United Nations becomes newest partner in Expo 2015

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United Nations becomes newest partner in Expo 2015

By Emily Backus (ANSA.IT) 17:13, November 19, 2013

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Rome, November 15 - The United Nations formally signed on Thursday as a participant in Milan Expo 2015.

The pact was signed by Giuseppe Sala, Expo commissioner, and Eduardo Rojas-Briales, deputy director of the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) at FAO's headquarters in Rome.

Rather than creating its own pavilion, the UN will provide content in a number of locations across the exhibition site as well as organize ad hoc events, including day-long thematic events called UN-Expo Days.

The UN will develop exhibition material for the Zero Pavilion, which introduces visitors to the world fair's theme ''Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life'' and prepares them for what they will discover on their journey through the pavilions of various countries and international organisations.

The UN can also create thematic routes crossing pavilions or organize meetings. ''This new model of UN involvement in World Expositions is based on a strategic partnership approach between the host country Italy, Expo 2015 Milano and the UN,'' explained Rojas-Briales.

Rojas-Briales added that the new model of collaboration ''is one that should be continued in future editions of Expo''. Expo Milano 2015 also launched an international competition to identify best practices in sustainable development and food security on the occasion of the signing of the UN-Expo agreement for the UN's participation. ''The best initiatives we will select will be live and lasting contents of the universal exposition, a food security legacy for the whole of the world,'' Sala said.

The bids must be submitted by April 30, 2014. Fifteen ''Best Practices'' will be chosen - three per each of five categories. Winners will be showcased in the exhibition site with areas and special installations and given the opportunity to organize meetings and workshops. Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said the arrangement was ''a truly important step'' for the Universal Exposition in Milan, and noted that the FAO will be a significant partner in the event.

Bonino also said that Milan Expo, which will take place May 31-October 1 in 2015, will be known as the world's fair that ''promotes diversity'', serves as a point of ''synergies'', and the first in which women are protagonists.

''In this Expo, there will be a strong female presence,'' said Bonino.

Bonino this week held the first meeting in Rome of the international board of the Women in Diplomacy (WiD) Committee.

WiD was set up with the aim of promoting the role of women in food safety and helping the foreign ministry organize congresses and workshops on a range of issues ahead of the Milan Expo.

''It is the beginning of a dream that is becoming reality,'' added Bonino, expressing the hope that the central role of women at Milan 2015 will serve for future events including the Dubai Expo in 2020.

Expo 2015 ''will not be remembered for skyscrapers and architecture, but for the ideas,'' Bonino said at the event at Villa Madama, a Renaissance villa on the outskirts of Rome used for hosting official state events and press conferences.