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On17 January in New York Lithuania’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Dalius Čekuolis was elected President of the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for 2007. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs José Antonio Ocampo and other high officials congratulated Ambassador Čekuolis on this occasion.

Ambassador Čekuolis noted that Lithuania which recently marked the 15th anniversary of its UN membership appreciates the confidence that other states showed by electing Lithuania’s Permanent Representative as the President of the Council.

„Responsibility of heading the third main body of the UN is of special importance to Lithuania, which received international community’s assistance for reforms ten years ago,” Ambassador Čekuolis said.

In his opening statement the new President of the Council named the main elements on which the activities of the ECOSOC should be based in 2007. More active dialogue between the ECOSOC and financial organizations of the world will be sought. Annual Ministerial Reviews of the progress in implementation of the UN Development Agenda and Development Cooperation Forum will be organized for the first time. The role of the ECOSOC  in coordination of the UN economic and social affairs should be strengthened. In cooperation with the Peacebuilding Commission established in 2006, experience of the ECOSOC will be accumulated to ensure lasting and coherent development in post-conflict states.