Following the start-up conference of the UDP held in Damascus in December 2007, a three-day workshop has been organized in Aleppo February 18 – 20, 2008 at the Sheraton hotel.
Dr. Tamer Al Hajeh Governor of Aleppo has opened the workshop, pointing on his speech to the success of the Syrian-German Cooperation in the Old City of Aleppo and how this experience should be expanded to other Syrian Cities, and he mentioned the new extended role of this cooperation which is going to cover not just the Old City but the City as a whole.
Mr. Hilmar von Lojewsky the UDP program manager, has clarified to the participants the role of GTZ in Syria, the Syrian counterpart, as well as the UDP program and its four components, then he has explained more about Aleppo component.
The goal of the workshop was to draw the road-map for implementation of the Aleppo component to the horizon of March 2010. Three Working groups were discussing and analyzing the three sub-components (rehabilitation of the old city, informal settlements, strategic city development).
Dr. Maan Chibli, Mayor of Aleppo and many city councilors were actively involved in the working groups next to many local and international experts.
A report will be published in two weeks containing the results, the recommendations, and the proposals.