17th SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IUCN AND 17th ...

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OPENING ADDRESSES
Opening Ceremony (79:)
The Opening Ceremony was held in the National Theatre. It
began with an audiovisual presentation on the work of IUCN
and the National Anthem of Costa Rica. Opening addresses
were then given by:
The President of IUCN. Dr Monkombu Swaminathan (Annex 4).
The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), Dr Mostafa K. Tolba (Annex 5).
The President of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Annex 6).
The Minister of Government and Police, Lic. R. Ramírez
Paniagua, presented the President of IUCN with the
exclusive edition of stamps produced for the 17th Session
of the IUCN General Assembly.
The President of Costa Rica, Dr Oscar Arias Sanchez, and
the Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mines,
Dr Alvaro Umaña, signed the Presidential Decree declaring
1988 as the Year of Natural Resources, Conservation and
Environmental Protection.
Dr Swaminathan presented President Arias with a bronze
plaque of the World Charter for Nature.
The President of the Republic of Costa Rica. HE Dr Oscar
Arias Sanchez, then gave his opening address (Annex 7).
At the end of the ceremony, participants accompanied the
President and his party in a walk to the National Museum
where the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica hosted
a reception of welcome in honour of the General Assembly.
Greetings from Heads of State and Heads of Government
During the 17th Session, the following Heads of State
graciously transmitted greetings and best wishes to the
General Assembly of IUCN (Annex 8):
HE Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo, President of the Republic
of Guatemala
HE Daniel Ortega Saavedra, President of the Republic
of Nicaragua