The Russian Federation is planning to enhance cooperation with UN-HABITAT by establishing an office in Moscow which will also serve the greater Commonwealth of Independent States region. A Habitat Programme Manager has already been appointed to work on the parameters of the engagement. At a press conference on the sidelines of the 22nd Session of the Governing Council of UN-HABITAT, Sergey Kruglik, Russian Deputy Minister for Regional Development said “The office would act as an important centre to extend the activities of UN-HABITAT not only in our country but in the region as a whole and we will be very happy to see its establishment,” He said his country was taking the twin issues of climate change and the global financial crisis- the theme of this year’s Governing Council- seriously because they were important to both developing and developed countries. The Deputy Minister was accompanied by Mayor Khrestin of Gelendzhik and Mayor Sokolov of Khabarovsk who said their cities were looking forward to greater cooperation with UN-HABITAT especially in areas of energy and affordable housing. |
