Excellency,

31 March 2006

On 16 February, I shared with you a letter from the Secretary-General announcing the composition of the High-Level Panel he had appointed for the study on United Nations system-wide coherence in the areas of development, humanitarian assistance and the environment. In that letter, I promised to revert with a date for an informal meeting of the plenary at which Member States and observers could contribute their perspectives to the panel. I am pleased to advise that such a meeting has now been scheduled for 3pm to 6pm on Thursday 6th April, in Conference Room 4. I intend to invite the following six panelists to make brief introductory remarks: H.E. Ms. Luisa Dias Diogo, Prime Minister, Mozambique (Panel cochair) H.E. Mr. Ricardo Lagos Escobar, former President of the Republic of Chile Mr. Mohamed T. El-Ashry, Egypt, Senior Fellow, United Nations Foundation, former Chairman and CEO of the Global Environment Facility Mr. Robert Greenhill, Canada, President of the Canadian International Development Agency and Deputy Minister, International Cooperation, Canada Mr. Jean-Michel Severino, France, Director-General, French Development Agency and former Vice President of the World Bank East Asia and the Pacific Mr. Keizo Takemi, Japan, Member of the House of Councillors, Liberal Democratic Party and former State Secretary for Foreign Affairs All Permanent Representatives and Permanent Observers to the United Nations New York

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I would then invite Member States and observers to address questions and comments to the panelists. I hope that we will be able to have an interactive exchange and dialogue, avoiding written statements wherever possible. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Jan Eliasson

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