On November 15-16, 2005 UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis M.O’Donnell and members of UN country team visited Donetsk and Lugansk regions to meet the representatives of local governance, civil society organisations and business sector.
During his visit to Donetsk, Mr. O’Donnell met the Governor of Donetsk Oblast Mr. Chuprun, the Mayor of Donetsk Mr. Lukyanchenko and the First Deputy of Donetsk Oblast Council Mr. Zats. The United Nations continues to support the people and institutions of in developing and implementing effective and sustainable policies targeted at civil society empowerment and nation’s prosperity. This year the United Nations system in Ukraine and the Government of Ukraine signed the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) elaborated on the basis of a recent Common Country Assessment. This concept is a core document for coordinating UN agencies’ programmes and for elaborating joint initiatives and plans with the Government of Ukraine for the period of 2006-2010. During this visit the priorities of Donetsk government policy for the upcoming years, as well as economic reforms, health and environmental challenges, strategy of regional development were discussed with the representatives of the local authorities. Besides, Mr. O’Donnell visited the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant and met the representatives of business sector to discuss economic aspects of regional development. Also, the delegation had a chance to talk to the representatives of the Donbass non-governmental organisations to discuss and to assess perspectives and future initiatives on empowering civil society, ensuring gender equality and increasing environmental sustainability in this region.
On November 15, 2005 Mr. Francis O'Donnell was a guest of live information and analytical program "V kurse" at the TV company "Kiev Rus". Talking about localisation of Media Development Goals as well as UNDAF joint programming for five upcoming years, Mr.O'Donnell emphasized importance of citizens' active position and committed participation in building their own future.
In Luhansk Mr. O’Donnell met with local media community in the frameworks of the press-club “Localisation of Media Development Goals”. This discussion took place in the threshold of the upcoming public hearing on Millennium Development Goals to be held on November 19, 2005 in Luhansk. Natalia Sitniova, Manager of UNDP Project "Millennium Development Goals" and Irina Akimova, Director of Information and analytical centre "Blue Ribbon" also took part in this discussion and answered the questions of journalists, as well as presented analytical materials produced by the respective projects.
Mr. O’Donnell also visited Teplogorsk city and talked to the acting mayor to learn about the situation at the depressed territories and major challenges faced by the local communities.
Photo report on the trip of Mr. O'Donnell to Donetsk and Luhansk regions could be found here. For further information, please contact:
Veronika Vashchenko
Communication Officer
(+38 044) 254-0035
e-mail:
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14.11.05
