بيانات صحفية

30 نيسان/أبريل 2006

Beirut

UNESCWA 24th Ministerial Session to Convene Under Auspices of Lebanese House Speaker

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Under the auspices of Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) is holding its 24th Ministerial Session at the UN House, Beirut, on 10 and 11 May 2006. The Ministerial Session is the main governing body of the Commission, which decides on its policy. The deliberations of the Session will start with a high level meeting on 8 and 9 May 2006. The high level meeting is intended to discuss the report of the Executive Secretary on the activities of the Commission including the 2004-2005 program performance and the follow-up to the implementation of the resolutions adopted by its 23rd Ministerial Session held in Damascus in May 2005. The meeting will discuss streamlining the work of the Commission; the Statistics Program; the UNESCWA intergovernmental machinery; the proposed program changes for the biennium 2006-2007; and the draft strategic framework for the biennium 2008-2009. Discussions will also cover the UNESCWA technical cooperation program and regional advisory services; mobilizing financial resources and funding; the report of the 7th Session of the Committee on Transport; as well as the progress made by Yemen in the implementation of the Program of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010. In addition to the statement of House Speaker Berri, the opening of the Ministerial Session scheduled for 10:00, Wednesday 10 May 2006, will witness statements by UNESCWA Executive Secretary Mervat Tallawy as well as the participating ministers. Participants in the Session, chaired this year by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will include ministerial delegations from UNESCWA member countries, representatives from non-member countries in an observer capacity, as well as representatives of the United Nations organizations, regional and international governmental and non-governmental organizations, and donor bodies. The Agenda of the Ministerial Session includes the following region-specific subjects: new challenges in the region and their impact on the work of UNESCWA, facing youth unemployment problems in the UNESCWA region, and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the UNESCWA region. Together for Arab Youth Three events are scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the 24th Ministerial Session: a music concert by the finalists of Star Academy 2006, an art exhibition for rising Lebanese artists from the Lebanese-American University, and a publications exhibit by UNESCWA. Set for 9 May at the UNESCO Palace, the concert is intended to spread messages related to Arab Youth and the challenges they are facing. A press conference to launch the concert is scheduled to take place at 2:00 pm on Friday, 5 May 2006, at the UN House, Beirut. The art exhibition will be inaugurated right after the opening of the Ministerial Session. It aims to showcase the talents of young Lebanese painters in order to underscore the role of culture in shaping the future for Arab youth. The publications exhibition that is taking place on this occasion will provide an opportunity to display the media material released by UNESCWA in 2005 and 2006. The exhibit will include posters and brochures on UNESCWA, and its activities and various projects. It will also highlight field projects that the Commission is currently undertaking as well as other projects it intends to execute in the future in Lebanon and the region. UNESCWA is the regional arm of the United Nations in Western Asia. It is composed of 13 member countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The objective of UNESCWA is to facilitate economic and social cooperation among the countries of the region in order to achieve regional integration. This is of particular importance in view of the regional dimension that has become fundamental to dealing with issues of globalization. The Commission also aims to familiarize the outside world with the conditions and needs of the countries in the region. UNESCWA activities strengthen regional integration and consider the issues and problems of its members through a regional perspective.
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