Rio+20: Brazil to lead informal consultations as PrepCom reaches final hour

RIO DE JANEIRO (15 June 2012) - Brazil will take on the coordination of informal consultations beginning this Saturday, June 16, as official talks of the third and final Preparatory Committee meeting conclude later this evening.

Speaking at a press briefing today, Brazil's Ambassador Luiz Alberto Figueiredo said Brazil will set a new pace for the negotiations so no issues are left open when the heads of state arrive in Rio for the high-level segment of the Conference.

“Only essential issues will be discussed so we can reach a text as soon as possible. The deadline for these consultations is June 19, but our intention is to wrap discussions before this date,” said Ambassador Figueiredo. “Now it’s the final hour,” he added.

The full webcast of the briefing is available via UN Webcast: http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/conferencessummits/rio20-13-22-june-2012-rio-de-janeiro-brazil/press-conferences/watch/brazilian-delegation-press-conference-rio20/1691810333001

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RIO+20 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DIALOGUES

Beginning tomorrow, the Sustainable Development Dialogues will provide a forum for civil society members to add their perspectives to the historic global policy discussions taking place at Rio+20. Hosted by the Brazilian government, the Sustainable Development Dialogues will comprise a total of 10 sessions from June 16-18, with a final session scheduled the morning of June 19.

Each session will feature ten expert panelists who are independent of governments or United Nations agencies to engage in innovative and results-oriented moderated discussions supplemented with the active participation of registered audience members.    

When: June 16-19

Where: Pavilion 5 Plenary, and webcast live at: http://webtv.un.org/ 

Panelist: The full schedule and panelists can be accessed here: http://www.rio20.gov.br/events/informacoes-sobre-dialogos-para-o-desenvolvimento-suntentavel-em-ingles/at_download/file

Dialogue Press Briefings: Held daily at 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm in the Main Press Conference Room – Pavilion 3 (Room P3-7)

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BRAZIL AT RIO+20 PODCAST

Brazil’s chief negotiator at Rio+20, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, spoke to Brazil Gov News about the importance of the Sustainable Development Dialogues as an innovative tool for the direct participation of global civil society in the Conference. Interview material is available at the following links:

• Podcast: http://soundcloud.com/brazilgovnews/interview-ambassador-andr-corr

• Interview transcript: http://goo.gl/NflLQ

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To request interviews with the Brazilian delegation at Rio+20, please contact:

•      João Paulo Gomes at +55-61-8117-7322 or joao.gomes@cdn.com.br

•      Maysa Provedello at +55-61-8170-0708  or maysa.provedello@cdn.com.br

•      Érica Ferraz at +55-61-8170-0706 or erica.ferraz@cdn.com.br

•      Isabel Tarrisse at +55-61-8170-0807 or isabel.tarrisse@cdn.com.br

•      Thiago Vitale at +55-61-8170-0777 or thiago.vitale@cdn.com.br

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Twitter: @BrazilGovNews

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