(Communicated by the MFA Spokesman)
The IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) Administrative Committee Meeting opened in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, on Monday (12 October 2009). This is the first meeting in the city, which was designated as the interim headquarters of the Agency by representatives of 130 nations.
Israel was represented at the meeting, which was attended by 150 delegates from 70 countries, by Simona Halperin, Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Human Rights and International Organizations and Dr. Avraham Arbiv of the Ministry of Infrastructure. Despite the fact that Israel does not have diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, the Israeli representatives were received as equal members, and the Israeli flag flew for the first time in that country.
In his opening speech, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, emphasized his country's commitment to achieving the goals of the Agency and the importance of the cooperation of all member countries. Dr. Gargash added that the meeting symbolizes the determination of the entire world to prepare for the depletion of oil reserves in the future, and the willingness of the UAE to lead this effort to diversify the world's energy sources.
The city of Masdar - designed to be the first green city in the world - which will be built near Abu Dhabi, was chosen as the official location of the International Renewable Energy Agency.