ICA Press Release

UN Secretary-General reaffirms support to co-operative movement
in his meeting with ICA President

Geneva, Switzerland, 24 April 2002, for immediate release -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan underlined his continued support to the co-operative movement during his meeting with the ICA President, Ivano Barberini on 23 April 2002 at the UN headquarters in New York. "Co-operatives have been able to help millions of people of around the world improve their lives. They are an effective organising mechanism," said Mr. Annan. The meeting accorded by the Secretary-General to ICA officials during these politically turbulent times was a clear message to co-operators that the United Nations recognised the co-operative movement as an important segment of organised civil society able to have real impact on the major issues faced by societies worldwide.

ICA President, Ivano Barberini with UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.

"ICA is seeking to open a new chapter of collaboration with the United Nations," said Mr. Barberini. ICA and the UN have common goals and values. They seek to promote sustainable economic and social development, and thereby peace. In this regard Mr. Barberini congratulated Mr. Annan personally as well as the United Nations for the rightful recognition of their role in promoting peace with the receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mr. Barberini further thanked the Secretary-General for the UN's support to co-operatives with his annual messages for the UN International Day of Co-operatives, the bi-annual Secretary-General's report, and the recently adopted UN Guidelines on Co-operatives. These were key documents that brought a higher visibility to co-operatives and a clear message from the United Nations on the importance of co-operatives around the world. The ICA President then extended an invitation to the Secretary-General to address ICA's General Assembly to be held in the autumn of 2003 in Oslo. "By participating in this meeting, the United Nations would be able to address the hundreds of millions of co-operators through the leaders of the co-operative world," said Mr. Barberini. The theme of the meeting would address economic and social development of co-operatives.

Mr. Annan reaffirmed his continued support to co-operatives saying that ICA can "count on me and the United Nations". The United Nations encouraged partnership and ICA was a good partner. He welcomed the invitation to participate in ICA's General Assembly and hoped to be able to participate. He concluded by asking the President to convey his best wishes to co-operators around the world.

The International Co-operative Alliance is an independent, non-governmental association which unites, represents and serves co-operatives worldwide. The ICA was founded in London in 1895. Its members are national and international co-operative organisations in all sectors of activity including agriculture, banking, energy, industry, insurance, fisheries, housing, tourism and consumer co-operatives. ICA has more than 220 member organisations from over 91 countries, representing more than 760 million individuals worldwide.