Your Excellencies,
Colleagues Representing Sister U.N. Agencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
It gives me great pleasure to be among you today and to represent the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in this important coordination meeting. I bring to you the greetings of the ESCWA Executive Secretary, Dr. Rima Khalaf who has placed partnership with the League of Arab States front and centre of the organization’s partnership strategy.

Good morning and welcome to the UN House in Beirut.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Executive Secretary, Dr. Rima Khalaf, it is my pleasure to welcome you today at ESCWA to the launch of the “Survey of Economic and Social Developments in 2010-2011”, which is one of ESCWA’s flagship publications.

Your Excellencies
Distinguished delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all on behalf of Dr. Rima Khalaf our Executive Secretary and Under Secretary General to the UN House in Beirut to our gathering of distinguished experts and illustrative expertise to discuss and Issue of Macroeconomic Simulations for MDG Achievement.