58th General Assembly-Congress in Dubai, 10-19 May 2003
The Board of Directors, Chiefs of Delegations and Delegates,
Presidents of the Technical Committees, Chiefs of Liaison
Offices and several other CISM members and dignities met at the
58th General Assembly and 2nd Congress in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates (UAE).
The main subjects discussed during the General Assembly
were related to the 3rd Military World Games in Catania, Italy
(13-20 September 2003), candidates for the organisation of the
4th Military World Games in 2007, and to CISM’s strategic
planning and annual business plan.
One of the important activities during the General Assembly
was the (re)election of key members in CISM's organisation.
Three of the four CISM Vice-President positions and several
Board of Directors were elected.
Jamaica, Afghanistan, Serbia and Eritrea, joined CISM as New
Member Nations which brings CISM to a total of 127 member
nations.
It was the first time that the General Assembly was organised
in a Persian Golf country. The UAE has been a member of CISM
since 1973, and has already organised World Military Parachuting
Championships in 1981, 1985 and 2001.
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Opening Ceremony
and Dinner took place
at the Jumeira Beach Hotel
Newspaper Article from the Gulf
News
Four countries
given membership
Jamaica, Eritrea,
Afghanistan and Serbia Montenegro join CISM as Congress,
General Assembly end
The 58th Congress and
General Assembly of the International Military Sports Council
(CISM) concluded yesterday accepting the membership for new
four countries.
It also elected three
vice presidents from three continents and the board members.
The assembly was held yesterday at the Dubai Renaissance
Hotel, which has been hosting the meetings of the CISM from
the first day.
Colonel Robert
Eggermont, Secretary General of the CISM, at the conclusion of
the assembly said at a press conference yesterday: "The
consent of the four new members is the most important thing of
the general assembly.
"Jamaica, Eritrea, Afghanistan and Serbia Montenegro were accepted members
with an absolute majority of the general assembly votes.
"All four are from different continents and they passed through war and
difficult times in the last years, but they are now our
members.
"The countries which were fighting among each other in the past will now
compete under slogan 'Sports for Peace and Friendship'."
Three
vice-presidents
He said the three
vice-presidents and the board members were also elected with
an absolute majority.
The three
vice-presidents are: Brigadier General Isidore Popowych from
Canada representing Americas, Major General Souhail Khoury
from Lebanon representing Asia, and Colonel Léon De Wulf from
Belgium representing Europe.
The board members are: Col Lesego Mothlathledi from Botswana representing
Africa, Lieutenant General Richard E. Brown from the U.S.
representing Americas, Air Marshal R.C. Mahadik from India
representing Asia, Brig. General Johann Pucher from Austria
and Col Jan Petrovic from Slovakia, both representing Europe,
and Colonel André Therry from Belgium was elected Treasurer
General.
Eggermont was happy with the success of the 58th congress and general
assembly held in Dubai.
Most
successful
He said: "Despite the war
in Iraq and the tough conditions the area passed through, the
UAE accepted to host the 58th congress and I can say it was
one of the most successful congresses in the CISM's 55-year
history."
He thanked the UAE military officials for their warm reception and
excellent hospitality for all the CISM family during their
stay in Dubai.
Colonel Gianni Gola,
the CISM President, summarising the meeting, said it had
excellent organisation. The media coverage especially in
newspapers was marvellous.![](1.jpg)
"I didn’t see a daily coverage for the CISM Congress in any country of the
world like I saw in the UAE during this congress."
He said there was a very good hosting and nice leisurely
programme were presented.
"On Friday we visited new places which we couldn't visit had we held the
congress in another country.
"We accepted last year to divide the 58th CISM assembly into two parts,
the first for the congress and the second for the general
assembly. It succeeded and we will do the same in the coming
years.
Schedule
in place
"We have got now a
commercial partner and we hope we will get more in the future.
We have our schedule in place for the coming tournaments in
2003 and the coming years. The Third Military World Games will
be held in, Catania, Italy, from September 13-20.
"We are happy to be in Dubai, UAE, although the Gulf area is passing
through difficult times due to the war in Iraq.
"But holding the congress without delay for any reason, was our main
objective to get-together the military members and army staff
from all over the world in a peaceful atmosphere, speaking
only one language to maintain peace and friendship."
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