UCLG-MEWA joins Cities Today

United Cities and Local Government Middle East and West Asia (UCLG-MEWA), one of the eight regional sections of the global UCLG network, has joined the editorial advisory board of Cities Today.

“Cities Today is the most important publication on urbanism,” said Mehmet Duman, Secretary General of UCLG-MEWA. “We have an extensive network that reaches to the Middle East and West Asia local governments. We will make Cities Today a part of our network through this cooperation.”

Headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey, UCLG-MEWA serves the main principles of local self-government, international solidarity, accountability and transparency, and sustainable development for local government authorities in the region. Members include local government authorities from Turkey to Yemen, and from Lebanon to Pakistan. New discussions have also begun, stemming from the August meetings of the 7^th International Eurasia Conference of World Heritage Cities, with Aktau, Kazakhstan, and Samsun, Turkey, to become members.

“We, as UCLG-MEWA, carry on the task of representing local governments on a global scale and make their voices heard,” added Duman. “The relationship we have established between Cities Today will strengthen our mutual activities.”

Commenting on the new agreement, Richard Forster, Managing Editor of Cities Today, recognised the importance UCLG-MEWA’s addition to the editorial advisory board and the magazine’s growing reach.

“We are very happy to sign this new partnership with UCLG-MEWA,” he said. “This strengthens Cities Today global network to include 20 countries across the Middle East and West Asia including the UAE, Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.  We are looking forward to working with UCLG-MEWA to profile the projects and programmes of city and local governments in the region and to create dialogue with our other association partners.”