UNRWA at 60 High-Level Event Week Programme
New York, 17-25 September 2009

On 8 December 2009, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, will be sixty years old: an occasion for sober reflection but also an opportunity to highlight the Agency’s service and achievements during six decades of work alongside millions of Palestine refugees. It provides an opportunity to enter into renewed efforts for resource mobilization to fulfill UNRWA’s mandate.

While it would be inappropriate to ‘celebrate’ a 60-year anniversary it would be useful for the agency and its stakeholders to use this historic date to emphasize the important contribution it has made and continues to make to four generations of Palestine refugees. UNRWA will use its 60th anniversary to shape a more appropriate perception of the Agency while carrying a clear political message: six decades of dispossession must end.

To mark the anniversary, UNRWA will oversee, manage and stimulate a variety of activities and events that encourage and allow the full participation of refugees, host authorities, donors, NGOs, local populations and others. Among the highlights of the activities is a week of events in New York commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of UNRWA’s establishment by the General Assembly.

All times EST

Friday, 18 September 2009

10.30-11.00am Press Conference and Commemorative Book Launch
UN Press Room
UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd and Spokesman Chris Gunness will unveil a commemorative 60^th anniversary book including wishes of support from over 80 countries. This event will launch UNRWA’s week of anniversary activities at the General Assembly.

Tuesday, 23 September, 2009

16.00-17.00 UNRWA Commissioner-General live on the Riz Khan Show, al-Jazeera International
UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd will appear live on the Riz Khan Show to discuss UNRWA’s work throughout its 60 years.

Wednesday, 23 September 2009

10.30-11.00 UNRWA Commissioner-General live on Al-Arabiyya
UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd will appear live on Al-Arabiyya Television to discuss developments relative to Palestine refugees at the General Assembly Debates.

17.30-20.00 "Palestinian refugees and the Peace Process," Debate preceded by a reception
Princeton Club of New York, 15 W 43 St
Princeton University and UNRWA will convene a group of high-level policy experts, academics and diplomats to foster dialogue and an exchange of ideas about potential solutions - in the current context and climate - to the Palestinian refugee problem. This debate is especially timely, given the renewed urgency surrounding the peace process. Speakers include former Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami, Oxford Professor Karma Nabulsi and UNRWA Commissioner General Karen AbuZayd. Daniel Kurtzer, former US Ambassador to Egypt and Israel, will serve as the panel’s moderator.

Thursday, 24 September 2009

8.15-8.55am Ministerial Breakfast and Banner Unveiling Ceremony
Delegates’ Lounge
President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, Queen Rania of Jordan, and UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro will unveil a banner commemorating UNRWA’s 60^th anniversary alongside UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd. This banner will hang inside the Delegates' Lounge, and another, larger banner will adorn the outside of the General Assembly Building

9.00-9.25am High Level Event Opening Session
Trusteeship Council
The Commissioner-General will open the session along with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and the President of the General Assembly, Ali Abdussalam Treki.

9.30-11.00am High Level Event Panel Debates
Trusteeship Council
A series of panel debates around the theme “Contributing to a Better Future: UNRWA’s Record and the Road Ahead” will be convened. Speakers include Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Miguel Moratinos, Foreign Minister of Spain, Reem al-Hashimy, Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates, and Sawsan Asfari of the Galilee Foundation. Rami Khouri, Director of the Issam Fares Center for International Affairs and Public Policy at the American University of Beirut, will moderate the panel.

11.00-12.45 High Level Event Ministerial Segment
Trusteeship Council
A group of ministers representing the different groupings of the General Assembly and members of UNRWA’s Advisory Commission will speak, as well as host countries for Palestine refugees and the UN. Countries represented include Algeria, Guyana, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the US and the European Commission.

12.50-13.00 Chair's Summary
Trusteeship Council
Håkon Gulbrandsen, Deputy Foreign Minister of Norway, will deliver a summary of the meeting’s proceedings.

13.10-13.25 Press Briefing
Security Council Stakeout
The Commissioner-General will brief the press on the outcomes of the High-Level Meeting along with Riad Al Maliki, Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister and Håkon Gulbrandsen, Deputy Foreign Minister of Norway.

Friday, 25 September 2009

13.30-17.00 "UNRWA and Palestine Refugees: A contribution to peace, and development," Debate Followed by a Reception
Casa Italiana, Columbia University
Columbia University and UNRWA will hold two panel debates to examine both UNRWA’s role in a historical context and the contribution of Palestine refugees to regional economic and social development. The first panel is entitled "UNRWA’s historical performance in a changing context." It will be, moderated by Columbia professor Rashid Khalidi, will feature UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd, former Commissioners-General Peter Hansen and Ilter Türkmen as well as McGill University professor Rex Brynen.

The second panel is entitled "The contribution of Palestine refugees to economic and social development in the region" and will be moderated by Oxford professor Karma Nabulsi. Speakers include Susan Akram, Professor at Boston University School of Law, Former US Ambassador Philip Wilcox, and Jalal Husseini, Research Associate at the Institut français du Proche Orient – Amman.

Monday, 28 September, 2009

UNRWA Commissioner-General on Al-Jazeera Arabic “From Washington”
UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd will be interviewed by al-Jazeera Arabic Chief US Correspondent Abderrahim Foukara. Tony Blair will also be interviewed on the programme.
Reruns Tuesday, 29 September and Wednesday, 30 September.