South dialogue on a wide range of developmental issues", he said while addressing the third preparatory session of IRENA here in Abu Dhabi. He said that today's meeting, just 9 days short of the first anniversary of Irena's official establishment marks another step forward in the life of this important organization, according to the UAE news agency "WAM". "The UAE firmly believes that IRENA will evolve into one of the most important international organization of the 21st century and we are truly proud to be part of that journey", he added. "It is remarkable to think that in less than 12 months, we have seen Irena's membership increased from 75 to 139 - with the latest addition taking place less than a fortnight ago. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome the Czech Republic to the fold - and I understand that others may also join today. This reflects the whole-hearted global endorsement of Irena's core aspiration to be the driving force behind a rapid transition towards the widespread and sustainable use of renewable energy around the world". "This aspiration can only be translated into reality through a collective, continued and consensus-based contribution", he underscored. Gargash was of the view that following several rounds of intense deliberations between various working groups over the last three months, it is abundantly clear that we all share the common commitment of ensuring that Irena achieves its mandate effectively. "In this regard, I would like to place on record our immense appreciation to the 6 working groups for conscientiously discussing crucial issues - and committing their resources and time to drafting the important decisions on Irena's future course of action". He vowed that UAE has extended all possible resources to shoulder its responsibilities as the host of Irena's headquarters. As Chair of the Headquarter Agreement Working Group – we have done our utmost to incorporate the different observations of each member state in our submitted draft agreement today. "We also continue to extensively campaign in all international forum and bilateral discussions for more member states to join our growing family - and I am delighted to observe that our actions - as well as the lobbying effort of many of the distinguished delegates here today have resulted in notable successes". On behalf of the developing world, the UAE is committed to the mission of making this organization effective, relevant and tangible, he added.
