The 1976 CASTARAB Rabat Meeting: A Review

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the 1976 CASTRAB Rabat Meeting. The Conference of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Application of Science and Technology to Development (CASTARAB) was held in Rabat from August 16, 1976, to August 25, 1976. It was organized by the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization in cooperation with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation and the United Nations Economic Commission for Western Asia. The conference was attended by 107 delegates from 17 Arab states. The delegates included under-secretaries of state, government officials, directors of research establishments, university professors, scientists and diplomats; in addition, eight were ministers of education, higher education or science. The conference was also attended by observers from 13 non-Arab states, mainly European, in addition to representatives of other Arab League and UN organizations, and of Arab funds, intergovernmental organizations, and nongovernmental organizations. CASTARAB was the fourth in a series of conferences on the application of science and technology to development (CAST), organized by UNESCO—at the rate of one every two years—in various regions of the world.