20100425
ANGOP

New York - Angolan minister of Social Communication, Carolina Cerqueira, arrived Sunday in New York to attend the 32nd Session of the UN Information Committee, running from April 26 to May 07, at the UN headquarters.

The Angolan government official, at the head of a delegation integrating National Director of Information, José Luis de Matos, and Director of Office, Solange Machado, is expected to address the event on Monday.

The UN Information Committee was created in 1978 aimed at promoting a fairer world informative order which contributes to peace and understanding.

The Committee comprises 113 effective members and meets annually at the UN headquarters in New York to review the information and communication policy of that world organisation.

The resolutions approved at each session of the Committee are submitted to the UN General Assembly of the same year for adoption.

Currently, the Committee is chaired by Cape Verde, with Iran in the vice-presidency.

Angola held the post of vice-presidency from 2007 to 2009.

During her working visit, the Angolan minister will meet with the UN under-secretary general for Communications and Public Information, Kiyo Akasaka, to address issues related to the opening in Luanda of a United Nations Information Centre to meet the specific needs of the Portuguese Speaking African Countries (PALOP).

The setting up of the referred centre is a response to a request made by the Angolan government in 2002 and whose opening was approved in December 2009 after the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly.

The UN Information Centres (UNIC) were created in order to promote a global information network, with a view to increasing knowledge of the world community about the United Nations system and facilitate access to information through cooperation with governments, civil society and private sector.

These organs are part of the Department of UN Public Information (DPI). There are currently 63 information centres worldwide, namely 17 in Africa, 10 in America, 12 in Asia and Pacific and 15 in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

During her stay in New York, the minister will meet with the press attachés of the Permanent Mission of Angola to the United Nations, officials from the Embassies in the United States and Cuba and the General Consulates in New York and Houston.

The meeting aims to improve methods of operation of press officers within the government's strategy for Institutional Communication and Press.