Water Minister launches Regional meeting in Sana'a

SANA'A, June 10 (Saba) - Minister of Water and Environment
Abdul-Rahman al-Iriyani has inaugurated the regional meeting of the
focal points at southwest Asian group at the Global Environment
Facility (GEF).

Chairman of Environment Protection General Authority Mohammed
Shedaiwah said that the meeting would discuss the GEF work
mechanisms, availing from the financial potentials of the GEF and
unite opinions to increase the GEF support to the group's states.

Several countries will participate in the meeting, held for the
first time in Yemen, such as Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria and
the international organizations implemented for programs of the GEF
which is affiliated with the United Nations Environment programme
(UNEP) and World Bank (WB).

For two days, the meeting will deal with several important topics on
the future financings to GEF in the light of Global financial crisis
and follow -up mechanism to provide necessary support to GEF from
the donor's states and how the developing countries benefit from.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is an international financial
mechanism with 176 member countries that addresses global
environmental issues while supporting national sustainable
development initiatives. GEF grants support projects in developing
countries related to biodiversity, climate change, international
waters, land degradation, the ozone layer and persistent organic
pollutants.

The GEF was established in October 1991 as a $1 billion pilot
program in the WB to assist in the protection of the global
environment and to promote environmental sustainable development.

GEF's implementing agencies are the UN Development Programme (UNDP),
the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank.

AF/AF