The Universal Postal Union announced today it will move this year’s 24th Universal Postal Congressfrom Nairobi to Geneva due to the current situation in Kenya.
The UPU Congress was scheduled to take place in Nairobi from 13 August to 3 September 2008.The event attended by about 1,500 delegates from the UPU’s 191 member countries will now take placein Geneva from mid-July to early August; the exact dates remain to be confirmed.
A resolution adopted by the UPU Council of Administration on Friday also recommended thatCongress approve Kenya’s chairmanship of that Congress as well as the chairmanship of the UPUCouncil of Administration from 2009-2012. It will also recommend promoting Nairobi as the venue forthe UPU Strategy Conference in 2010.
Kenya has not yet communicated its response to this resolution, the UPU said.
In a presentation to the Council before the decision was taken, Samuel L. Pohgisio, Ministerof Information and Communication for Kenya, had asked the Council to continue supporting Kenya inpreparing the Congress. “Although Kenya has recently experienced some post-election violence, weare confident that the situation has sufficiently stabilized and that complete peace has beenrestored in most parts of the country. In addition, significant progress has been achieved at thecurrent mediation talks and the goodwill demonstrated by all parties provides strong indicationsthat a lasting solution on all issues is within sight,” said the Minister. He was accompanied byKenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Maria Nzomo.
UPU member countries decided, however, that time was of the essence. UPU Regulations boundthe organization to having a Congress in 2008. The UPU must hold a Congress every four years. Thelast one was held in Bucharest, Romania, in 2004.
The situation in Kenya currently prevents the UPU International Bureau to work effectivelywith Kenya on continuing to organize a Congress in Nairobi. As a specialized agency of the UnitedNations, the UPU follows UN security rules. At the moment, the UN has implemented security phase IIin Nairobi and phase III in the entire Rift Valley. As such, all non-essential UN missions to Kenyaremain suspended.
Under UPU General Regulations, when circumstances prevent the designated host country of aCongress to organize the international meeting as planned, the UPU International Bureauheadquartered in Berne organizes the Congress in Switzerland. This is done in agreement with theSwiss Government.
“Kenya has shown great strength and courage in defending its position, but in the end adecision had to be made in the interest of the UPU and its member countries,” said UPU DirectorGeneral Edouard Dayan. “The decision shows our wish to keep Kenya at the centre of the Congressorganization and the work of the UPU, and we can guarantee that the UPU Congress will be held thisyear as planned. We are very grateful to the Swiss authorities for their support in welcoming theCongress in Geneva, and we hope that the International Bureau will be able to work closely withKenya to ensure the event’s success.”
