186 lines
10 KiB
Plaintext
186 lines
10 KiB
Plaintext
ECODEFENSE!inform 27-28 part B
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NGO - FORUM 1995 SOCIAL SUMMIT
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Here is some preliminary information on NGO Forum '95 Social
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Summit. It should, however, be stressed that it is temporary
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and that an international newsletter will be ready soon.
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The Host Committee for NGO Forum '95 is looking forward to the
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coming year's preparations for the Social Summit and to
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welcoming thousands of NGO (non-government organizations) and
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PO (popular organizations) representatives in Copenhagen,
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March 1995.
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The Host Committee has been elected by representatives of 100
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Danish NGOs and POs. The Committee has established a
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Secretariat, headed by Secretary-General Jan Birket Smith.
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The Secretariat is funded by the Danish Government, which
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bears the running expenses of the Secretariat, newsletters,
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other preparatory activities as well as of the NGO Forum '95
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itself. The fund does, however, not cover NGOs' and POs'
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travelling expenses and stay in Copenhagen.
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NGO Forum '95 will be the culmination of many months of
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worldwide preparation, the culmination will, however, not be a
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full stop. The work will continue after March 1995 with more
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ideas and more action as a result of the many international
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contacts established up to and during the Social Summit.
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We will provide you with information on the tasks of the Host
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Committee and the progress of the preparations for NGO Forum
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'95 in Copenhagen. You will also receive information about
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which facilities you can expect to find in Copenhagen. But now
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a few words about the reason for NGO activities up to and
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during the Social Summit.
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The issue of social development cannot only be left in the
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hands of politicians and government officials. It is a public
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matter in which everybody has to take an active part.
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Initiatives from NGOs and POs are decisive in order to ensure
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a more equal distribution of wealth as well as in ensuring
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social justice both internationally and nationally.
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Civil society in each country is able to influence their
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government and can insist that the promises of the government
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are not just scattered to the winds but actually result in
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action and changes. At global level civil society has an
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enormous potential. Together we can hold the UN and individual
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countries to their promises and resolutions.
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Without the participation of a dynamic civil society, the
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critics of the Social Summit might be right: thousands of
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beautiful words, promises and fine signatures on declarations
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and plans of action are not sufficient to alleviate a
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distorted world and social injustice.
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During the first part of the preparatory process of the Social
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Summit, it has been our impression that the UN is respecting
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the NGO community as a necesarry and important partner. We are
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looking forward to positive and constructive co)operation with
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the UN until the second PrepCom and in the future.
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Participants from all over the world
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At present we are facing two major problems, which must be
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solved in order to ensure that NGO Forum '95 will be a
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success: The participation of NGOs at PrepCom I in New York
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was characterized by a heavy predominance of participants from
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the North that is, participants from the USA, Canada, and
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Europe. Only a small number of NGOs and POs from the South and
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even fewer from the SNG countries were present.
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It is therefore of desicive importance to ensure that
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potential donors donate money in order to guarantee a broad
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participation of organizations from these parts of the world
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in NGO Forum '95. A large number of NGOs and POs from the
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developing countries is financially restricted from
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participating in the international preparations and from
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paying for the travel and stay in Copenhagen. NGOs and POs
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from the SNG countries are facing the same financial
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constraints. If we are not capable of ensuring financial
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support from donors and thereby facilitate the participation
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of NGOs from these ressource weak organizations in future
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work, the NGO Forum '95 will not be a success.
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Cooperation with the UN
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The UN has a structure and an organization, which have been
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firmly cemented through almost 50 years of activities. The
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UN's form of organization and decision)making procedures etc
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are very different from those of NGOs and POs. It is very
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important for the success of NGO Forum '95 to clarify how we
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should work together with the official Summit.
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During the PrepCom I a Facilitating Committee with a loose
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mandate was established by the NGOs and POs. The tasks and the
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mandate of the Committee will be discussed more closely at the
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second PrepCom in August 1994.
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It is not the task of the Host Committee to decide on or be an
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advocate for whether NGO Forum '95 is to have a Facilitating
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Committee or not. The reason why the question is brought up,
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is that it is important to find a solution to the co)operation
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between the NGO community and the UN.
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The tasks of the Host Committee
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It should be stressed that the Host Committee does not have a
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political mandate neither nationally nor internationally.
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The Host Committee's assigned tasks are:
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"information/communication" "coordination" "facilitation"
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Information
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NGO Forum '95 will keep you up to date on preparations going
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on in Copenhagen. You will receive the information through
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international networks (among others the one you are reading
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right now) and through our own newsletter.
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The Host Committee is also responsible for informing the
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Danish public about NGO Forum '95. It is essential that NGO
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Forum '95 does not become an isolated island in the Danish
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reality. Social development also concerns the Danes and by
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making use of the Danish press and involving Danish NGOs and
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POs, we will try to make sure that the public discussion
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becomes as comprehensive as possible.
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Coordination
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It is not within the mandate of the Host Committee to
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coordinate political point of views, it is, however, our duty
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to effect contacts between NGOs and POs, if they apply to our
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office for services. We will also be of assistance in passing
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on ideas and plans.
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The Host Committee will also coordinate the practical
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preparation and realization of NGO Forum '95 with the Danish
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Government and the UN.
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Facilitation
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The Host Committe is still negotiating with the municipality
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of Copenhagen about the physical settings of NGO Forum '95.
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The site in negotiation is a very large market place, which
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compromises a large hall and lots of adjoining buildings. The
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market place is located less than 1 kilometer from the center
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of Copenhagen and approximately 4 kilometers from the official
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Summit, which is held in the conference centre "Bella
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Centret". A shuttle service will be established, ensuring
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quick and regular transportation between NGO Forum '95 and the
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official Summit. The Forum will, furthermore, provide
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facilities for handicapped people.
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The market place is very suitable for the housing of large and
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diversified activities. For instance by offering the facility
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of accommodating up to 5000 people in one hall, furthermore,
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there will be rooms for workshops, exhibitions, and
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performances.
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We urge all the participants of NGO Forum '95 to think of
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alternative modes of expression. The official Summit will be
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characterized by heaps of paper, long meetings, and long
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speeches. The spoken and written word is the distinctive
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feature of an official conference. NGO Forum '95 should first
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and foremost be otherwise colourful and an exuberant
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experience for all senses. The issue of social development
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should find its expression in dance, song, theatre,
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processions, happenings, concerts, exhibitions ..... you name
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it, without loosing its political content.
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NGO Forum '95 will be open free of charge for all NGOs and
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POs, who want to participate and who have registered.
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The participants of NGO Forum '95 will have free access to NGO
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Forum '95's facilities.
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The citizens of Denmark and other countries can visit the NGO
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Forum '95 free of charge. All the arrangements will be open to
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everybody.
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Accommodations
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The Host Committee will arrange accommodation in hotels at
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various price ranges, and possibly in youth hostels as well as
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in private homes in order to make accommodation affordable to
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everybody.
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We are planning to send out the provisional application form
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by July, which should provide us with a general view of how
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many participants and what kind of activities we can expect.
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At present we calculate on the participation of 2 - 3000 NGOs
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and POs, and that about 10.000 people a day will visit the NGO
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- Forum '95. The deadline for the final registration will be
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in the end of November 1994. Organizations can register later,
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but after the deadline we cannot guarantee that we can fulfill
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requests for specific facilities and accommodation.
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In order to provide for the best planning, we kindly ask you
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to contact the Secretariat as soon as you know what facilities
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you will need in Copenhagen and the possible number of
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participants from your organization.
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For further information, please contact:
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NGO - Forum '95 Social Summit Copenhagen Njalsgade 13C DK2300
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Copenhagen S Phone: +45 32 96 19 95 Fax: +45 32 96 89 19
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_______________________________________________________________
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***************************************************************
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ECODEFENSE!inform bulletins get more than 150 env.NGOs of EARTH
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***************************************************************
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Editorial Board thanks for financial help from "Sowing the
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Seeds of Democracy: A project for Environmental Grant-Making
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in tha NIS" program, which realize by ISAR.
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***************************************************************
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The reprint are welcome (with the reference, if possible).
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***************************************************************
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Editorial Board: Alexandra Koroleva, Vladimir Sliviak
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***************************************************************
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