Upon the invitation of the Beirut-based Carnegie Middle East Centre, a group of Arab thinkers discussed on 17 June 2014 the flagship report produced by ESCWA and entitled “Arab Integration: A 21st Century Development Imperative” at the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel, Beirut.

Following an introduction by Senior Associate at the Carnegie Middle East Centre Maha Yahya, the meeting opened with the statements of United Nations Under-Secretary-General and ESCWA Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf, and former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

Moderated by Maha Yahya alongside Syrian thinker and professor of Philosophy at Damascus University Mohammed Tayyeb al Tizini, the meeting's panel discussions were especially important, given the challenges faced by the Arab region today.

ESCWA produced the Arab Integration Report in preparation for the upcoming Arab Economic Forum set to be held in Tunisia early 2015 and in light of the current discussions on launching the Arab Customs Union.

You may read the opening statements here: www.escwa.un.og and here www.fuadsiniora.com