UCLG-MEWA delegation led by Secretary General Dr. Mehmet Duman, paid a courtesy visit to the Syrian Consulate General in Istanbul. The delegation was received by Mr. Abdul Ghaffar Al-Ghabra, the Syrian Consul General.
During the meeting, both parties engaged in a productive dialogue focused on developing a roadmap that would enable the sharing of knowledge and experience among local governments of MEWA Region by fostering cooperation in key areas of sustainable urban development.
Dr. Duman provided an overview of UCLG-MEWA’s mission, ongoing projects, and strategic vision, underlining the organization’s commitment to making informed decisions to improve quality of life and fostering regional cooperation.
As an initial step, UCLG-MEWA announced plans to formally invite the municipalities of Damascus, Aleppo, Idlib, Homs, and Latakia to participate as observers in the upcoming UCLG-MEWA Executive Bureau Meeting, set to take place in Aksaray, Türkiye, on May 28–29. The invitation is intended to lay the groundwork for reintegrating Syrian municipalities into regional dialogues and advancing sustainable development efforts.
Consul General Al-Ghabra welcomed the delegation and voiced strong support for future cooperation, highlighting the mutual benefits such collaboration could bring to municipalities across the MEWA region.