Upgrading west asia's role in world economy. (Mission Statement).

The objective of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), much as those of the other regional commissions, is to promote regional cooperation and socio-economic development in the region it covers, with a view to enhancing the well-being of its peoples. In taking up the functions of Executive Secretary of the Commission, my mission, as I see it, is to translate this solemn undertaking into tangible results in the light of present day conditions. As should be expected, these not only open up opportunities, but also arouse challenges for action.

Sustainable development is the ultimate objective of ESCWA. All activities should forge the instruments that will make it possible; well built up and used, these instruments can be considered the intermediate objectives of our activities. Below, I briefly outline aspects of how this can be achieved.

The promotion of economic cooperation between ESCWA Member States, hopefully resulting in a not distant future in progressive regional integration, looks like an instrument of priority. One way of helping to effectively achieve this goal is to examine the impediments that have stood in its way. It follows on it that ESCWA could make suggestions for dismantling these impediments. Successful experiences in other regions could be learned from, and their lessons adapted, so as to present to Member States ideas that would make integration beneficial and attractive to all of them.

Another instrument is that of the increased participation of the region in the global economy, with ever-improving terms and conditions. In other words, the ESCWA secretariat should help upgrade the location of its region in the structure of the world economy. This can only be done by expanding and diversifying their economies, and producing higher value-added goods and services. In the process, it should advise on avoiding the risks entailed in the current liberalization and globalization of the international economy. An example of specific activities in this respect is studying the implications for Member States of the World Trade Organization agreements. Another is the assistance that could be given to Member States in implementing the agreements and negotiating their accession to the organization.

Upgrading the location of the region in the structure of the world economy, at the beginning of the new century, can benefit from the enormous opportunities made possible by new technologies. Information and communications technology is a tool of particular significance in this regard. Conscious of the contribution it can make to development, the Commission and the United Nations system, in general, are taking initiatives, with a view to facilitate the access of the developing countries and their use of this technology. ESCWA intends to assist Member States in benefitting from these initiatives.

Of course, technologies, old and new, draw their importance from their application. It is our role to ensure they are beneficially applied to factors and processes of production in the different sectors of economic activity. Water is an acutely scarce natural resource in the ESCWA region. Assisting in increasing its supply is a necessary priority, and available energy should be used to this end. Manufacturing industry and modern sector services should increase their share in domestic production in each Member State. Agriculture should be made more productive, and additional land should be placed at its disposal. Markets and factors of production should be brought together using new communication technologies, as well as more traditional means of transportation.

Placing social development aspects and concerns high up on the agenda of the region is also an essential part of my mission. I intend to help lay the ground for the contribution by the region in the current global debate that underlines the link between sound social policies and sustainable economic growth. Naturally, human beings, individually and constituted in societies, are the end beneficiaries of economic activity. Modes of organization and technologies are put at the service of production. This is devoid of meaning if it does not reach the end users. In this light, ESCWA should advise Member States on policies and measures that would make their populations benefit from advances in production. It should assist in implementing the objectives and programmes developed by the United Nations in the 1990s. ESCWA should present alternatives for raising the levels of human development, for fighting poverty and for improving the physical environment of the populations and the facilities they need to lead humane and productive lives.

In all the Commission's endeavours, gender concerns should be mainstreamed-this is not only out of equality considerations. By developing the capabilities of women, it is the productive capacity of the ESCWA countries that is upgraded both in size and in quality. In a region with high population growth rates and even higher labour force growth rates, youth should naturally receive our particular attention. They should be made the actors and beneficiaries for economic growth.

Our research capabilities and operational services should be used to assist Member States in the areas identified above. We should also make available to them and to all concerned with the region reliable, comparable and regularly updated statistical information that would help in research and policy formulation. Our publications, printed and electronic, should help expand knowledge on the region, its problems and the alternatives for their solution.

I also consider that my mission is to make the Commission the effective link between the universal Organization and the region. Therefore, in all action, in addition to the UN Charter, our guide should be the values, goals and programmes of action developed for the international community by the world conferences of the past decades. Of course, ESCWA should also be the channel for feeding the universal level with the concerns, views and contributions of the region in global debates.