Press release

17 May 2017

Beirut, Lebanon

ESCWA Executive Secretary Arrives in Beirut

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United Nations Under-Secretary-General and ESCWA Executive Secretary Mohamed Ali Alhakim arrived this evening in Beirut to assume his responsibilities. He was received at the Rafik Hariri International Airport by Iraqi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Al Ameri, ESCWA Deputy Executive Secretary Khawla Mattar, ESCWA Secretary Karim Khalil and a number of officials in the Commission. Before his appointment, Alhakim was the Permanent Representative and Ambassador of Iraq to the United Nations in New York since May 2013.
 
Alhakim brings to the position deep knowledge of the governmental landscape in the region, coupled with strong networks across the region. He was previously Permanent Representative and Ambassador of Iraq to the United Nations, Geneva (2010-2013); Ambassador and Director of Arab, European, International Organisations and Policy Planning, Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Baghdad, Iraq (2006-2010); Iraq Minister of Communications (2004-2005); Member of Iraq National Assembly and Foreign Relations Sub-Committee (2005-2006) and Senior Social and Economic Adviser to the Vice President of Iraq (2004-2010).
 
Born in 1952, Mr. Alhakim holds a doctorate degree in management of engineering and telecommunications, a master’s degree in computer information technology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in education and statistics.
 
ESCWA in brief
            ESCWA is one of the five UN regional commissions. It is part of the UN Secretariat, and works under the supervision of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It provides a framework for the formulation and harmonisation of sectoral policies for member countries; a platform for congress and coordination; a home for expertise and knowledge, and an information observatory. It aims at supporting economic and social cooperation between the region’s countries and promoting development process in order to achieve regional integration.
 
            Mauritania became member of ESCWA in October 2015. The Republic of Tunis, Libya, and the Kingdom of Morocco had joined it in September 2012. By those new memberships, the number of ESCWA countries rose to 18, including: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
 
 
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For more information:
 
Nabil Abu-Dargham (head of ECIU): +961-70-99 31 44; dargham@un.org
Ms. Mirane Abi-Zaki: +961-70-99 31 55; abi-zaki@un.org
Ms. Rania Harb: +961-70-00 88 79; harb1@un.org
 
For more ESCWA news, please visit:
Website: www.unescwa.org  Facebook:  www.facebook.com/unescwa   Twitter: @ESCWACIU  
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