E/2019/43 E/C.19/2019/10 Chapter IV Organization of the session A. Opening and duration of the session 159. The Permanent Forum held its eighteenth session at United Nations Headquarters from 22 April to 3 May 2019. It held 20 formal meetings, including 6 closed meetings and 3 parallel meetings, to consider the items on its agenda. 160. At the 1st meeting, on 22 April, the session was opened by the Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. At the opening ceremony, a representative of the Onondaga Nation, Tadodaho Sid Hill, delivered a welcoming address. The President of the General Assembly and the Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council (Belarus) delivered statements. 161. At the same meeting, statements were made by the Chair of the Permanent Forum, the Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (on behalf of the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs) and the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. B. Attendance 162. Members of the Permanent Forum and representatives of Governments, intergovernmental organizations and bodies, United Nations entities and non-governmental and indigenous organizations attended the session. The list of participants will be published at a later date. C. Election of officers 163. At its 1st meeting, on 22 April, the Permanent Forum elected the following members of the Bureau by acclamation: Chair: Anne Nuorgam Vice-Chairs: Phoolman Chaudhary Lourdes Licenia Tibán Guala Dmitrii Kharakka-Zaitsev Elifuraha Laltaika Rapporteur: Brian Keane D. Agenda 164. At its 1st meeting, on 22 April, the Permanent Forum adopted the provisional agenda contained in document E/C.19/2019/1. 19-08162 27/28