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Archive -Seychelles

Victoria mayor elected as UCLG co-president |08 October 2013

The Mayor of Victoria, Jacqueline Moustache-Belle, has been elected as one of the four co-presidents of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) for the period 2013-2016.

The UCLG is an international organisation which represents and defends the values, objectives and interests of local authorities through cooperation between local governments and with the wider international community.

The UCLG was meeting in Rabat, Morocco, for the second world summit of local and regional leaders and the fourth united cities and local governments congress under the theme ‘Imagine society, build democracy’.

Over 3,500 local and regional government representatives gathered in Rabat to define the global agenda of cities and regions and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the international municipal movement.

Mrs Moustache-Belle, representing the region of Africa, is the first woman ever elected to this post since the international municipal movement, known as UCLG today, was established over a century ago. It is also the first time a Seychellois occupies this position.

The four other co-presidents elected were Augusto Barrera, Mayor of Quito (Ecuador); Chen Jianhua, Mayor of Guangzhou (China); Alain Juppé, president of the French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (AFCCRE), Mayor of Bordeaux (France); and Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan (Russia).

Mr Kadir Topba, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and president of the Union of Municipalities of Turkey, was also re-elected as president of the UCLG.

At the announcement of her election to this post, Mrs Moustache-Belle said she was deeply moved and proud of this expression of the continued confidence of the UCLG members in her country and her capacity to bring added impetus to the work of the organisation.

She assured them of her “unwavering commitment to make the UCLG an organisation that is more effective and relevant to the needs of communities”.
She also emphasised the need for international and national strategies for sustainable development to take into account local and regional visions for development and of the importance of empowering communities.

“People experience local authorities directly and this is where renewed focus, energy and resources should be placed to make a positive difference in their lives. During my tenure as co-president, I look forward to sharing the Seychelles' experience, where for many years a policy of people-centred development has been successfully implemented,” highlighted Mrs Belle.

The Mayor of Victoria was leading a delegation comprising member of the National Assembly and chairperson of the Association of the Districts of Victoria Jeovana Charles, and Michelle Murray, director general within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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