The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority hosted the first Arab group meeting entrusted with the preparations for the Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-10) to take place in Mexico 2010. The meeting, attended by 14 Arab delegations in addition to the representative of the League of Arab States and the representative of the Technical Communications Bureau of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council is taking place from Dec 20-22, 2009 in the Palace Hotel, Dubai.

Speaking on behalf of HE Mohammed Nasser Al Ghanim, Director General of TRA, Engineer Tariq Al Awadhi, the Executive Director of the Spectrum and International Affairs welcomed the participants at the opining meeting, saying “its an honor for the UAE to host the first preparatory meeting”, adding that “ in this meeting we strive to achieve the set objectives through presenting joint working papers with well thought recommendations on necessary amendments to the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) treaty and legislations that can be adopted in the name of the Arab group during the PP-10 Conference”.  Al Awadhi also praised the current role of the various working groups at the League of Arab States including, the Arab Working Group in charge of the preparations for the PP-10 Conference. He also spoke of prominent issues to be discussed during the conference that are of great relevance to the Arab World including the leadership of the ITU, strengthening regional representations, supporting Arab countries in need of technical assistance in the field of Telecom and ICT, the role of the sector in protecting the environment, cost redemption of some of ITU’s services and products, and the role of the ITU in international policies governing internet protocols and use.

Al Awadhi also mentioned a number of hot issues to be discussed such as the use of the (spectrum) above 3000 GHz amongst other issues of importance, citing that the need to collaborate regional efforts to achieve necessary amendments and changes in the upcoming conference.

HE Dr. Abdulrahman Sabri, Director of the ICT Unit delivered a speech welcoming the participants and guests. During his speech, Sari stated the importance of the meeting at this point in time saying “this meeting is based on the ICT Council of Arab Ministers decision in its recent meeting in Lebanon last June”, adding that this meeting aims at preparing a set of recommendations and proposals in the name of the Arab groups for the upcoming PP-10 conference, noting that ITU has set next February 2010 as the deadline for receiving the recommendations and proposals from member countries to present their vision on the needed amendments to ITU’s policy and treaty.

The preparatory meeting also discussed election nominations to the ITU, by which the UAE recently has been nominated to the membership of the ITU Council. During the meeting, Engineer Naser Bin Hammad, Director of International Affairs at TRA was nominated to the membership of the RRB 12 member Council.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Engineer Tariq Al Awadhi was elected as President of the Arab Working Group to the upcoming PP-10 Conference. Al Awadhi thanked the participants for their trust, stressing the importance of joining efforts to come up with joint Arab recommendations and proposals for the conference.