League of Arab States to Host ASREN?s Founding Meeting

The League, as the specialized entity in boosting scientific research within the joint Arab action frame, welcomes the launch of ASREN and is committed to providing the League?s available support and potentials- HE Mr. Amr Moussa

CAIRO --- August 8, 2010 --- Under the Patronage of the Secretary General of the League of Arab States HE Mr. Amr Moussa, the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) will be officially launched during its founding meeting to be presided by Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, ASREN chairman.

Mr. Moussa stated that the League, as the specialized entity in boosting scientific research within the joint Arab action frame, welcomes the launch of ASREN and committed to providing the League?s available support and potentials.

Meanwhile, Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman of the UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID), highly commended the League?s endorsement to host ASREN?s founding meeting.

?We raise our hats for this generous gesture by the League of Arab States and we will work towards fulfilling the Network?s mission in urging government and private sectors to make Research and Development a priority on their agendas,? Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh said.

According to Abu-Ghazaleh, ASREN will also adopt GAIDs mission for the advancement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through the use of ICT solutions. It is expected that ASREN will act as the Arab regional network for the ICT solutions matrix for the advancement of MDGs under the honorary chairmanship of the UN secretary general. ASREN plans to take over the EUMEDCONNECT2 research and education network, which is co-funded by the European Commission and already connects 7 Arab countries, and further extend its footprint. Project Manager David West at DANTE which currently manages the EUMEDCONNECT2 programme commented: ? This is great news as it gives top level backing for ASREN, and provides a sound basis for developing ASREN as a true Pan-Arab network for research and education. The EUMEDCONNECT2 project partners strongly welcome the League?s patronage and active participation.?

ASREN was created as a legal entity under the auspices of the League of Arab States and the UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) to help secure sustainable e-Infrastructures across the Arab world.
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About Eumedconnect2:
Building on EUMEDCONNECT2, the high-capacity Internet network for research and education in the Mediterranean which is co-funded by the European Commission, ASREN sets out to widen its geographical footprint by connecting other Arab national research and education networks (NRENs) in addition to the current seven EUMEDCONNECT2 member countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia. www.eumedconnect2.net