Nicholas You, Senior Advisor Policy & Strategic Planning at the office of the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, and IAARA President Reza Pourvaziry agreed on a new protocol on June 13, 2008.

According to the new protocol, IAARA with the cooperation of UN-HABITAT is to be responsible and in charge for the training of Mayors and City Council members of the surrounding Persian Gulf countries in addition to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Among other topics discussed include the details of the upcoming EGM meeting for the World Olympiad for Urban Design (WOUD).