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Postal Union Congress

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Postal Union Congress

The Postal Union Congress is the main international meeting of the Universal Postal Union, used to discuss various issues affecting international postal services, such as legislation, the political climate, and other strategic issues. The first congress was held in Bern, Switzerland in 1874, and was attended by delegates from 22 countries, most of them European. The meetings are normally held every four years, although both World Wars have caused cancellations.

Delegates are usually presented with special albums of stamps by the other participating countries, to cover the period since the previous congress.

Locations and some important developments

  • 1st UPU Congress: 1874 in Bern, Switzerland. System of base rates developed.
  • 2nd UPU Congress: 1878 in Paris, France. Colour coding of postage stamps. International parcel post service proposed by Germany.
  • 3rd UPU Congress: 1885 in Lisbon, Portugal. Reply-paid postcards authorised.
  • 4th UPU Congress: 1891 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary. Rules about Paquebots.
  • 5th UPU Congress: 1897 in Washington, DC, United States. Cheaper international postage.
  • 6th UPU Congress: 1906 in Rome, Italy. Free postage for prisoners of war.
  • 7th UPU Congress: 1920 in Madrid, Spain. Meter mail and window envelopes approved.
  • 8th UPU Congress: 1924 in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • 9th UPU Congress: 1929 in London, United Kingdom. Postage paid franking approved. First airmail regulations.
  • 10th UPU Congress: 1934 in Cairo, Egypt.
  • 11th UPU Congress: 1939 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Introduction of Fonopost.
  • 12th UPU Congress: 1947 in Paris, France.
  • 13th UPU Congress: 1952 in Brussels, Belgium. Approval of Aerogrammes.
  • 14th UPU Congress: 1957 in Ottawa, Canada.
  • 15th UPU Congress: 1964 in Vienna, Austria.
  • 16th UPU Congress: 1969 in Tokyo, Japan.
  • 17th UPU Congress: 1974 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
  • 18th UPU Congress: 1979 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  • 19th UPU Congress: 1984 in Hamburg, West Germany.
  • 20th UPU Congress: 1989 in Washington, DC, United States.
  • 21st UPU Congress: 1994 in Seoul, South Korea.
  • 22nd UPU Congress: 1999 in Beijing, People's Republic of China.
  • 23rd UPU Congress: 2004 in Bucharest, Romania.
  • 24th UPU Congress: 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • 25th UPU Congress: 2012 in Doha, Qatar.
  • 26th UPU Congress: 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey.

    • References

    Postal Union Congress Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA