This is historical material, "frozen in time." The web site is no longer updated and links to external web sites and some internal pages will not work.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release July 27, 1999

            THE PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE AMERICAS,
          KENNETH H. "BUDDY" MACKAY, JR., TO ATTEND MINISTERS
       HEMISPHERIC ENERGY CONFERENCE IN NEW ORLEANS JULY 28-30TH

President Clinton's Special Envoy for the Americas, Kenneth H. MacKay, Jr., will travel to New Orleans this week to participate in the Fourth Hemispheric Energy Ministerial Conference from July 28-30th. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson will host the event, which will take place for the first time in the U.S. In addition to the ministers and other government leaders from 34 countries in the hemisphere, more than 350 representatives from the private sector, including non-governmental organizations, will also attend. The ongoing purpose of the conference is to discuss ways to create a coordinated energy infrastructure for the Western Hemisphere.

Governor MacKay will address the conference participants at the opening reception on the evening of Wednesday, July 28th. The next day he will participate in roundtable discussions on market integration, regulatory cooperation, and economic development. Governor MacKay will also meet separately to discuss bilateral issues with conference participant, President Carlos Saul Menem of Argentina, and will participate in sessions with various CEOs and other private sector groups and individuals.

"The highest level of official government support and commitment, along with the intense involvement of all key private sector figures and organizations, are critical if we are to marshal the vast energy resources of our hemisphere to stimulate greater economic integration and prosperity," the Governor stated last week upon his return from a trip to Bolivia and Peru. "I am honored to be a part of this Fourth Energy Ministerial."

# # #