URU, Alm.del - 2007-08 (2. samling) - Bilag 219: Invitation til fælles nordisk FN-rejse til Liberia 12.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Foreign Affairs Committees of

Denmark, Finland, Iceland,

Norway and Sweden

Copenhagen, 15 August 2008

Dear friends,

The Nordic Offices of UNDP, UNFPA and WFP and the Nordic National Committees of UNICEF kindly address the Foreign Affairs Committees of the five Nordic countries.

It is an important objective for the Nordic UN liaison offices to enhance the relationship between the UN and the national Parliaments in the Nordics.

To this end we have - over the past four years - successfully conducted field visits for Nordic Parliamentarians to Zambia (2004), Malawi (2006), Mozambique (2007) and Nicaragua (2008). The participants have found the field visits to be a valuable way of gaining an increased understanding the work of United Nations in the field.

We are therefore very pleased to invite representatives of the Nordics Parliaments to participate in the 2009 field visit. The destination will be Liberia and the visit will take place from 12 -16 January 2009 (excluding travel time) â€“ please see draft programme attached.

While not a priority country for all Nordic countries, Liberia is a post-conflict country and thus offers an opportunity for a first hand view of the serious challenges faced by a country which is restructuring after a civil war. In addition, Liberia has put special emphasis on achieving gender equality (MDG 3) as an integrated aspect of the current post-conflict development of the country which is an area of special interest to the Nordic countries.

We look forward to receiving an indication as to the interest in participating from each of the Nordic Foreign Affairs Committees and, in the affirmative, an identification of the participants and possibly alternate participants as well. In order not to operate with a very large group we suggest that each of the committees limit their participation to two persons.

We hope that previous participants will share their experiences with potential new participants on this once-a-year opportunity to get a first hand impression of the work of the UN in the field.

Please direct your responses to the respective national focal points:

Finland - Pasi Rajala, +45 3546 7150, [email protected]

Sweden â€“ Monica Lorensson, +46 854 523 250, [email protected]

Norway - Line Hegna, + 47 2306 0829, [email protected]

Iceland â€“ Birgitte Pedersen, +45 3546 7134, [email protected]

Denmark - Asger Ryhl, +45 3546 7033, [email protected]

We are looking forward to your reactions.

Yours sincerely,

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Jakob SimonsenÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mikael Bjerrum

DirectorÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Director

UNDP Nordic OfficeÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â WFP Nordic Office

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Asger RyhlÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Steen Andersen

ChiefÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Secretary General

UNFPA Nordic OfficeÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â UNCIEF (on behalf of the Nordic national Committees)