The Second Asian Mayors Forum. The delegation of Euro-Asia sectionof UCLG took part in work of the Second Asian Mayors Forum,which held from March, 31st till April, 3rd, 2011 in Istanbul.

The main subject of the forum was the increase of role of local authorities in apolitical life of regions of state.

More than 250 mayors, heads of 10 international organizations and representatives of municipalities of 60 cities from 35 countries of the world participated in the Forum. Among participants of the forum were mayors of Istanbul, Teheran, Ankara, Aleppo, Budapest, Kabul, Tripoli, Tbilisi, Plovdiv, Cologne, Beirut and other cities. Besides numerous Asian cities, the European municipalities of Germany (Cologne, Essen), France (a province Ile-de-France), Romania (Bucharest), Hungary (Budapest, Pesh), Bulgaria (Plovdiv) was presented also. The Euro-Asia section of UCLG in the forum was represented by Kazan, Osh, Tbilisi cities.

The delegation of the Euro-Asia section met with Kadir Topbash, the Mayor of Istanbul. During the meeting questions of the further development of cities of the Euro-Asia section were discussed, prospects and area of activity were defined. The special attention was paid to the problems of preparation of the International conference of World heritage cities which should take part in Istanbul in the beginning of November, 2011. Besides, the meetings concerning the conference organization were held with Mehmet Duman, the Secretary General of Middle East and West Asia (MEWA) section, Hajrettin Gjungor, the Secretary General of the Union of Turkey municipalities and  Selamettin Ermish, Director of department of external relations of Istanbul Government.

In the days of holding the forum the delegation of the Euro-Asia section met the Mohammed Bager Galibaf, Mayor of Teheran. The parties declared interest in development of bilateral relations and exchanged experience about the solution of urban problems; in particular the organization of public transport’s functioning.

Asian Mayors Forum ended with adoption of the resolution on organization «the Asian Forum of Mayors». Cities of Tbilisi, Bishkek and Kazan formed a part of Board of administration. The Mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbash was elected unanimously to the chairman of the organization; Muhammed Hadadibi from Teheran, Iran became the secretary general.

03.04.2011

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