Dubai to host Euro-Arab Cities Forum
The city of Dubai will host the third Euro-Arab Cities Forum at Madinat Jumeirah during 10-11 February 2008. The forum, held under the patronage of the Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai Municipality Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will be attended by 120 Mayors from European and Arab cities.
Announcing the activities of the forum at a press conference on Tuesday, Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality said the event will be held under the theme 'New Dialogue for Development.' Highlighting the significance of dialogue, he said, it is a major factor in the peaceful and amicable resolution of differences and problems, adding that dialogue breaks down any ideological barrier, build bridges and narrows differences in ideas and creates conducive atmosphere.
Lootah said: 'It is in view of these facts that we decided to organise the forum, which we hope will lead to providing solutions to these problems creating a climate of love and harmony among all the participants and helping all to achieve more progress and development in their respective areas.' He added: 'By holding this forum, we aim to establish regional partnerships and co-operation among cities, regions and local administrations whose culture, resources and interest compliment each other's. We also aim to face challenges in order to build a bright future at the level of model cities which we all agreed to call 'nurseries of development', to build a real partnership through new dialogue that will reflect positively on the cities, regions and local administrations of all partners involved and to highlight and benefit from the best practices in a way that will suit both the Arab and European sides.' Lootah pointed out that the forum will discuss a number of important issues of interest to all cities of the world, including the issue of good local governance. He said discussions would focus on ways and means of improving performance and good execution of works by adopting effective policies like decentralisation, judicious investment of resources and funds for development projects, proper handling of the issue of migration from rural to urban areas, the best administration method for new communities, development of property ownership legislations and systems and the developing of slums.
The forum will also discuss public transport and town planning, environmental and water issues, as well as financial tools for funding of joint ventures of cultural and heritage projects.
A large number of prominent Arab and European personalities, including mayors of cities, heads of municipalities and local councils, are taking part in the forum. Invitations are sent to sixty European mayors and sixty Arab mayors, in addition to a number of distinguished guests from international organisations and institutions, including Ban Ki Moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Amr Mousa, the Secretary General of the Arab League, AbdulRahman Al Atiyya, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council and other distinguished personalities.
The forum is being organised, on the Arab side, by the Arab Towns Organisation (ATO), the Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI) and Dubai Municipality and, on the European side, by the Standing Committee for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership of Local Authorities and Regions (COPPEM), Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at the Council of Europe (CLARE). Etisalat is the official sponsor of the event.
Dubai Municipality has completed all the preparations to hold the forum in coordination with other concerned bodies in Dubai. Six committees had been set up to supervise the activities of the forum including a public relations committee, media committee, scientific committee, secretarial and services committee, opening ceremony committee and accommodation committee.(WAM)
Announcing the activities of the forum at a press conference on Tuesday, Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality said the event will be held under the theme 'New Dialogue for Development.' Highlighting the significance of dialogue, he said, it is a major factor in the peaceful and amicable resolution of differences and problems, adding that dialogue breaks down any ideological barrier, build bridges and narrows differences in ideas and creates conducive atmosphere.
Lootah said: 'It is in view of these facts that we decided to organise the forum, which we hope will lead to providing solutions to these problems creating a climate of love and harmony among all the participants and helping all to achieve more progress and development in their respective areas.' He added: 'By holding this forum, we aim to establish regional partnerships and co-operation among cities, regions and local administrations whose culture, resources and interest compliment each other's. We also aim to face challenges in order to build a bright future at the level of model cities which we all agreed to call 'nurseries of development', to build a real partnership through new dialogue that will reflect positively on the cities, regions and local administrations of all partners involved and to highlight and benefit from the best practices in a way that will suit both the Arab and European sides.' Lootah pointed out that the forum will discuss a number of important issues of interest to all cities of the world, including the issue of good local governance. He said discussions would focus on ways and means of improving performance and good execution of works by adopting effective policies like decentralisation, judicious investment of resources and funds for development projects, proper handling of the issue of migration from rural to urban areas, the best administration method for new communities, development of property ownership legislations and systems and the developing of slums.
The forum will also discuss public transport and town planning, environmental and water issues, as well as financial tools for funding of joint ventures of cultural and heritage projects.
A large number of prominent Arab and European personalities, including mayors of cities, heads of municipalities and local councils, are taking part in the forum. Invitations are sent to sixty European mayors and sixty Arab mayors, in addition to a number of distinguished guests from international organisations and institutions, including Ban Ki Moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Amr Mousa, the Secretary General of the Arab League, AbdulRahman Al Atiyya, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council and other distinguished personalities.
The forum is being organised, on the Arab side, by the Arab Towns Organisation (ATO), the Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI) and Dubai Municipality and, on the European side, by the Standing Committee for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership of Local Authorities and Regions (COPPEM), Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at the Council of Europe (CLARE). Etisalat is the official sponsor of the event.
Dubai Municipality has completed all the preparations to hold the forum in coordination with other concerned bodies in Dubai. Six committees had been set up to supervise the activities of the forum including a public relations committee, media committee, scientific committee, secretarial and services committee, opening ceremony committee and accommodation committee.(WAM)
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