Sri Lanka attends Group of 77 50th anniversary celebrations

Friday, 4 July 2014 01:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka was part of the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Group of 77 held in Vienna, Austria with week-long celebration which began on 23 June. The activities included colourful cultural performances, food festivals and even a charity event. The rich diversity of food and culture from G77 countries representing the three continents was a special attraction to thousands of guests who witnessed the events from 23 to 27 June. Sri Lankan drummers and dancers provided by the Ministry of Skills Development and Youth Affairs enthralled the audience at the Vienna International Centre with their performances each day.

Li Yong, Director General of UNIDO, speaking at the formal launching of the celebration, recalled the productive partnership between the Vienna Chapter of G77 and UNIDO and the continued relevance of the ideals of G77 as the United Nations was engaged in the elaboration of the post-2015 Development Agenda and the ‘Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development’ was being advanced. He also welcomed the Special Summit of the Group of 77 and China held in Bolivia on 14-15 June, which resulted in the adoption of Santa Cruz Declaration. The event was addressed by Yuri Fedetov, Director General of the United Nations Office in Vienna, who is also the Executive Director of the UNODC, Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), Kuwaku Anning, Deputy Director General, on behalf of IAEA Director General Yukia Amano. The leadership provided by Sri Lanka to the G 77 commemoration, which included both substantive and ceremonial activities, was highly commended. At the classical music evening performed by two renowned musicians pianist Shani Diluka, a Sri Lankan, and cellist Valentin Erbin, an Ausrian, at Haus der Music in Vienna on 24 June. Director General Li Yong addressed the gathering as the Chief Guest. The event was organised by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka, to commemorate both the 50th anniversary of G77 and the 60th Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s bilateral relations with Austria. Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative and Chair of G77 in Vienna, in his opening remarks at these events, stressed that the G77 Vienna Chapter has been a dynamic and vibrant participant and has made a significant contribution towards the Vienna multilateral processes. He also stated that G77 proactively pursues the common objectives articulated by its founders half a century ago and has contributed to advancing south-south cooperation, the two goals which he said that Sri Lanka has consistently promoted. He thanked the representatives of the Permanent Missions in Vienna, the Diplomatic Corps., the United Nations Office in Vienna and the international organisations for their active support and specific contribution for the commemorative activities. Marking the 50th anniversary, the G77 in Vienna had also launched the first issue of the G77 Newsletter. The proceeds from the charity event were sent to St. Anna Kinderspital for cancer research for children.