UAE Foreign Minister to open Forum for Future in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, Oct. 19, 2008 (WAM) - UAE Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will inaugurate today at Emirates Palace the fifth edition of the ministerial meeting of Forum for the Future, which will be attended by Foreign Ministers, State Ministers, non-governmental organisations and a number of senior officials from about 38 countries worldwide.

Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs and Co-Chair of the preparatory meeting for the forum Dr Tariq Ahmed Al Haydan, opened the preparatory meetings of the forum today. He said that the UAE was keen the results of the forum would be positive towards building cultural cooperation, confidence, peaceful co-existence, stable and secure environment and sustainable development.

Deputy Director of the Middle East Department at the Japanese Foreign Ministry and Co-Chair of the forum Takahiro Kagawa stressed the significance of holding the preparatory meeting to discuss the recommendations of the earlier meeting, pending referral to the forum Sunday. The five- points include: political reform, woman empowerment, legal environment for non-governmental organisations, cooperation between public and private sectors and sustainable development.