Secretary-General, in Video Message, Expresses Hope World Tunnel Congress

 

Will Contribute Ideas to Rio+20 Process

 

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the World Tunnel Congress, in Bangkok, 21 May:

Professor In-Mo Lee, ITA President, Dr. Suchatvee Suwanswat, TUTG President, Distinguished Guests and Delegates.

I am pleased to send greetings to the World Tunnel Congress.  I thank the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA), and the Thailand Underground and Tunnelling Group, for convening this important gathering.

The United Nations and the ITA have a strong partnership dating back a quarter century.  I am grateful to the Association for its contributions as an officially recognized non-governmental organization.

Your Congress meets just one month before the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.  Rio+20 will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help shape the future we want.

Tunnels have great potential to promote sustainable development. They can deliver clean water. They can drain floods. And of course, they are crucial for transport and the development of cities.

I hope you will use this Congress to discuss global issues such as climate change and the scarcity of natural resources.  I encourage you to contribute your ideas to the Rio+20 process.

The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association has great potential to help build a sustainable future for all.  In that spirit, I wish you great success and look forward to continuing our cooperation.  Thank you.

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For information media • not an official record