ISLAMABAD, Feb 20, IRNA - The Islamic Republic of Iran on Thursday officially handed over the Asia-Pacific Center for Disaster Information Management (APDIM) Governing Council to Pakistan.
Hamid Pourmohammadi, Iran's Deputy Vice President for Planning and Budget Organization and former head of APDIM Governing Council handed over the presidency of the body to Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal at the beginning of the Fourth Governing Council Meeting of APDIM in Islamabad.
Pourmohammadi expressed his gratitude to the Government of Pakistan for hosting the Fourth Session of the APDIM Governing Council and for providing warm hospitality to the participants of the session.
The official added that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a committed member of the United Nations, is implementing its 6th Five-Year National Development Plan.
“The Plan emphasizes the role of the knowledge-based economy, coupled with the development of advanced technologies in a wide range of subjects. In conjunction with United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, the current Five-Year National Plan is based on notions of equality and inclusion, ”said Pourmohammadi.
He noted that according to the official data of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the world economy enjoyed a relatively good level of growth in 2019, and the people of the world, to varying extents, enjoyed the fruits of this. advancement.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, however, has recently witnessed a significant challenge in achieving its economic growth targets and experiencing income inequality, thanks to the unilateral economic sanctions imposed by the US Government, which are not only against the United Nations' objectives. Sustainable Development Goals, but are also in contradiction with numerous UN Charter articles targeting civilian and humanitarian items such as food and medicine, and undermining human safety, ”he added.
The official went on to say that as a major step towards finding answers to the challenges that undermine security and resilience against all types of disasters, the Islamic Republic of Iran, in cooperation with and thanks to the support of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) member states and associates took the initiative and supported ESACP in establishing APDIM in the region and is pleased to host the Center in Tehran, as decided in ESCAP Resolution 71/11 adopted in 2015.
He said APDIM held its third session of its Governing Council in Tehran on 19 December 2018 which was preceded by a Regional High-Level Expert Meeting on 18 and 19 December 2018.
“The Council reviewed the Center's work since its second session and expressed its appreciation to the Center for initiating all the key programs of the approved work plan for 2018 in line with the strategic plan and the three thematic pillars including: information and knowledge repository, capacity development, and regional information services for cross-border disasters, ”said Pourmohammadi.
He added ever since APDIM started its activities, it has initiated, organized, hosted, and sponsored several rounds of workshops, training courses, field visits, needs assessment studies, advisory missions, UN project implementations, international summits, Expert Group Meetings, and Governing Council Meetings.
“I am very pleased to note that APDIM has successfully expanded its activities in line with the strategic plan adopted by the Council and based on the priorities and needs of the countries in the region. Today, the expectations of countries in the region show that APDIM's mission and services are relevant and needed more than ever, ”the official said.
"On behalf of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I would like to emphasize my willingness and readiness to promote multilateral cooperation within ESCAP members and associates," said Iran's Deputy Vice President.
He added Iran is committed to continuing its political, legal, financial, technical, and logistical support for APDIM, as it has been pledged in Resolution 71/11.
A two-day summit of High-Level Expert Consultation on Disaster Information Management and the fourth session of the Asian and Pacific Center for Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM) began in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The meeting is being held in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan (NDMA).