Professor Yunus and Former Minister Boutine Presents Interim Report to President Sarkozy
Former Housing Minister of France Christine Boutin and Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus presented in a official ceremony the Interim Report on the Social Dimension of Globalization to President Sarkozy at Elysee Palace on December 9 and briefed the President on the French action plan on the social front during French Presidency of G 20 next year.
Below is the official communique of the Elysee Palace in French, and a translation in English:
Mrs. Christine Boutin presented her interim report on the social dimension of globalization to the President of the French Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy in presence of Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus. The Head of State had commissioned this report to Mrs. Boutin in December 2009, in the framework of the French presidency of the G20 Summit.
The president thanked Mrs. Boutin for her comprehensive work, and emphasized that the social aspect of globalization would be at the heart of the French presidency of the G20.
The
President confirmed that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) would be closely involved with the French presidency of the G20.
Indeed France, who had pledged for a closer collaboration of the ILO alongside the work of the G20, will invite the organization to take part in the summit, as well as all preparatory meetings of the French presidency.
The President also reiterated that France was keen to collaborate with other non members of the G20 as well as the United nations, through the participation of the Secretary General and its teams in the work.
Other proposals included in Mrs. Boutin's report, echo back to two pillars of the French presidency: food safety, which will be key on the agenda for the development of the G 20 and corporate social responsibility.
Lastly, the President paid tribute to the work of Muhammad Yunus, who was rightly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, and the contribution of the Grameen Bank and microcredit in the fight against poverty. The Head of State also guaranteed France's support in his work which aims to develop "social business", in the actions of the international community at the service of development.
