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PART TWO
OAPEC Activities in 2012
green sector, and environmental democracy as a main element within
the framework of sustainable development.
ESCWAproposed a topic relating to food security in a changingArab
world, to be discussed during Rio+20 Conference. ESCWA, in turn,
referred the findings of the Arab Preparatory Meeting to the Conference
Secretariat, to be included in the collective document.
Delegations of the countries reviewed their comments and proposals
on the zero draft, which came consistent with the Rio Principles and
the invitation to industrialized nations to meet their obligations, and to
enhance integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development,
i.e. economic, social and environmental dimensions, while considering
Arab regional integration as a precondition for achieving the sustainable
development. The comments also indicated that disputes constitute part
of the overall challenges in the international community, and that the
green economy is not a replacement of sustainable development, yet, it
constitutes a tool for realizing it.
In this context, the representative of OAPEC General Secretariat
stressed the importance of including two main principles which were
absent in the document:
First: Interests of Arab countries whose economies depend on fossil
fuel revenues and renewable energy sources should be considered.
Second: Emphasizing the removal of trade barriers (trade
protectionism) under global trade system (EU countries and government
procurement service).
In conclusion of the meeting, the definitive recommendations were
referred to the Council of Arab Ministers in charge of environmental
affairs, in its extraordinary session.
3–10 The Expert Group Meeting on Energy Statistics and Balance
In response to an invitation from the UN Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the General Secretariat took part
in the “Expert Group Meeting on Energy Statistics and Balance” which was
