TWO-DAY REGIONAL HEARING FOR 'MILLENNIUM ASSEMBLY' CONCLUDES
Press Release
GA/9559
REC/52
TWO-DAY REGIONAL HEARING FOR 'MILLENNIUM ASSEMBLY' CONCLUDES
19990525 BEIRUT, 24 May (UN Information Centre) -- The two-day regional hearing for the western Asia region in preparation for the United Nations Millennium Assembly and Millennium Summit concluded this afternoon at United Nations House, Beirut.The closing session of the hearing, organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), during which over 70 prominent Arab representatives of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, the media and academia, began at 3 p.m. at United Nations House. The ESCWA Executive Secretary, Hazem El-Beblawi, stressed that the hearing was an opportunity for civil society to focus in a United Nations setting on the concerns to the region and such issues as peace and security, economic and social development and human rights. "Our region is probably the only one in the world where peace and security have been constant problems", he noted.
Having taken note of comments and proposals during the discussions, Assistant Secretary-General Miles Stoby, the coordinator for the Millennium Assembly and Summit, praised participants for expressing candidly their criticism of the United Nations, but also their interest in contributing to the strengthening of the Organization. "It was Secretary-General Annan's idea that we go out to the regions to hear authentic voices, grass-roots opinions, on how to change the United Nations for the better", Mr. Stoby declared. He added that, "with more time to prepare, things may have been done a little differently -- we would have liked to have included more women and youth". Despite the frustrations expressed by many participants, Mr. Stoby said there was no expression of hopelessness and helplessness and that should be taken positively. "The United Nations remains a unique source of hope for States and societies", he said. What the hearing has achieved, is to pave the way for enhancing and democratizing the United Nations.
The outcome of the ESCWA region hearing will be drawn upon in the preparation of the report of the Secretary-General for the Millennium Assembly and Millennium Summit of the United Nations, which will be held in New York in the autumn of the year 2000. Similar regional hearings, convened at the request of the Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, will be held in June through September 1999 in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and the Latin America and Caribbean regions.
* *** *