Opening Meeting of Annual Pledging Conference

Forty-six states this morning announced their financial support, approximating the equivalent of $130 million, for the 1966 activities of the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance and the United Nations Social Fund. The announcements were made at the opening meeting of the annual Pledging Conference to which all Members of the United Nations orof its related agencies were invited. States participating in the Conference this year include the 117 United Nations Members, plus the Federal Republic of Germany, the Holy See, the Republic of Korea, Monaco, Switzerland and the Republic of Viet-Nam. The Conference unanimously elected Danilo Lekic (Yugoslavia) as president; Paul Tremblay (Canada), First Vice-President; and Bonjean Francois Ondo (Gabon) Second Vice-President.

Danilo Lekic (centre), President of the Conference, making a statement. At left is David Owen, Executive Chairman of the Technical Assistance Board, and at right is Paul Hoffman, Managing Director of the Special Fund.