NNA - The Minister of Information, Dr. Paul Morcos, and the Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Information Centre in Beirut, Cynthia Khoury, launched the economic development media file titled “United Nations: 80 Years of Partnership with the Lebanese and Arab Governments to Promote Sustainable Development – Agenda 2030” at a press conference held at the Ministry of Information’s headquarters. This program is part of numerous events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and will be produced in collaboration with the “Hiwar Ektisadi” program, hosted by Ghada Ballout Zaytoun, an expert in sustainable development issues.
The program focuses on highlighting the path of Arab governments’ implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030, through their national developmental and environmental strategies. It will be presented through field dialogue seminars with experts from the United Nations, the Arab banking sector, regional organizations affiliated with the Arab League, international financing institutions, and Arab funds.
In his remarks, Minister Morcos said: “Since its establishment, the United Nations has stood by Lebanon in times of crisis and achievement alike, as a partner in reconstruction and development and a supporter of the reform process. Today, we renew our commitment to its principles and to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a roadmap towards a fairer and more stable future.”
Cynthia Darrous Khoury underlined the strength of the partnership with the Ministry of Information and public media institutions in Lebanon, saying: “We view the media as a key partner in conveying an accurate image of the work of the United Nations, promoting transparency and accountability, and we value the efforts underway to advance a modern media law that enshrines freedom of expression and professional responsibility in line with international standards.”
For her part, Ghada Ballout Zaytoun highlighted the importance of the new initiative, noting that the “Hiwar Ektisadi” program and the accompanying media file aim “to open a window of hope by presenting an objective reading of challenges and opportunities, and by showcasing how Lebanon, in cooperation with its partners, can move towards a digital economy and sustainable development supported by responsible media that avoids distortion and keeps pace with global transformations.”
This collaboration between the Ministry of Information, the United Nations Information Centre in Beirut, Tele Liban and the “Hiwar Ektisadi” program represents an important step in strengthening the partnership between the United Nations and Lebanon in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, and reaffirms the role of the media as an active partner in documenting and communicating development and reform efforts in Lebanon and across the region. — UNIC Beirut
