E/2008/43 E/C.19/2008/13 Chapter IV Organization of the session A. Opening and duration of the session 168. The Permanent Forum held its seventh session at United Nations Headquarters from 21 April to 2 May 2008. It held 16 formal meetings to consider items on the agenda and two informal meetings for consultations among members of the Forum. 169. At the 1st meeting, on 21 April, the seventh session was opened by the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development. At the opening ceremony, Chief Tracy Shenandoah, of the Onondaga Nation, North America, offered words of blessing to the session. 170. At the same meeting, the Secretary-General of the United Nations made a video statement. Statements were also made by the President of Bolivia, the President of the Economic and Social Council, the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, the Deputy Secretary, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs of Australia, and the Executive Director, International Fund for Agricultural Development. 171. Also at the same meeting, a statement was made by Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Chairperson of the seventh session of the Forum. 172. At the 13th meeting, on 1 May, the Forum heard statements made by the President of the General Assembly and the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. B. Attendance 173. Members of the Forum and representatives of Governments, United Nations entities, intergovernmental organizations and bodies and non-governmental and indigenous organizations attended the session. The list of participants is contained in E/C.19/2008/INF/2. C. Election of officers 174. At its 1st meeting, on 21 April, the Forum elected the following members of the Bureau by acclamation: Chairperson: Victoria Tauli-Corpuz Vice-Chairpersons: Carlos Mamani Condori Tonya Gonnella Frichner Liliane Muzangi Mbela Pavel Sulyandziga Rapporteur: Michael Dodson 28 08-33882