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UCLG-MEWA Newsletter-5

OPENING OF THE 4th CONGRESS OF UNITED CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN RABAT 2nd World Summit of Local and Reginoal Leaders 3.10.2013

OPENING OF THE 4th CONGRESS OF UNITED CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN RABAT 2nd World Summit of Local and Reginoal Leaders

Rabat, 2 October 2013: The World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, 4th UCLG Congress opened on Tuesday as work began on the theme: “Imagine Society, Build Democracy” at the invitation of the Mayor of Rabat, and under the high patronage of His Highness King Mohammed VI.
 
During the opening Summit, the Mayor of Rabat, Fathallah Oualalou read a message from his Majesty the King of Morocco: “my country also supports all initiatives upholding the principles of decentralisation and local democracy, which are a legitimate demand shared by all nations.”
 
The Mayor of Rabat, Fathallah Oualalou, also spoke of the honour of hosting this World Summit, reaffirming that “the African elected representatives must play a significant role on African continental development.” He also highlighted the importance as this UCLG meeting constitutes a perfect occasion to demonstrate the African experience and learn from other proven models. As elected representatives, we should play a key role in development and contributing to overcome difficulties and challenges for African continent.”
 
The President of United Cities and Local Governments and Mayor of Istanbul, Kadir Topbas, affirmed that, “the new international agenda, which we consider our own, will need to recognize the local and regional governments as specific spheres of governance and as essential actors in the development scene. (…) The world citizens are asking for action at global and local levels. I am deeply convinced that together we can make a difference building a future of dignity that we all want regardless of the place where we are born, regardless of our believes or gender.”

 
Key international figures expressed their complete support for towns, cities and local authorities throughout the world during the opening ceremony. Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN-Habitat highlighted the major stakes for the future of cities and “the importance of local governments in the Post-2015 agenda. The Rio+20 declaration is a step forward to obtaining this recognition.”  He also declared that local governments are “the origin of community participation and local democracy”.
 
The opening ceremony was followed by the Official celebration of the Centenary of the International Municipal Movement. This was an occasion to pay homage to the pioneers of the movement and the founding presidents of UCLG: Alan Lloyd, former President of IULA and Mercedes Bresso, former President of the FMCU-UTO, but also Daby Diagne, Former President of UTO, Badredine Senoussi, Former Secretary General of the Union of African Towns. Special homage was also paid to the co-presidents Muchadeyi Masunda, Mayor of Harere, Zimbabwe, Khal Sall, Mayor of Dakar, Senegal, President of UCLG Africa, Wolfgang Schuster, Regional Councillor of Stuttgart, Germany, President of CEMR, Ted Ellis, Mayor of Bluffton, Treasury of UCLG, and the Mayor of Paris and former President of UCLG, Bertrand Delanoë, that recognises the role played by Mayors in promoting peace, quoting the example of the Ivory Coast given the numerous conflicts the country have faced. “

 
Following the opening ceremony, work began on the first plenary session on the topic: “Imagine Society, Build Democracy”
 
During the three days of intense debates and exchanges, numerous representatives from towns, cities, regions and local government associations will address the essential issues faced by towns, cities, regions and their populations: how to foster wellbeing, managing diversity, new governance and the dynamics of change and solidarity among territories. The conclusions of these debates and plenary session in Rabat will be crucial in defining the joint position that local and regional governments will adopt before their citizens and the international community. 

 
As the Fourth Congress of UCLG, the Summit also represents a new chapter for the world organization created in 2004 that will elect during the Congress a new presidency and adopt the action framework and new priorities for the coming three years.
  
UCLG World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders
 
The UCLG Congress, that takes places every three years, is a unique occasion for Mayors and local and regional elected representatives to come together and exchange with actors from the private sector and the international institutions. It is also an occasion for members to elect the governing bodies and for the Presidency to collectively examine important questions and establish the global agenda for the three coming years and beyond.