UCLG-MEWA Presidency continues to meet with local governments representatives in the MEWA region. Within this context, Mohamed Saadie, UCLG-MEWA Co-President and President of Union Municipalities of Dannieh, paid a series of official visits to local governments in Istanbul. During visits made between 30 April – 2 May, Ziad Jamal, Mayor of Bakhoun (Lebanon) and Mehmet Duman, UCLG-MEWA Secretary General, accompanied to Co-President Saadie.
The first stop of the visit was Şeyma Döğücü, Mayor of Sancaktepe. Briefing her on the activities of the Organization, Secretary General Mehmet Duman mentioned the works of the Committee on Gender Equality. The next visit was made to Ümraniye Municipality. UCLG-MEWA Delegation was debriefed by İsmet Yıldırım, Mayor of Ümraniye, about the planned activities of the Municipality. Parties also discussed possible partnerships. The delegation also came together with Arc. Dr. Kadir Topbaş, UCLG President for 2010-2016, and evaluated local policies.
As a continuation of the visit program; a meeting was held with the Hasan Tahsin Usta, Mayor of Gaziosmanpaşa. Co-President Sadie and Mayor Usta talked about the actions needed to be taken by local governments on the recent refugee movement. Finally, Lokman Çağırıcı, Mayor of Bağcılar and Ahmet Cin, Mayor of Pendik was visited. Mayor Çağırıcı stated that the activities they carried out in the previous period will increasingly continue in this new period. Mayor Cin was informed by Co-President Saadie and Secretary General Duman about the activities of the organization.
On 31 March 2019, local elections were held in Turkey, one of the countries in the MEWA region. On the occasion of the visits, the Mayors were congratulated and exchanges were made on the possible partnerships in this new period. The relations between local governments in Turkey and Lebanon were also evaluated with a specific reference to the Sustainable development Goals.