A multidisciplinary week for CIHEAM in Lebanon
Press release
29 May 2015
On the occasion of the Euro-Mediterranean multi-tasks event on Research
and Innovation (ERANETMED/MEDSPRING), the CIHEAM Secretary
General Cosimo Lacirignola was in Beirut from 26 to 29 May 2015 for a set
of high-levels meetings aiming to present the results of activities developed
and to promote new projects with Lebanon for the future. Improving
training, enhancing research programmes and supporting national policies
in the field of agriculture, food and sustainable development were the main
issues discussed.
The visit was organized in close collaboration with the delegate of Lebanon
at the CIHEAM Governing Board, Pr. Mouin Hamzé, who is the Secretary
General of the CNRS Lebanon and who was present in all the meetings
mentioned below.
On May 27, the Secretary General was received by the Minister of
Agriculture, H.E. Akram Chehayeb. He highlighted the role of Lebanon as
platform and best practices for CIHEAM activities in a sensitive context.
Member of our Organisation since 1994, CIHEAM has always supported the
Lebanese authorities in the field of agriculture and rural economy thanks to
many technical projects that are complementary to our mission of education,
training and research. The Minister and the Secretary General also discussed
the food safety campaign of the Lebanese government and how CIHEAM can
contribute in this initiative. Another very important item reasoned was linked
to the international cooperation to cope with food security caused by the
Syrian crisis. The food security challenges for the country are increasing and
the support of CIHEAM will be also welcomed in this issue as indicated by
Minister Akram Chehayeb.
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The Minister of agriculture, Akram Cheyaheb, at the middle, Pr. Mouin Hamzé on his right and the Secretary General of CIHEAM, Cosimo Lacirignola, on his left
© CIHEAM / El-Moujabber
On May 26 and 27, Cosimo Lacirignola participated in the ERANETMED-MedSpring EuroMediterranean multi-tasks event on Research and Innovation. He highlighted during the
opening ceremony that CIHEAM has been strongly involved in the development and coordination
of these two very important programmes. The meeting aimed at taking stock of the ERANETMED
analysis on Euro-Med research programmes and infrastructures as well as of activities to be carried
out for the development of the Euromed strategic agenda on research and innovation. The
discussion with stakeholders supported also ERANETEMED funding agencies in preparing the
second Joint Call. The event decided to launch an ERANETMED-MedSpring Awareness Campaign
on joint programming and a meeting on Euromed Observatories. The “water, energy, food,
health” nexus as well as coastal areas management and the importance to develop mobility and
capacity building were also emphasized among the main research priorities for the future of
ERANETMED. The participants of the meeting recalled the following objectives through the
programme: facilitating networks and access to EU consolidated infrastructures from Southern
and Eastern Mediterranean Countries promoting knowledge sharing in the region.
© CIHEAM / El-Moujabber
www.ciheam.org
The Secretary General also participated on May 27 in the seminar on risk management
organized by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and chaired by the Prime Minister
of Lebanon, H.E. Tammam Salam. He stressed the role of CIHEAM in facilitating knowledge
transfer in order to better monitor environmental hazards in the Mediterranean countries.
From left the Prime Minister T.Salam, the Secretary General and Pr. M. Hamzé
© CIHEAM / El-Moujabber
The Secretary General also had a meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and
Food Science of the American University of Beirut, Pr. Nahla Hwallah (who is also member
of the CIHEAM Advisory Board) and the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture of the Lebanese
University, Pr Samir Medawar. The main point discussed was on the win-win cooperation to
reinforce at the level of the training courses organized by CIHEAM and its Institutes for the
Lebanese Officials of the Public Administration.
From left Pr. S. Medawar, the Secretary General, Pr. N. Hwalla and Pr. M. Hamzé
© CIHEAM / El-Moujabber
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Considering the number of projects developed by CIHEAM and its Institute of Bari, the
Secretary General was received by the Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, H.E. Giuseppe
Morabito. Beyond the presentation of the activities accomplished through the Italian
cooperation with Lebanon, he presented the main political events in which CIHEAM is
currently engaged, as Expo Milano 2015 and the 11th Ministerial meeting of the Ministers of
agriculture of our 13 Member countries that will be held in Lisbon on 23 September 2015.
Honouring the relevant mandate in Lebanon he was awarded the Golden medal of CNRSLebanon and the CIHEAM trophy.
Last but not least, the Secretary General had the pleasure to meet the director of the
Bibliotheca Alexandria, Pr. Ismail Serageldin, and the President of EMUNI, Pr. Abdelhamid
El-Zoheiry, discussing with them the situation in the Mediterranean and the need to
preserve the will of cooperation. In this perspective, the Secretary General recalled the role
of CIHEAM in the intercultural dialogue in the region given the educational, scientifical and
political activities, promoting the “Knowledge mobility” developed by our Organization.
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