Madame Chair,

On behalf of the Eastern European Group I would like to express high appreciation of your work done leading the UNEP Committee of Permanent Representatives and its Bureau.

We are much grateful to you for keeping high the profile of the Eastern European Group using every possible occasion. It was not an easy task, taking into account that only one third of the Group is physically present in Nairobi.

I would like to reaffirm our continuing commitment to contribute constructively and effectively to the work of the Committee of Permanent Representatives led by the new Bureau and the new Chairperson, our good friend High Commissioner and Permanent Representative of Botswana Ambassador Moreti.

Let me also on my part welcome our incoming member of the Bureau – Permanent Representative of Poland to UNEP and UN-Habitat Ambassador Marek Rohr-Garztecki.

I thank you, Madame Chair.

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