Within the framework of the Oman Water Week organized by UN-ESCWA (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) and the Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources, Muscat will host two major events, namely: the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on National Institutional Reforms for the Implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (18-20 March 2007) and the Seventh Session of the UN-ESCWA Committee on Water Resources (20-22 March 2007) at the Muscat Holiday Hotel.

The Sultanate of Oman today provided UN-ESCWA with financial support of USD 50,000 to fund development projects and technical cooperation and support activities for member countries. The Sultanate is considered one of the most prominent supporters of UN-ESCWA in recent years since it has already provided funds that amounted to USD 300,000.

UN-ESCWA will hold an expert group meeting to consider the establishment of a United Nations Arabic Language Centre, at the Bristol Hotel in Beirut on 2 and 3 May 2007. The meeting, which is the first to be held on the subject, is intended to review key activities implemented by UN-ESCWA in this regard and decide on future activities to be organized in cooperation with the United Nations Secretariat.

In their last meeting during the term of Executive Secretary Mervat Tallawy, the ambassadors of UN-ESCWA member countries will meet at 11 am on Wednesday 16 May 2007 at the UN House in Beirut. The meeting comes within the context of the regular Advisory Committee meetings and is the second for this year. Tallawy will open the meeting with a statement addressed to the participants and media representatives.