MEWA Participate in the 52nd Permanent Bureau of Arab Towns Organization (ATO) 10.12.2014

UCLG-MEWA participated in the the 52^nd session of the Arab Towns Organization’s Permanent Bureau, which took place in Manama, capital of Bahrain, between 29-30 November 2014.  Arab Towns Organization (ATO), which is a non-governmental organization supporting Arab towns and municipalities, consists of a General Conference, a Permanent Bureau and a Secretariat General. In the meeting, UCLG-MEWA, which was represented by Ihsan IKIZER, General Coordinator and Ms. Randa Al Sabbagh, project officer, has been accepted unanimously as the official observer of ATO.

Dr. Juma'a bin Ahmed Al Ka'abi, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister of Bahrain, opened the 52^nd session of the Arab Towns Organization’s Permanent Bureau for 2 days, 29-30 November.

Mr. Al Ka’abi stressed that ATO played a leading role in:

 - improving municipal work by raising the level of services and municipal utilities and by adopting inclusive planning as a method for developing cities on the basis of their economic, social, environmental and cultural realities;

- working on the renovation and development of municipal institutions and legislation down to achieve sustainable development in Arabic cities.

He added that this meeting confirmed the continuation of the organization's efforts through its various institutions to promote cooperation between Arabic cities and work in their development in a sustainable manner, underlining that more than 30 Arabic cities and capitals participated in the meeting adding more quality in inclusive development.

Recommendations for the 6 ATO Institutions in the Permanent Bureau

“Arab Towns Organization Award” Institution changed its conditions and agreements

Based in Doha, Qatar, Eng. Hamad Muhammad, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institution, presented a report including activities, propositions and the financial situation of the Institution. During the Permanent Bureau, it has been proposed to be based in Beirut and to change the name of the Institution in a more general/precise way. Besides, the sister cities concept has been encouraged to promote the unification of Arab cities and increase the economy of poor cities.

Projects of “Arab Urban Environment Centre”

Mr. Husseyn Al Furdan, Director of the Centre based in Dubai, presented its activities stressing on several axes. One of the most important one is the awareness of young people about environment which conducted to the production of the E-magazine of Cities’ environment.

“Heritage and Arab Historic City Foundation” invited to protect the Cultural Heritage.

Eng. Al Zubeyd Al Muhli, the Director General of the Foundation, presented a complete report of 2012-2014 period and discussed the preservation and protection of Arab Cities Cultural Heritage from their destruction by signing a “Code of Conduct” between Arab Cities. Besides, the Foundation could make UNESCO sign a law or regulation that can show the degree of criminality of a stolen object and disseminate these acts with pictures to add on the Foundation’s website.

“Arab Forum on Information Systems” presented the activities of the last year

Last year, the Forum organized many trainings in New Technologies field and it has had good consequences. Many municipalities made its own website built as well as Congress or Organization. Besides, a new magazine of the Forum has been published.

“Arab Towns Development Fund” presented its report of the last year

The next Permanent Bureau of ATO will take place in Nouakchott, Mauritania next November 2015.