UN-ESCWA Executive Secretary, Mr. Bader Omar Al Dafa, received today Mr. Pushkar Shah, the Nepalese teacher who is touring the world on a bicycle to spread the message of peace. Shah presented to Al Dafa the motives behind the journey he initiated in 1998, and which ends next year, once he finishes visiting 150 countries. During his visit to every country, Shah tours different schools, clubs, local communities and United Nations headquarters to speak about peace, respect for other religions and cultures, living in harmony, respect for human rights and democratic values.

The United Nations annual economic report, which this year bears the title “World Economic Situation and Prospects 2008”, said that countries of the Western Asian region have maintained their fifth consecutive year of growth of more than 4.5 per cent. The region is benefiting from the revenue effects of resurgent oil prices and the unprecedented world demand. In the outlook, strong regional growth is expected to continue in 2008, at 5.2 per cent, supported by the high global demand and price of oil according to the “World Economic Situation and Prospects 2008”.

The first meeting of the UN-ESCWA Technical Committee, established pursuant to the decision of UN-ESCWA at its twenty-fourth ministerial session in 2006, opened today.

The aim of the meeting, which extends until tomorrow, 17 January 2008, is to discuss preparations for the UN-ESCWA twenty-fifth ministerial session, in addition to ongoing preparations for the strategic framework for the biennium 2010-2011: suggested vision and priorities.

– Under the auspices of Lebanese Minister of Transport and Public Works Mohamad Safadi, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA) will convene the 9th Session of its Committee on Transport on 26-28 February 2008 at Holiday Inn-Dunes, Verdun Str., Beirut.