NOTE TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL Re: World Economic Forum
You will recall that you sent a letter to the United Nations participants in the World Economic Forum, asking for their reflections on issues that arose at the Forum and possible follow up action by the UN. Thus far, you have received replies from Mr. Arlacchi, Mrs. Ogata, Mr. Petrovsky, Mr. Ricupero, Mrs. Robinson, Mr. Speth and Mr. TSpfer. The principal points they made are: NETWORKING: One of the most valuable aspects of the World Economic Forum is the opportunity for networking. It provides exposure for the United Nations to the business community as well as finance and trade ministers (Speth), and helps establish linkages with the political and economic leadership (Robinson). The opportunity to establish relationships with leading representatives of the private sector is useful for the day-to-day work of UN officials in their respective areas (Arlacchi, Ogata, Petrovsky, Robinson and Topfer). The WEF is a gathering of the successful ("those who have made it77) and therefore the discussions are not very probing: "it is a better forum for broadening than for deepening77 (Speth).
BUSINESS CONSULTATIVE GROUP: The continued existence of the BCG as an informal group is worthwhile (Ricupero), but it is not clear what of importance will emerge from it (Speth). The first session was poorly planned and not conducive to establishing practical collaborations (Speth). The results were a bit disappointing; none of the presentations at the BCG meetings received much reaction from the participants (Ogata). ENVIRONMENT: The environment - pre-eminently a UN issue - remains a useful area for dialogue and collaboration with the business community. The sooner the UN gets its house in order, the better (Speth). Altogether, the Davos meetings are important for the development of policy and strategy on the environment, and a concrete result of discussions at Davos was the intention to develop a global dialogue on "environment and peace77 (Topfer). The Islamic world should be integrated step-by-step into global efforts for environmentally sound policies and sustainable development (Topfer). ASIA CRISIS; The Asia crisis was one of the issues that demonstrated the challenges of globalization and the need for more effective responses from international organizations, including the UN (Robinson). Appreciation was expressed for UNCTAD7s analytical work on the Asia crisis (Ricupero). UN interventions on the subject were well-received, and Stu Eizenstat has invited UNDP to work with him and others on additional assistance (Speth).
rnif»#°» /^r^Trr^-1- •—J
f af 13 FOLLOW UP: > The UN should continue to participate in Davos. It provides an "exceptional" forum to garner support from the world business community, which should be putting its weight increasingly behind the authority of the UN in its principled and even-handed approach to current global challenges (Robinson). > Beyond an agreement to meet again next year, it was not clear how the BCG should proceed. Further efforts must be made to set the agenda by the United Nations Secretariat and the development groups which will be the main contributors. The Secretary-General may wish to designate a focal point (Ogata and Petrovsky) or a small group among the international organization leaders to prepare the UN system better (Ogata). > UNDP has a list of some 20 follow-up items, including a) pursuing with Klaus Schwab his idea of making the BCG a clearing house on National Advisory Council best practices and experiences; and b) pursuing with Percy Barnevik the proposal for National Advisory Councils in Africa and elsewhere - the Secretary-General can now write a more "complete" letter to Mr. Barnevik on this than he was able to do on 4 February (Speth). > The UN should follow the "Trustees 21" (priorities for the next century) programme, with Maurice Strong being the best point of contact (Speth). > UNHCHR is following up with Peter Sutherland and others on ways of developing a dialogue on "The Business Case for Human Rights" (Robinson). > UNOG will be cooperating actively to prepare for the ICC Geneva Business Dialogue with the Specialized Agencies, from 23 to 24 September 1998 (Petrovsky). > The Secretary-General should provide a mechanism to establish clear lines of communication with mayors and other local authorities who are seeking to develop im) dialogue and cooperation with the UN (Petrovsky). v\Nt I > UNDCP will follow up on efforts to draw the private sector into drug control, particularly through conferences on substance abuse in the workplace (Arlacchi). We have the letters on file, should you wish to see them. Would you like to send reminder letters to those who have not replied (i.e. Dr. Brundtland, Mr. Fischer and Mr. Sandstrom)?^-.!*
Shashi Tharoor 13 April 1998 Administrator United Nations Development Programme Sustainable human development
9 February 199&
Dear Mr. Secretary-General, FEB 1 0 1998 Re: Davos World Economic Forum IEXECUTVE OFFICE THE SECRETARY-GENERAL As I mentioned in my letter to you of 2 February 1998,1 very much appreciated the opportunity to participate with you in the World Economic Forum in Davos. In response to your letter of 3 February, I would offer the following.
1. The principal adyantage_pf our participation in this event isjhe exposure it provides for the United Nations with a community (private business, finance and trade ministers, etc.") where we have beeji too weak in the past and are working to strengthen ties. With your leadership, the profile and presence the United Nations is definitely raised with these groups.
For this reason, I spent considerable time with the WEF "Business Consultative Group" and in bilateral meetings with business leaders (e.g. a private breakfast with Goren Lindahl).
I'm not sure what of importance will emerge from the Business Consultative Group idea. I learned from one-on-one discussions that some of the business association participants did not fully understand the proposal and had not fully bought into it. The first session was poorly planned in my view; it was hard to get to practical collaborations. When I was finally able to get the floor, I spoke positively about Percy Barnevik's proposal for National Advisory Councils. I committed UNDP to pick up on this idea and pilot it further in Africa and elsewhere. Accordingly, you are now in a position to write a more complete letter to Barnevik than you were able to when you wrote him on 4 February. Subsequently, Klaus Schwab suggested that the WEF Business Consultative Group could provide a clearing house on National Advisory Council best practices and experiences. I will continue to pursue these matters and keep you informed. I have a long list of business leaders with whom I made follow-up arrangements (Hormats, Schmidheiny, Fites, etc.).
H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan Secretary-General United Nations New York
One United Nations Plaza • New York, NY 10017 2. The Informal Group of World Economic Leaders (IGWEL) was more interesting than last year, I thought. We will certainly want to follow up with the "Trustees 21" idea (priorities for the new century); Maurice is our best contact there. IGWEL seemed to be geared this year to that process, along with the Asian financial markets problem. Regarding the latter, I was able to place an Op Ed in the International Herald Tribune during Davos, and it was well received, as were, I believe, our UN interventions on this subject during the IGWEL discussions. My comments on protecting the region social gains resulted in an invitation from Stu Eizenstat to work with him and others on additional assistance. I am following-up.
3. Environmental issues figures more prominently than before, due no doubt to the Kyoto results. This remains a useful area for dialogue and collaboration with the business community and, unlike the core issues in the Asian discussions, these issues are pre-eminently United Nations issues. The sooner we get our house in order (UNEP, etc.), the better. I have discussed with Maurice the desirability of using your proposed "issue management system" to manage the issue of climate/energy over the coming year. (In this area also Eizenstat sought my assistance. You will recall he led the U.S. negotiations at Kyoto.)
4. President Rawlings, if I understood him correctly, express concerns that French-US rivalry in Africa seemed to be replacing Cold War rivalry, with unfortunate effects. This may be something you want to pursue.
5. Finally, let me offer some private observations about Davos itself. It is a great spot for networking and making useful contacts. For example, I have a list of over 20 follow-up items. But it is truly a gathering of the successful - those who have made it to the virtual omission of those who do not. There's a heavy overlay of self- satisfaction, self importance, and complacency regarding many of the issues with which we struggle. The discussions are not very probing; Indonesia was the center of attention in 1997, and I do not recall any forewarnings. It is a better forum for broadening than deepening.
I hope these observations are helpful. Please let me know how I might assist further.
Best regards,
James Gustave Speth NATIONS UFO E UNITEB MATI.ONB Le Haul Commissaire aux The High Commissioner for droits de 1'homme Human Rights PALAIS DBS NATIONS CH-1211 GENEVE 10
February 26,1998
Dear Secretary-General,
Thank you for your letter of 3 February requesting a note on the issues / that arose at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos which are of special , concern and interest to the United Nations, and an indication of any follow up , / action taken or which might be appropriate. '
I would like, first of all, to emphasize the importance of the context itself, as an opportunity to reinforce key messages to a singularly important audience.
The program for the informal group of World Economic Leaders provided working sessions during which the UN participation demonstrated an openness to new linkages with the political and economic leadership. The continuing dialogue with the WEF forms part of the shaping and projecting of a reformed, effective and relevant UN organization.
Of particular significance to us is the creation of the Business Consultative Group to the International Organizations, which was an important initiative of the Forum. The working lunch and afternoon session of 30 January initiated a more structured approach on which, I believe, each of us should try to build hi our own particular areas. I am, for example, in the process of following up with Peter Sutherland and the business participants on ways of developing a dialogue on 'The Business Case for Human Rights' by addressing two topics:
Mr. Kofi Annan Secretary-General United Nations New York
,oU 1. The direct relevance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the ethical challenges of business both nationally and transnationally; and
2. The importance of respect for human rights to stability and good governance, and therefore to the long term success of business investment.
The most pressing human rights issue at Davos was the need to explain, both to UN colleagues and other participants, why it would not be appropriate to support the specific proposal of InterAction for a draft declaration on human responsibilities to 'balance' the Universal Declaration. It was important, in doing so, to emphasize the relevance of focusing on issues of responsibilities and duties, bearing in mind the concerns of many countries, and ensure that our rededication to the Universal Declaration is influenced by this debate.
Both the plenary sessions and the smaller groups on world economic brainstorming raised current concerns on geopolitical challenges of which I found the following to be of particular interest:
* International economic governance, with particular focus on the crisis in Asia; the financial markets have become global but international regulation is lagging behind;
* Managing the challenges of China's emergence as a great power;
* Dealing with potential terrorism involving biological, chemical or nuclear weapons rather than car bombs, etc;
* Addressing transnational problems such as drugs, disease and environmental concerns.
A theme cutting across the discussions was that the challenges of globalization require more effective responses from international organizations, including the UN, which correspondingly provides us with opportunities.
I also welcomed the opportunity to renew political and personal contacts in my current position and I am following up on several potential fund-raising leads. Year by year, the world business community should be putting their weight increasingly behind the authority of the UN in its principled and even- handed approach to current global challenges. Davos provides an exceptional forum for this support to be garnered.
With warm good wishes,
Sincerely,
Mary Robinson 25/0.3 '98 MER 14:31 FAX 41 22 739 73 48 UNHCR-HIGH COMMISSIONER E1002
NATIONS UNIES UNFTEP NATIONS LE HAUT COMMISSAIRE THE HIGH COMMISSIONER POUR LES REFUGI5S FOR REFUGEES
Cose Pastolc 2500 CONFIDENTIAL fB g i! i E CH-1 211 Genfiv/e 2 Depot IW25 l -j. 24 March 1998 EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
Dear Mr. Secretary-General,
"\ Thank you yeryjmuch for ^urjkjtter of^^5bjamry;_asking_for my^ views on the World A^ • Economic ^orumjjgeejjngjin January 1998. I apologise for the delayed response as I was travelling in Africa during the month of February and have just started to examine my correspondence.
I have been associated with the Worjd Econornjc _Forum for the past seven years as a particij^j]tj£i_tr^jnj^^ Leaders. Aside from the two days of exclusive scssiuns uf ihc EUUIIUIIUU LcaHcis I have paiij^ipansd in many uuliui piuiiiaiiuuca ami have used the occasion to engage in bilateral meetings.
This year, I had extensive discussions, among others, with President Museveni and Deputy President. Mbeld, ...whichL.wer e very useful jn j^paring_for_my subsequent Africa trip. So long as I will continue to be invited, I plan to attend the World Economic Forum, as I can benefit from a wide range of contacts both in terms of persons and ideas. Furthermore, being based in Geneva, I have established close cooperation with Klaus Schwab and the Secretariat,
As to the Business Crjusnltative Grnnri meerinff. .which was a new initiatiye^-J—was disappointed by the overall result. None of the presentations received much reaction from the participants. Actually, there were very limited international representatives present on the second day of the meeting, besides Mr. Ricupero and myself. I have shared my impressions with Peter Sutherland. Aside from agreeing to meet next year, there was no certainty as to how to proceed.
Mr, Kofi A. Annan Secretary-General United Nations United Nations Headquarters New York
03/25/98 WED 09:30 [TX/RX NO 5665] 1002 25./03 'OS UER 14:52 PAX 41 22 730 73 HB UNHCE-HICH COUMIS9IONER
-2-
I should add that it was not easy to g^^bijjejjgnie4|fj
Yours sincerely,
Sadako Ogata
03/25/98 WED 09:30 [TX/RX NO 5665] 0003 SENT.BY: 9- 3-98 ; 14:42 ; UNEP NAIROBI- 00012129632155;# I/ 2
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME PROGRAMME DES NATIONS UNIES POUR L'ENVIRONNEMENT
Cable Address: UNITERRA NAIROBI P. O. Box 30552 Telephone: (254 2) 624001/2 Nairobi, Kenya Telefax: (2542)226895/217119 Telex: 22068 UNEP KE E-mail: [email protected] i 11 D Your Reference: MAR-91998 Our Reference: Jfl 5 March 1998 EXECUTVE OFFICE OF THt SECRETARY-GENERAL Dear Secretary-General,
Thank you very much for your letter dated 3 February 1998. Due to the fact that this letter arrived here yesterday via Bonn I apologize for answering it so late.
For many years I have been invited by Professor Klaus Schwab to attend the World Ticoiiomic Forum as a Special guest. This year I wa~s invited as the outgoing Minister for Construction, Housing, RegionaTPlanning arid~ uTban Federal Republic of Germany and as the future Executive Director of ihe United Nations Environment Programme. Due to my heavily loaded time schedule I participated only on 1 and 2 February 1998. I was one of the keynote speakers in the meeting ; on ''energy industries and participated in the joint meeting of the automotive industry and the energy industry. With a view to rny J^e^apjpointment as Executive Director of UNEP 1 took _advantage of the presence of important representatives of the private industry and from J:he political arena to discuss environmental issues o£conimon jjnterest.
Being invited to participate in a working dinner on the environmental input to sustainable development I had the pleasure to discuss this topic also with the Vice President of Iran, H.E. Ms. Edtekar. 1 believe it is high time to integrate step by step, the Islamic world, especially the Arabic world, better into our global efforts tor environmentally sound policies and sustainable development-
One concrete result of all these discussions is the intention to develop a global dialogue on "environment and peace" which still needs to be structured. The organizer of the World Economic Forum was approached to better integrate in concrete terms environmental issues into discussions of economics and finance at the next year's World Economic Forum.
...12
Mr. Kofi Annan S ecretary-General United Nations New York, N.Y. 10017 U.S.A. Pax: (212) 963 2155
03/09/98 MON 06:39 [TX/RX NO 5280] SENT BY: 9- 3-98 ; 14 = 42 ; UNEF NAIROBI-* 000121290321^ 2/ 2 , j ' o *"" Uaited Nations Enviromneot Programme - Programme des Nations Unies pour I'environnemcni. Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Amhicnlc
- 2 - . Altogether I think that the annual meetings in Davos are of high importance for the development of the policy and strategy in the United Nations Environment Programme., the personal contacts with political and economic leaders around the world // . are a real help for the day to day decisions. :. ~'\ ""'""'-. -;-;-'-^ •;-•-' Yours sincerely,
Klaus Topfer Executive Director
03/09/98 MON 06:39 [TX/RX NO 5280] @!002 ^ ^ 17/02 '98 TLIE_Ofl:2^FAJL±4122_ap7 00 42 TJNCTAD/SGQ i]002 7
CONFERENCE DES NATIONS UNIES SUR UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE LE COMMERCE ET LE DEVELOPPEMENT ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
CADINTiT IJU SIX'Rli SECKJiTARY-ClINi-RAI/S W. 1.A CNUCKD OJ-'FICE
UNATIUNS. OKNLVR D UJOU Foloiti Dea Nations : >4IS1WI7«(S7 TiMphone. '41 23 9117 12 M FHB 1 71997
(A rnppolcr dims IB K 16 February 1998
Dear Mr. Secretary-General,
As you requested, 1 have the honour to provide you with information on those aspects of my .participation in the recent meetjngj^ Davos of the World Economic Forum relevant to .the future work of the United Nations.
I participated actively and fully in the meetings of the Business Consultative Group, including a discussion on the future of the Group itself, in the context of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting, The BCG found its continued existence as an informal body to be worthwhile - a sentiment with which I am in full agreement, in light of the high calibre of its participants and discussions. In the course of discussing the usefulness of maintaining regular contact with the United Nations system, a special session on climate change issues was proposed, focusing on the role of tradeable emissions permits. UNCTAD is ready to make Us expertise available in this regard.
As I have noted, I believe that it was beneficial that I remained with the BCG, where an interesting discussion took place on the Asian financial crisis, with the participation of Mr, Stanley Fischer, First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, and other prominent figures. There was an appreciation for UNCTAD's analytical research work on this subject, On a separate note, keen interest was shown by participants in UNCTAD's work on investment issues It was suggested that this could be the basis of a future discussion at Davos.
It was a pleasure to see you again, at Davos.
Yours sincerely,
Rubens Ricupero Secretary-General of UNCTAD
Mr. Kofi Annan Secretary-General United Nations New York 04/03 '98 10:41 KAi +431213455917 ODG/ED ODCCP 1^1 001
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT VIENNA UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR DRUG CONTROL AND CRIME PREVENTION THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL THE EXECUTIVE-DIRECTOR
VIENNA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE \ P.O. BOX 500. A-1400, VIENNA, AUSTRIA (S~ iW\ TELEPHONE: (43 1)21345-5001 TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS: UNATIONS VIENNA FAX: (43 1) 21345-5819 ,'
8 H I =n 26 February 1998 MAR -41998 I
Dear Mr. Secretary-General, L*-1
Thank you for your letter of 3 February requesting a brief report on my / participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. I (
Although the meeting lasted from 29 January to 3 February, other commitments limited my pculicipatipnjo just pne_day, 2,.February, The theme of the meeting was "Priorities for the 21st Century" and I joined_tw£ panels, the first on "The Global Drug Problem: Winning Strategles for the~1 Is^Centur^'^.aMftejgTOnd^iL'cWijl 21st Century Sgciety_be_an Uncivil "Society?".
Fellow panel members for the first session were Sheila Burke (Executive Dean and Lecturer, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University), Rick R. Little (President and C.E.O., International Youth Foundations), and Ethan A. Nadelmann, (Director, Lindesmith Center), and for the second were Amitat Etzioni (Professor, George Washington University), Robert D. Kaplan (Author and Editor Atlantic Monthly), Shimon Peres (Former Prime Minister of Israel) and Emma Rothschild (Director, Centre for History and Economics, King's College, Cambridge University U.K.).
While the discussions in both sessions were interesting, I felt that they were in themselves of limited value, since they did not include the type of interlocutor who would be able to engage in policy dialogue on these issues at the highest levels of world leadership.
As far as pointers for possible future action are concerned, were I to be jnvited to Davos again^I would plan to spend more time there in order to reap maximum benefit from the meeting. It is not so much by participating in the panel discussions that one can get one's message across, but, by taking advantage of the opportunity offered by such a gathering to establish relationships with leading representatives of major financial institutions, corporations
Mr. Kofi A. Annan S ecretary-GeneraJ United Nations New York, NY 10017 04/03 '9S 10:41 FAA +431213455917 ODG/ED Ui)CCl>
-2-
and the media. UNDCP has already sought to draw the private sector into the drug contro! arena, particularly through its series of conferences on substance abuse in the workplace. Contacts made at Davos could enable us to engage more closely in a dialogue with the top echelons of the business community on the relevance of drugs and crime to private industry.
My advice to other colleagues from the United Nations system invited to participate for the first time in the World Economic Forum would be, therefore, to concentrate their efforts less on being a panellist and to allow sufficient time to develop a good rapport with the other participants, who may prove useful policy advocates or sources of support in the future. I believe this is the real value of Davos.
Yours sincerely, n - u
Pino Arlacchi tl
OFFICE DES NATIONS UNIES A GENEVE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT GENEVA
T6l6fax: (41-22)9170123 Palais des Nations (Bureau du Directeur CH-1211 GENEVE 10 T$l£grammes::~ UNATfONS, (3ENEVE T6l6x: 41 29 62 T6l6phone: (41-22) 917 1234/907 1234 HP /si FEB I 9 1997 TELEFAX EXECUTVE OFFICE OPTHESECRETARY-GENERAl
A /TO: DE / FROM: The Secretary-General Vladimir Petrovsky through Mr. Iqbal Rtea Dir^tor-Gensral /^^^^ Chef de Cabinet, EOSG
FAX NO; 21 2 963 3511 FAX NO: (41-22)9170002 TEL NO: (41-22)9172855 DATE: 18 February 1998 PAGE 1 OF 2
In response to your letterjlatgcj_3^ February 1998 I am pleased to attach herewith a note on the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, pertaining in particular to UNOG and follow-up which may prove appropriate to this latter. Follow-up to the World Economic Forum in Davos
1, WTlth reference to the UN participation at the World Economic Forum and the Secretary- General's letter of 3 February 199S, please find below a few points on salient issues with relation to UNOG.
2. The perception of the United Nations by business leaders has steadily improved during the past five years. -This relationship has evolved from ignorance.and lack of understanding to a more 'cornprehenSrVe"appr6a^a^jgaJtua| support, although expecrations for the setting up of a more practical frar£evifprl| tolf*SHi^te|ac|K>n still need to be concretized.
3 . UNOG presence raised wjJsist, facilitating the participation of leaders from countries in transition, contributing to 'increaiaigithe involvement and understanding of this part of the world in sbsing the role played by the UN system, in particular such .also WTO. In addition, an increasing number of Mayors the Forum and approached UN officials with the aim of developing dialogue and cooperation based on the opening of the UN to the civil society.
Geneva Perspective ...
4, The venue of Davos has encouraged an increasing number of high governmental officials to visit Geneva with the aim of consolidating their relations with Geneva-based specialized agencies and UN programmes. It is now apparent that the United Nations and the participation of the Secretary- General can no longer be dissociated from the Davos Forum in dealing with global issues. The role of Geneva as the UN repository of know-how and knowledge, standard-setting, transfer of knowledge and technical assistance has thus been consolidated as an integral part of this participation. It is interfaced at this stage with OSCE, the Council of Europe and other regional organizations and this remains to be extended to other international organizations represented in Geneva.
5. The Davos Forum remains an indispensable tool for bilateral contacts at the highest level of decision-makers. In politics and economics, from the UN perspective, more concrete avenues should be explored so as to acWe.v.e.4r^pri3fied results in the form of concrete agreements and defined projects in the economic" arid socialr fields, tri 'order to enhance global and national governance; (a) Professor Schwab mentioned that the creation of- a Council of Economic Advisors in place of the Advisory Board oil Sustainable Development -would prove useful and provide a broader perspective, (b) It would be important for the Secretary-General to provide for a mechanism to establish clear lines of communication with Mayors of large cities and other local authorities who have a growing desire to contribute, (c) The organization of UN participation in Davos could be more rational, with the definition of objectives to be achieved at each session being prepared in advance. There is also need for improved organizational arrangements within the Secretariat ro better prepare for the Forum, v;ith the identification of focal points in both New York and Geneva.
6. As far as the United Nations Office at Geneva is concerned, active cooperation is currently taking place to prepare for the ICC Geneva Business Dialogue with the Specialized Agencies, from 23 to 24 September 1998 in Geneva for which you will be kept informed,