ISTANBUL, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Mayors from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region gathered in Türkiye's Istanbul on Friday to discuss peace, cooperation, and the challenges facing the region.
Over 45 mayors and local government representatives, along with diplomatic missions from regional countries, attended the meeting hosted by Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
"We can neither prosper nor be safe while there is instability and conflict in our neighboring regions. That is why we must act together," Imamoglu said in his opening speech, urging the countries to contribute to restoring peace and stability, as well as reconstructing war-torn cities.
The mayor of Istanbul also expressed readiness to support Syrian refugees wishing to return and rebuild Syria, offer them comprehensive training in various fields, and collaborate to create an action plan for rebuilding post-conflict cities.
During the session "On the Road to Building Peace: Challenges and Opportunities," Ammar Moussa Kadhim, mayor of Iraq's Baghdad, emphasized diplomacy as a key driver for conflict-ridden regions to restore peace.
Issa Kassis, mayor of Palestine's Ramallah, said he joined the meeting with the Palestinian delegation to express the first-hand experience of the value of working together for the benefit of people under the challenging conditions of the region.
Kassis also called on mayors of the cities to join the calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and justice in Palestine. ■
