UN Day celebrated in Damascus
Syria-UN, Politics, 10/25/2004

Under the patronage of the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara, a celebration was held yesterday, October 24th marking the foundation anniversary of the UN. In an exclusive interview to Arabic News (ArabicNews.com) on this occasion, UNDP resident representative Ali al-Zaatari said replying to a question on why is UN Day 24th of October and What is the significance of this date that the United Nations Organisation officially came into being on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, and by the majority of the other signatory states.

On what has been achieved by the UN Agencies operating in the Syrian Arab Republic during 2004, al-Zaatari said: The Syrian Government embarked on an ambitious and wide-ranging modernization program which the United Nations is supporting. We are working together to help Syria achieve sustainable human development, in keeping with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by Syria and other UN member states. These goals set crucial targets for achievement by the year 2015 in the sectors of poverty alleviation, gender equality, education, health, the environment and international cooperation.

Syria is on target to fulfill its commitments as a member both of the UN and of the international community. These commitments, as set out in the Millennium Declaration and the Monetary Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, include the reallocation and mobilization of domestic resources, the reformation of institutions to suite national priorities and the adoption of effective policies to encourage economic growth.

The MDGs have also reshaped the way the UN addresses development issues by improving coherence and coordination at the country level. The United Nations Development Group has reoriented its work around the Goals, developing new guidelines for the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).

The UN Country Team brings together all the United Nations System bodies dealing with operational activities for development, regardless of their formal presence in the country. The UNCT meets regularly with government counterparts to coordinate development cooperation with Syria in accordance to its needs and the reform and modernization programme. My role is to work with my colleagues in the UN and coordinate our efforts and programmes. Each UN Agency has its own programme but as of 2007 we would have our programs harmonized and synchronized. UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA, FAO, UNIFEM, UNHCR, UNDP and a host of other UN agencies work in Syria and pursue an active programme of cooperation.

UNDP for instance has achieved several pioneer initiatives in cooperation with the Syrian Government. I can cite some of these major initiatives:
1- The Conference "Expatriates for Development" held on 09-10 October 2004 was especially successful for UNDP which saw its brand name in Syria rise substantially over these two days. The culmination of this highly successful conference was the signing of the UNDP project "With Expatriates for Development" with H.E. Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban, Minister of Expatriates.

2- A Technical Experts Meeting on HIV/AIDS took place in Damascus from 28 June to 01 July 2004. The aim of this 4-day workshop was to reach an internal consensus within each religious community in order to develop inter-religion dialogue in the region. Muslim and Christian Religious Scholars from the throughout the Middle East and North Africa participated in this meeting organized by UNDP and the HIV/AIDS Regional Programme for the Arab States (HARPAS).

3- The Launching of the ReefNet, was one of the most significant achievements of the UNDP project entitled "ICT for Human Development." In the presence of H.E. Mrs. Asmaa' Al-Assad, First Lady, a celebration was held on March 31 2004 in Bosra (South of Damascus) to mark the launch of the rural areas (Reef) Information and Communication Technology tele-centers.

4- Signature of the Regional Human Rights Document. On 22 March 2004, Dr. Rima Khalaf Hunaidi, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of RBAS visited Syria and signed this regional project document with the Head of the State Planning Commission, Mr. Abdallah Al-Dardari. As the first human rights project to be implemented in partnership with the Syrian Government this document is of great importance and demonstrates the government's commitment to human as well as economic development.

5- Inauguration of the Syrian Higher Education and Research Network (SHERN) This event took place on 14 June 2004 at the Ministry of Higher Education. The project will provide an active electronic exchange of information among all four Syrian Universities together with the Ministry of Higher Education and the Syrian Scientific Research Centers as well as adapting the new information and communication technologies for upgrading its programmes.

Al-Zaatari concluded by saying that while other UN Agencies can speak better for their work, I must clarify that we collaborate with Syria to implement the vision of the President for reforming Syria. We are honored to be Syria's partners and allies in this process.

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