as natural gateways to the information society.

Today, the need to ensure universal access to communications is greater than ever. I am sure you will keep this noble goal in mind throughout your deliberations. Please accept my best wishes for the success of your important work.”

That was the end of the Secretary-General’s message.


Mr. Chairman
Ladies and Gentlemen:

The theme of this Congress and of the General Debate on Thursday – the “The postal sector, an essential component of the global economy” – is indeed very timely. Against a background of increasing migration and financial flows, postal services take on added significance as a driver of economic growth and development.

The United Nations welcomes the focus on sustainable development at this Congress. Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our era and one of the Secretary-General’s top priorities. Efforts to address it must cut across both national and institutional boundaries. The UPU’s joint initiative with the United Nations Environment Programme to calculate the volumes of greenhouse gasses generated by the postal sector and to offer postal operators solutions to reduce these emissions will make an important practical contribution to greening postal services as they expand.

More than 660,000 postal outlets worldwide form a unique communications network and infrastructure. Access to postal services – to receive remittances, for example – can make all the difference to a low-income family or to a small-scale enterprise. With postal access, people can plan for the future and invest in education to break the cycle of poverty and vulnerability. As the international community steps up efforts to realize the Millennium Development Goals, we must continue to capitalize on this gateway to exchange between people and businesses. The Nairobi Postal Strategy provides a framework for unlocking that potential to confront poverty, advance education, bridge the digital divide and strengthen the global partnership for development to an even greater extent – at national, regional and global levels.

In an interconnected world, the effectiveness of our Organization depends on our ability to forge strong partnerships with all stakeholders in pursuit of common goals. The UPU’s inclusive collaborative initiatives with partners – within the Organization, with regional and other international organizations, the private sector and with civil society – are valuable examples of the effectiveness of this approach. I commend this firm commitment, which is also a central element of the Nairobi Postal Strategy.

Our collective challenge is to enhance these constructive partnerships to meet the world’s demands for increased access – to communication and to services. I trust that your discussions at the Congress will serve to do just that, and I wish you all success.

Thank you very much.