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World Population Day
Lattakia - 2002

 

For the first time since the establishment of UNFPA Office in Syria, World Population Day witnesses such distinguished celebration. The motto of the 2002 celebration was “Poverty Eradication”, which was held in Lattakia under the patronage of His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister for Services Affairs, Mr. Naji Al-Otri in joint cooperation between the state Planning Commission and UNFPA Syria field office.

Participants

 

Concerned ministers and high rank governmental officials, officials from national organizations, heads of UN agencies and regional guests were invited and participated in the celebration:

   
-          Deputy Prime Ministers for Services Affairs, Mr. Naji Al-Otri
-          Minister of Information, Dr. Adnan Omran
-          Minister of Culture, Dr. Najwa Kassab Hasan
-          Minister of Education, Dr. Mahmoud El-Sayed
-          Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Ms. Ghada Al-Jabi
-          Chairman of State Planning Commission, Dr. Taoufik Ismail (ranked as Minister)
-          UNFPA Good-Will Ambassador, Mr. Jamal Sulieman
-          Deputy of Minister of Health, Dr. Shayesh Al-Yousef
-          Deputy of Minister of Al-Awkaf (Religion), Dr. Abdel Razak El-Mouness
-          Governor of Lattakia, Mr. Salah Kannaj
-          President of The Women General Union, Mrs. Souaad Bakour
-          President of The Revolutionary Youth Union, Mr. Adnan Arbash

 

 

International participants from countries in the region are:
-          Head of Cairo Technical Office, Dr. Moushira Al-Shafei.
-          President of the Regional Council of International Planned Parenthood Federation for Arab World, Dr. Taoufik Deeb.
-          Regional Director of International Planned Parenthood Federation for Arab World, Dr. Mohammed Kamel.
-          President of the Algerian Family Planning Association, Prof. Said Kabouya.
-          Former President and Representative of the Lebanese Family Planning Association,  Dr. Hayan Haidar.

 

The celebration started by delivering the statement of UNFPA Executive Director on this occasion by UNFPA Assistant Representative.
The second speech was by UNFPA Representative who briefly demonstrated Population World Report, and paid tributes to the Government’s commitment towards population development.
Next was the Chairman of the State Planning Commission who stated that population issue was given exceptional concern since the Corrective Movement, and consequently expressed through the statement of the Late President to Mexico Conference in 1984, and in the National Population Conference conducted under the Patronage of Mr. President Bashar Al-Asad. 

 

Deputy Prime Minister for Services Affairs, Mr. Naji Al-Otri, highlighted the commitment of the government towards population issues in compliance with the President’s speech to the new government in December 2001: “population growth affects economy and therefore, the government is required to attain economic development balanced with population growth and more”.  As well, the celebration was a consequence effectuation of the recommendations resulted form the National Population Conference, conducted in November 2001 under the patronage of H.E. the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Mr. Bashar Al-Assad.

In appreciation of the distinguished role played in the fields of population issues, plaques were presented to the Deputy Prime Ministers for Services Affairs, Minister of Health (delivered to the Deputy Minister of Health), the Chairman of the State Planning Affairs, Minister of Information, President of Women General Union, President of Revolutionary Youth Union, President of the Regional Council of International Planned Parenthood Federation for Arab World, Regional Director of International Planned Parenthood Federation for Arab World and other concerned high officials and experts in population issues.

 

Topics Presented During the Celebration

The seminar focus on tackling the following population issues which were presented in six sessions (as per the attached agenda):

-          “Population Current Situation, Future Challenges and Population Policy in Syria”, prepared by Mr. Shiekh Oughli, director of Population Planning and Manpower in the SPC, and Mr. Abdel Karim Hussein, Counsellor of Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs and chaired by Chairman of State Planning Affairs;

-          “The Role of Information in Population Issues” prepared by the Deputy Minister of Information, Mr. Adib Ghanam, and director of information development, Mr. M. Abdel-Hak and chaired by the Minister of Information;

-          “Reproductive Health and Population Issues” prepared by UNFPA Assistant Representative, Dr. Mouna Ghanem, and Director of Primary Health Care Dr. Mazen Khadra. The session was chaired by Deputy Minister of Health;

-          “ Population and Socio-Culture Factors” prepared by Minister of Culture Dr. Najwa Kassab Hasan, and Deputy Minister of Awkaf (religion), Dr. Abdel Razak Mounes and chaired by the Minister of Education,         

-          “Youth, Women and Population Issues” prepared by population programme coordinator in Revolutionary Youth Union, and Women General Union Executive Director, Ms. Raghda Al-Ahmed. Minister of Labour and Social Affairs chaired the session;

A roundtable on population issues and their relation to socio-economic development. The President of Women General Union and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador jointly chaired the session. A debate took place on population and family planning issues in Syria.