MELCOM  (U.K.)


Agenda: 70th Meeting.


The next meeting and the 4th Pearson Lecture will be held in
the main lecture theatre of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
(IAIS) Exeter, on Tuesday 15th July 2003.

(The Arab World Documentation Unit (AWDU) is located in the same building as
the Lecture Theatre. Maps of the Exeter campus showing the IAIS  building
are at:
http://www.ex.ac.uk/awdu/location.htm)


The business meeting will be preceded at 12 noon by the 4th Pearson Lecture
to be delivered by John McIlwaine with the title  "Crossing the
bibliographical Sahara: uncertainties in the relationship between the
bibliography of the Middle East and North Africa and of Africa South of the
Sahara".


Business Meeting at 2.15

1.      Apologies for absence
2.      Minutes of previous meeting and matters arising
3.      Post of Treasurer and Accounts
4.      MELCOM International Resolution and practical measures to assist Iraqi
Libraries (see appendix.)
5.      Restructuring MELCOM
6.      Fifth Pearson Memorial Lecture
7.      MELCOM Publications (Nadeem al-Issa)
8.      MELCOM International Conference
9.      BRISMES Council
10.     Developments in member libraries and reports on periodicals
11.     Any other business
12.     Date and place of next meeting




Appendix.

MELCOM International Resolution
The English version of the resolution passed by MELCOM International on the
occasion of its 25th meeting in Beirut.

RESOLUTION

MELCOM International, the European Association of Middle East Librarians,
assembled in Beirut at its 25th annual conference

Deplores the destruction and theft of Iraqi libraries, archives and their
contents following the US and British led invasion and occupation of Iraq
in April 2003. This occurred in breach of the United Nations Convention on
the protection of cultural property of countries under military occupation.

Commends the efforts of UNESCO, IFLA and other international bodies to
assess the extent of this damage and deplores the recent action of the
occupying powers in refusing entry into Iraq to accredited representatives.

Insists that the international library community, of which it is part, play
a full and unimpeded role in assisting Iraqi colleagues to restore, as far
as possible, their library and archival heritage and infrastructure, a
process MELCOM International is willing to contribute to by offering the
professional expertise of its members.

Proposes to send a highly qualified professional from among its members
into Iraq to assess the situation and to report to the Board.

Supports the initiatives taken by our North American colleagues of the
Middle East Librarians Association (MELA) and related organisations.


Beirut, 28 May 2003


Internal announcement:
Professor Jan Just Witkam, former president of MELCOM International, has
willingly agreed to undertake this. We propose to seek funding from IFLA,
the Prince Claus Fund (Netherlands) and Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage
Foundation (London). MELCOM International itself, limited though its
financial means are, will also contribute.