QUEEN NOOR OF JORDAN AND UN SECRETARY-GENERAL LAUNCH UNU INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

New Human Resource Programme At Amman to Nurture Future Leaders

Queen Noor of Jordan and Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, today formally launched the International Leadership Academy of the United Nations University (UNU). This is the first United Nations-sponsored global institute of this kind to be established in the Middle East. The ceremony, which took place in the Secretary-General's Office at United Nations Headquarters was held in the presence of Hisashi Owada, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations; Abdul Salam Majali, former Prime Minister of Jordan; and Heitor Gurgulino de Souza, Rector of the UNU. The occasion marked the initiation of a new UNU human resource development programme aimed at nurturing future leaders.

Acting on a proposal of Mr. Majali, the Governing Council of the UNU decided in December 1994 to establish the Academy and to locate its seat at the University of Jordan in Amman. Jordan has pledged to provide $1 million annually for the activities of the Academy.

The Academy aims to create a network of future leaders who will enhance global cooperation through dialogue and inter-cultural exchange and to study conflict resolution through negotiation, democracy, justice and solidarity. The objectives of the Academy are:

- to expose potential leaders to the situation of the world within as well as outside their own professional backgrounds at an early stage in their careers and provide opportunities for establishing bonds of friendship and understanding, which will be of great value at a later stage of their careers in developing as a community of leaders who have shared interactive training;

- to help prevent the hardening of views and attitudes along the lines of one's own culture, economic and historical situation through the goodwill of personal rapport established during the interactive training;

- to encourage training and dissemination of knowledge in the area of leadership; and

- to serve as a focal point for the exchange of information and experience among young potential and future leaders of the world.

Queen Noor serves as the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee of the Academy. Other members include Hisashi Owada, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations; Jan Egeland, State Secretary, Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Bartolome Mitre, Editor, Diario La Nacion, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The first sessions of the Academy are expected to take place in March and April 1996.