The UPU plenary in session (UPU Website)

London, April 28, 2018 (Altafrika)-The Director-General, Universal Postal Union, UPU, Bishar Hussein has urged member countries to maintain the spirit of collaboration as they head to Addis Ababa for a crucial congress in September.

Mr Hussein made the call at the end of a plenary session of the Council of Administration on Friday in Switzerland

The extraordinary congress in Ethiopia will decide on four key issues-UPU reform, reform of the system applied to member country contributions, the Integrated Product and Integrated Remuneration Plans, and the reform to the UPU’s Provident Scheme.

“We may have our differences in opinions, we have our different views, but at the end of the day we have a common destiny and a common responsibility to make sure that the organisation moves forward and produces results,” said Bishar Hussein

UPU Deputy Director General Pascal Clivaz in remarks earlier in the day called upon member countries to keep an open mind while considering the proposed reforms which would have a profound impact on how effectively the UPU and its member countries could respond to rapidly changing sector demands.

“We should be guided by the fact that we cannot achieve good results in an environment that is rapidly changing if we remain static. Change is not only necessary, but inevitable. Change should be a permanent feature of our work,” said the Deputy Director General.

Mr. Clivaz explained that UPU was evolving to maintain its position as “a source of competitive advantage” for all postal stakeholders, noting that in recent years it had created specialized events for postal CEOs and ministers and would soon create a new forum for head of postal regulators.

At the plenary, Council members were given an update on the organization of the Congress, including proposed designation of chairs and vice-chairs for each Congress committee, countries designated to present proposals, and information on the Ministerial Strategy Conference to be held within the week-long event.

The Council plenary also heard a number of updates on cooperation with other UN, international and partner organizations. In particular, it welcomed a new partnership with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on philatelic development.

The Council achieved all 22 of its assigned deliverables for the session, adding to the 65 deliverables already tackled in its previous two meetings.

Forty-one countries comprise the Council of Administration, which oversees the work of the UPU between Congresses and studies regulatory, administrative and legal issues.

It meets twice per year for one week at the UPU’s International Bureau in Berne, Switzerland.