THE CSCE SECRETARIAT DEPARTMENT FOR CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE SUPPORT Vienna, 11 March 1994 PRESS RELEASE 6/94 SECOND MEETING OF THE CSCE ECONOMIC FORUM PRAGUE, 15 - 17 MARCH 1994 1. The Second Meeting of the CSCE Economic Forum will convene on 15 - 17 March 1994 at Czernin Palace in Prague. The first plenary session is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, 15 March, at 10 a.m. 2. The Prague Meeting of the CSCE Council of Foreign Ministers held in January 1992 agreed to establish the Economic Forum as part of the efforts to strengthen the focus of CSCE on the transition to, and development of, free-market economies as an essential contribution to the building of democracy. The objective is to give political stimulus to the dialogue on the transition process and suggest practical efforts for the development of free-market economies, as well as to encourage activities under way within existing international organizations. The first meeting of the Forum was held in March 1993. It is expected that the Second Meeting of the Economic Forum will discuss issues related to the creation of favourable business climate, the conditions for mutual trade and investments, the role of infrastructures, as well as the role of science and technology in the process of sustainable economic and social development. Mr. Vladimir Dlouhy, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, will address the opening meeting of the Economic Forum. Representatives from ECE, OECD, EBRD, EIB; IBRD, IMF, ILO, UNEP, Council of Europe, ICC, GATT, and UNESCO have been invited to attend, and make contributions to, the Economic Forum. Invitations have been also extended to Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Morocco and Tunisia as CSCE non-participating Mediterranean States, as well as to experts from the Commonwealth of Independent States. 3. In accordance with Chapter IV, paragraph 15 of the Helsinki Document 1992, the plenary sessions of the Economic Forum will be open for attendance by NGOs. 4. Press representatives will be able to attend the opening and closing meetings of the Economic Forum. There will be also short photo opportunity at the beginning of each plenary meeting. The Chairman of the Economic Forum, Ambassador Gian Luigi Valenza, will be available to journalists for a short briefing prior to the opening of the Forum on 15 March at 9:30 a.m. A concluding press briefing will be held on 17 March at 2:30 p.m. at Czernin Palace. Other briefings will be scheduled as necessary. 5. NGO/Press accreditation can be obtained by showing working identification at the accreditation desk at the entrance of Czernin Palace (address: Loretanske namesti 5, Prague 1). Contact in Vienna: Mr. Piotr Switalski, Senior Diplomatic Adviser/Department for Chairman-in-Office Support, (Tel. 51436, Ext. 15, fax: 51436-99) Contact in Prague: Press/NGO Desk, Czernin Palace, Prague, 14 March (3 p.m.) - 17 March (6 p.m.) (Tel. +42 2- 2418 21 23)