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                              href="https://mailchi.mp/8a43d4547620/unccd-media-advisory-central-asia-to-host-first-ever-meeting-of-the-un-treaty-on-desertification-land-degradation-and-drought?e=2649914cd5" 
                              target=_blank>View this email in your 
                              browser</A></SPAN></SPAN></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--[if mso]>
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                            <TD 
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                              <DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 24px"><SPAN 
                              style="COLOR: #006400"><STRONG>Media 
                              Advisory</STRONG></SPAN></SPAN><BR> </DIV>
                              <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><A 
                              style="COLOR: #2baadf; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=e74e842b37&e=2649914cd5" 
                              target=_blank>French</A> I <A 
                              style="COLOR: #2baadf; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=978bd0a17e&e=2649914cd5" 
                              target=_blank>Russian</A> I <A 
                              style="COLOR: #2baadf; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=ea8b3f794d&e=2649914cd5" 
                              target=_blank>Uzbek</A></SPAN></SPAN><BR>  
                              <H1 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; LETTER-SPACING: normal; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 26px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><STRONG><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">Central 
                              Asia to host first-ever meeting of the UN treaty 
                              on desertification,<BR>land degradation and 
                              drought</SPAN></SPAN></STRONG></H1>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><STRONG>21<SUP>st</SUP> 
                              Committee to Review the Implementation of the 
                              Convention (CRIC21) meeting in Samarkand, 
                              Uzbekistan, 13-17 November 
                              2023.</STRONG></SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><STRONG>Bonn/Samarkand, 
                              09/11/2023</STRONG> - The twenty-first session of 
                              the Committee for the Review of the Implementation 
                              of the Convention (CRIC 21) to the UN Convention 
                              to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will be held in 
                              Samarkand, Uzbekistan from 13-17 November 
                              2023.</SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">CRIC21 
                              will bring together an estimated 500 delegates 
                              from 196 countries and the European Union, civil 
                              society, and academia to reflect on progress in 
                              delivering the Convention’s strategic objectives. 
                              It marks the first time UNCCD convenes one of its 
                              most significant meetings in Central Asia, since 
                              its establishment.</SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">This 
                              meeting comes at a critical juncture, as recent 
                              data launched by UNCCD shows that the world is 
                              losing nearly 100 million hectares of healthy and 
                              productive land every year. If current trends 
                              continue, 1.5 billion hectares of land will need 
                              to be restored by 2030 to achieve land degradation 
                              neutrality around the globe. But, halting 
                              additional degradation and accelerating existing 
                              commitments alone could surpass the neutrality 
                              target.</SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><STRONG>UNCCD 
                              Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw</STRONG> said: 
                              “Droughts, wildfires and heatwaves we have 
                              witnessed around the world are the symptoms of the 
                              deepening and interlinked climate and nature 
                              crises, with land at the heart of both. Since 
                              2015, some 4 million square kilometres of healthy 
                              and productive lands have been lost—an area 
                              roughly the size of Central Asia. We must urgently 
                              stop further land degradation and restore at least 
                              1 billion hectares to meet global land targets by 
                              2030.”  </SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">CRIC21 
                              will be held at the <STRONG>Silk Road Samarkand 
                              Congress Centre</STRONG>. Parties will have the 
                              opportunity to review progress and provide 
                              recommendations towards achieving global targets 
                              to prevent and reverse land degradation, in line 
                              with the 2018-2030 UNCCD strategic and 
                              implementation frameworks.</SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">Among 
                              the highlights of the CRIC21 
                              programme:</SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <UL>
                                <LI 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><STRONG>Opening 
                                plenary on 13 November from 10:00-13:00 
                                </STRONG>with introductory statements from the 
                                Chair of the CRIC, the UNCCD Executive Secretary 
                                and the representative of the Government of 
                                Uzbekistan.</SPAN></SPAN> 
                                <LI 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><STRONG>UNCCD 
                                Gender Caucus</STRONG> <STRONG>on 14 and 16 
                                November from 13:00-15:00</STRONG> will convene 
                                international experts to discuss women’s land 
                                rights as a prerequisite to the success of 
                                global land restoration and drought resilience 
                                efforts.</SPAN></SPAN> 
                                <LI 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">A 
                                high-level political event on <STRONG>Sand and 
                                Dust Storms</STRONG> hosted by the government of 
                                Uzbekistan will be held <STRONG>on 15 November 
                                from 10:00-13:00</STRONG>. In recent years, sand 
                                and dust storms have increased in both frequency 
                                and severity in both Uzbekistan and surrounding 
                                countries.</SPAN></SPAN> 
                                <LI 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">For 
                                the first time, <A 
                                style="COLOR: #2baadf; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=628408f454&e=2649914cd5"><STRONG>more 
                                than 30 side events</STRONG></A> will be 
                                organized at CRIC21. These events provide the 
                                informal opportunity for parties and accredited 
                                observer organizations to exchange information 
                                and experiences on diverse issues related to the 
                                objectives of the Convention.</SPAN></SPAN> 
                              </LI></UL>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">Press 
                              briefings will be held throughout CRIC21 between 
                              13:00-15:00 local time, 
                              including:</SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <UL>
                                <LI 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><STRONG>13 
                                November: Focus on Central Asia: </STRONG>global 
                                and regional trends on desertification, land 
                                degradation and drought with UNCCD Chief 
                                Scientist, Dr Barron Orr, and Programme Officer, 
                                Science, Technology and Innovation Unit, Ms Olga 
                                Andreeva (TBC).</SPAN></SPAN> 
                                <LI 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><STRONG>14 
                                November: Her Land. Her Rights:</STRONG> global 
                                and regional efforts to advance women’s land 
                                rights and their engagement in land restoration 
                                and drought resilience efforts with UNCCD and 
                                regional experts (TBC).</SPAN></SPAN> 
                                <LI 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><STRONG>15 
                                November: Sand and Dust Storms:</STRONG> the 
                                latest data on this growing phenomenon with 
                                UNCCD and regional experts, as well as the 
                                outcomes of the high-level event hosted by the 
                                Government of Uzbekistan.</SPAN></SPAN> 
                                <LI 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><STRONG>17 
                                November: Closing press conference:</STRONG> an 
                                overview of the key outcomes of CRIC21 with Mr 
                                Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary, Ms. 
                                Biljana Kilibarda, Chair of the CRIC, and Mr 
                                Aziz Abdukhakimov, Uzbek Minister of Ecology, 
                                Environmental Protection and Climate 
                                Change.</SPAN></SPAN> </LI></UL>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><STRONG>Notes 
                              to Editors</STRONG> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">Accredited 
                              media representatives are invited to attend and 
                              report on CRIC21 and associated events. Field 
                              visits where journalists can see land restoration 
                              and drought resilience projects will take place 
                              immediately before and after 
                              CRIC21.</SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">Daily 
                              highlights of CRIC21 will be provided by the IISD 
                              <EM>Earth Negotiations Bulletin</EM>: <A 
                              style="COLOR: #2baadf; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=7f86b5b66c&e=2649914cd5" 
                              target=_blank>https://enb.iisd.org/unccd-committee-review-implementation-convention-c…</A></SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">Side 
                              events schedule is available here: <A 
                              style="COLOR: #2baadf; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=4958f7e2e0&e=2649914cd5">https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/2023-10/Side%20Events%20CRIC21.pdf</A></SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">Visual 
                              assets about CRIC21 and the UNCCD Data Dashboard 
                              are available here: <A 
                              style="COLOR: #2baadf; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=2313ede63a&e=2649914cd5" 
                              target=_blank>https://trello.com/b/zq0kxtkK/unccd-cric21-samarkand-uzb-2023</A></SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">Online 
                              registration for media representatives is 
                              available at the following link: <A 
                              style="COLOR: #2baadf; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=6d116e64fe&e=2649914cd5">www.unccd.int/cric-21-online-registration</A>.</SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">To 
                              register, please provide the following 
                              documents:</SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <UL>
                                <LI 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">One 
                                recent passport-sized photograph</SPAN></SPAN> 
                                <LI 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">A 
                                valid press card</SPAN></SPAN> 
                                <LI 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">A 
                                copy (picture and signature pages) of your 
                                passport (for foreign journalists) or national 
                                identity card (for local 
                                applicants)</SPAN></SPAN> 
                                <LI 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">A 
                                letter of introduction from the bureau chief or 
                                company sponsoring your travel to the session. 
                                For freelance journalists, a letter is required 
                                from the media organization assigning you to 
                                cover the conference</SPAN></SPAN> 
                                <LI 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">A 
                                duly completed accreditation form</SPAN></SPAN> 
                                </LI></UL>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">Journalists 
                              who register online will be able to collect their 
                              accreditation at the Silk Road Samarkand Congress 
                              Center on presentation of a valid press card and 
                              an identity document.</SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">For 
                              more information on the regulations governing visa 
                              applications and the introduction of reporting 
                              material into Uzbekistan, please consult the 
                              following link: <A 
                              style="COLOR: #2baadf; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=a9eb5aa990&e=2649914cd5" 
                              target=_blank>https://e-visa.gov.uz/main_</A></SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">For 
                              inquiries about media accreditation or coverage of 
                              the event, please contact:  <A 
                              style="COLOR: #2baadf; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              href="mailto:press@unccd.int" 
                              target=_blank>press@unccd.int</A></SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">A 
                              dedicated press and media working space will be 
                              available at the conference 
                              venue. </SPAN></SPAN></P>
                              <P 
                              style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #202020; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif">Additional 
                              information and media updates on the Convention 
                              and CRIC 21 will be available on the UNCCD 
                              website: <A 
                              style="COLOR: #2baadf; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=d6ab0c37f4&e=2649914cd5">https://www.unccd.int/cric21</A></SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--[if mso]>
                                </td>
                                <![endif]--><!--[if mso]>
                                </tr>
                                </table>
                                <![endif]--></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR>
              <TR>
                <TD 
                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                vAlign=top>
                  <TABLE 
                  style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 9px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                  id=templateColumns border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 
                  width="100%" align=center>
                    <TBODY>
                    <TR>
                      <TD 
                      style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                      vAlign=top><!--[if (gte mso 9)|(IE)]>
                        <TABLE style="WIDTH: 600px" border=0 cellSpacing=0 
                        cellPadding=0 width=600 align=center>
                          <TBODY>
                          <TR>
                            <TD style="WIDTH: 400px" vAlign=top width=400 
                            align=middle><![endif]-->
                              <TABLE 
                              style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 9px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              id=templateBody border=0 cellSpacing=0 
                              cellPadding=0 width=400 align=left>
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--[if (gte mso 9)|(IE)]></TD>
                            <TD style="WIDTH: 200px" vAlign=top width=200 
                            align=middle><![endif]-->
                              <TABLE 
                              style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 9px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              id=templateSidebar border=0 cellSpacing=0 
                              cellPadding=0 width=200 align=left>
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                vAlign=top></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--[if (gte mso 9)|(IE)]></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><![endif]--></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR>
              <TR>
                <TD 
                style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 9px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fafafa; BACKGROUND-REPEAT: no-repeat; BACKGROUND-POSITION: center 50%; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-TOP: #eaeaea 2px solid; PADDING-TOP: 9px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-size: cover" 
                id=templateFooter vAlign=top>
                  <TABLE 
                  style="MIN-WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                  class=mcnBoxedTextBlock border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 
                  width="100%"><!--[if gte mso 9]>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
        <![endif]-->
                    <TBODY class=mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter>
                    <TR>
                      <TD 
                      style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                      class=mcnBoxedTextBlockInner vAlign=top><!--[if gte mso 9]>
                                <td align="center" valign="top" ">
                                <![endif]-->
                        <TABLE 
                        style="MIN-WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                        class=mcnBoxedTextContentContainer border=0 
                        cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" align=left>
                          <TBODY>
                          <TR>
                            <TD 
                            style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 9px; PADDING-LEFT: 18px; PADDING-RIGHT: 18px; PADDING-TOP: 9px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%">
                              <TABLE 
                              style="MIN-WIDTH: 100% !important; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #3f9fcc; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              class=mcnTextContentContainer border=0 
                              cellSpacing=0 width="100%">
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 18px; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; PADDING-LEFT: 18px; PADDING-RIGHT: 18px; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: #f2f2f2; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; PADDING-TOP: 18px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnTextContent vAlign=top>
                                <DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><SPAN 
                                style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><STRONG>About 
                                the UNCCD<BR><BR>The United Nations Convention 
                                to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global 
                                vision and voice for land. We unite governments, 
                                scientists, policymakers, private sector and 
                                communities around a shared vision and global 
                                action to restore and manage the world’s land 
                                for the sustainability of humanity and the 
                                planet. Much more than an international treaty 
                                signed by 197 parties, UNCCD is a multilateral 
                                commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land 
                                degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land 
                                stewardship in order to provide food, water, 
                                shelter and economic opportunity to all people 
                                in an equitable and inclusive 
                                manner.</STRONG></SPAN></SPAN><BR> </DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--[if gte mso 9]>
                                </td>
                                <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>
                </tr>
                </table>
                                <![endif]--></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
                  <TABLE 
                  style="MIN-WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                  class=mcnFollowBlock border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 
                  width="100%">
                    <TBODY class=mcnFollowBlockOuter>
                    <TR>
                      <TD 
                      style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 9px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 9px; PADDING-TOP: 9px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                      class=mcnFollowBlockInner vAlign=top align=middle>
                        <TABLE 
                        style="MIN-WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                        class=mcnFollowContentContainer border=0 cellSpacing=0 
                        cellPadding=0 width="100%">
                          <TBODY>
                          <TR>
                            <TD 
                            style="PADDING-LEFT: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 9px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                            align=middle>
                              <TABLE 
                              style="MIN-WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              class=mcnFollowContent border=0 cellSpacing=0 
                              cellPadding=0 width="100%">
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="PADDING-LEFT: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 9px; PADDING-TOP: 9px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                vAlign=top align=middle>
                                <TABLE 
                                style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 
                                align=center>
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                vAlign=top align=middle><!--[if mso]>
                                    <table align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
                                    <tr>
                                    <![endif]--><!--[if mso]>
                                        <td align="center" valign="top">
                                        <![endif]-->
                                <TABLE 
                                style="DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left>
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowContentItemContainer vAlign=top>
                                <TABLE 
                                style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowContentItem border=0 
                                cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%">
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                vAlign=center align=left>
                                <TABLE 
                                style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left>
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowIconContent vAlign=center 
                                width=24 align=middle><A 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=5ca62d55ee&e=2649914cd5" 
                                target=_blank><IMG 
                                style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; DISPLAY: block; -MS-INTERPOLATION-MODE: bicubic; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; TEXT-DECORATION: none" 
                                alt=Twitter 
                                src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-twitter-48.png" 
                                width=24 height=24></A> 
                                </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--[if mso]>
                                        </td>
                                        <![endif]--><!--[if mso]>
                                        <td align="center" valign="top">
                                        <![endif]-->
                                <TABLE 
                                style="DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left>
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowContentItemContainer vAlign=top>
                                <TABLE 
                                style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowContentItem border=0 
                                cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%">
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                vAlign=center align=left>
                                <TABLE 
                                style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left>
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowIconContent vAlign=center 
                                width=24 align=middle><A 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=5777132a6f&e=2649914cd5" 
                                target=_blank><IMG 
                                style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; DISPLAY: block; -MS-INTERPOLATION-MODE: bicubic; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; TEXT-DECORATION: none" 
                                alt=Facebook 
                                src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-facebook-48.png" 
                                width=24 height=24></A> 
                                </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--[if mso]>
                                        </td>
                                        <![endif]--><!--[if mso]>
                                        <td align="center" valign="top">
                                        <![endif]-->
                                <TABLE 
                                style="DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left>
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowContentItemContainer vAlign=top>
                                <TABLE 
                                style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowContentItem border=0 
                                cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%">
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                vAlign=center align=left>
                                <TABLE 
                                style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left>
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowIconContent vAlign=center 
                                width=24 align=middle><A 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=3175e9dc42&e=2649914cd5" 
                                target=_blank><IMG 
                                style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; DISPLAY: block; -MS-INTERPOLATION-MODE: bicubic; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; TEXT-DECORATION: none" 
                                alt=https://www.unccd.int/ 
                                src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-link-48.png" 
                                width=24 height=24></A> 
                                </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--[if mso]>
                                        </td>
                                        <![endif]--><!--[if mso]>
                                        <td align="center" valign="top">
                                        <![endif]-->
                                <TABLE 
                                style="DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left>
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowContentItemContainer vAlign=top>
                                <TABLE 
                                style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowContentItem border=0 
                                cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%">
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                vAlign=center align=left>
                                <TABLE 
                                style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left>
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowIconContent vAlign=center 
                                width=24 align=middle><A 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=7069793c52&e=2649914cd5" 
                                target=_blank><IMG 
                                style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; DISPLAY: block; -MS-INTERPOLATION-MODE: bicubic; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; TEXT-DECORATION: none" 
                                alt=Instagram 
                                src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-instagram-48.png" 
                                width=24 height=24></A> 
                                </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--[if mso]>
                                        </td>
                                        <![endif]--><!--[if mso]>
                                        <td align="center" valign="top">
                                        <![endif]-->
                                <TABLE 
                                style="DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left>
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowContentItemContainer vAlign=top>
                                <TABLE 
                                style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowContentItem border=0 
                                cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%">
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                vAlign=center align=left>
                                <TABLE 
                                style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left>
                                <TBODY>
                                <TR>
                                <TD 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                class=mcnFollowIconContent vAlign=center 
                                width=24 align=middle><A 
                                style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                                href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=aea9a51f78&e=2649914cd5" 
                                target=_blank><IMG 
                                style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; DISPLAY: block; -MS-INTERPOLATION-MODE: bicubic; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; TEXT-DECORATION: none" 
                                alt=YouTube 
                                src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-youtube-48.png" 
                                width=24 height=24></A> 
                                </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--[if mso]>
                                        </td>
                                        <![endif]--><!--[if mso]>
                                    </tr>
                                    </table>
                                    <![endif]--></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
                  <TABLE 
                  style="MIN-WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; TABLE-LAYOUT: fixed !important; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                  class=mcnDividerBlock border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 
                  width="100%">
                    <TBODY class=mcnDividerBlockOuter>
                    <TR>
                      <TD 
                      style="MIN-WIDTH: 100%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 25px; PADDING-LEFT: 18px; PADDING-RIGHT: 18px; PADDING-TOP: 10px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                      class=mcnDividerBlockInner>
                        <TABLE 
                        style="MIN-WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP: #eeeeee 2px solid; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                        class=mcnDividerContent border=0 cellSpacing=0 
                        cellPadding=0 width="100%">
                          <TBODY>
                          <TR>
                            <TD 
                            style="mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%"><SPAN></SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--
                <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="padding: 18px;">
                <hr class="mcnDividerContent" style="border-bottom-color:none; border-left-color:none; border-right-color:none; border-bottom-width:0; border-left-width:0; border-right-width:0; margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:0;" />
--></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
                  <TABLE 
                  style="MIN-WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                  class=mcnTextBlock border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 
                  width="100%">
                    <TBODY class=mcnTextBlockOuter>
                    <TR>
                      <TD 
                      style="PADDING-TOP: 9px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                      class=mcnTextBlockInner vAlign=top><!--[if mso]>
                                <table align="left" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100%;">
                                <tr>
                                <![endif]--><!--[if mso]>
                                <td valign="top" width="600" style="width:600px;">
                                <![endif]-->
                        <TABLE 
                        style="MIN-WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; MAX-WIDTH: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                        class=mcnTextContentContainer border=0 cellSpacing=0 
                        cellPadding=0 width="100%" align=left>
                          <TBODY>
                          <TR>
                            <TD 
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                            class=mcnTextContent vAlign=top><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><EM>Copyright © 2017* 
                              United Nations Convention to Combat 
                              Desertification*, All rights 
                              reserved.</EM><BR><BR><SPAN 
                              style="FONT-FAMILY: roboto,helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><STRONG>For 
                              preview interviews and media related inquires 
                              </STRONG>please contact:<BR>UNCCD Press Office: <A 
                              style="COLOR: #656565; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%" 
                              href="mailto:press@unccd.int">press@unccd.int</A> </SPAN><BR><BR></SPAN><BR>
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                              <DIV 
                              style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black" 
                              align=left><B>From:</B> <A title=press@unccd.int 
                              href="mailto:press@unccd.int">UNCCD 
                              Secretariat</A> </DIV>
                              <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial" 
                              align=left><B>Sent:</B> Friday, November 10, 2023 
                              11:31 AM</DIV>
                              <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial" 
                              align=left><B>Subject:</B> UNCCD Media 
                              Advisory-Central Asia to host first-ever meeting 
                              of the UN treaty on desertification, land 
                              degradation and drought</DIV>
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