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GV & MV Kenyatta Conference Centre (2 shots)
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SVs of Iraqi, Malaysian, Thai, Dutch, Ghanaian, Greek, Spanish, Jamaican, Polish, New Zealand, Zaire Chinese, Portuguese Sri lankan, Ugandan, and Kuwaiti delegates (16 shots)
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SV Mrs. Benitez receives new president, Sr. Murray, who takes chair
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SV Sr. Murray addresses meeting in Spanish
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Initials CL/1730 CL/1740



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The United Nations' Environment Programme's (UNEP) governing council began its fourth session in Nairobi, Kenya, on tuesday (30 March) with the election of a new president
Senor Francisco Vizcaino Murray, of Mexico, was voted the man to succeed outgoing president, Mrs. Helena Benitez.

Sr. Murray thanked Mrs. Benitez for her efforts while in office and said the council looked forward to her "guiding presence" in the years ahead.

He pledged his devotion to the environment cause, and said he would not shirk the "hard work ahead".

230 delegates from the council's 58 member nations are attending the Kenyan meeting, which will last for two weeks.

They will review progress made in implementing the council's strategies and development, and discuss the wasteful and irrational use of natural resources, shared resources and energy.

Institutional arrangement for international environmental co-operation and the UNEP's financial situation will also be examined.

SYNOPSIS: The Kenyatta Conference Centre in Nairobi. where the fourth session of the United nations' environment Programme's (UNEP) governing council opened on Tuesday. 230 delegates representing the council's 58 member nations were present at the opening session. The Kenyan conference will last two weeks. During this time the council will review progress made in implementing its strategies and development, and discuss the wasteful and irrational use of natural resources, shared resources and energy. Institutional arrangements for international environmental co-operation and the UNEP's financial situation will also be examined
The first major item on the agenda was an election of a new president. Outgoing president, Mrs. Helena Benitez was then called on to hand over to her successor, Senor Francisco Vizcaino Murray, of Mexico.

Senor Murray told the council that he would not shirk the "hard work ahead". He also thanked Mrs. Benitez for her efforts in the past and said the council looked forward to her "guiding presence" in the years ahead.