Brussels, 20/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - At the initiative of Bertrand Delanoë, Mayor of Paris and co-president of the worldwide organisation of towns and municipalities (CGLU - Cités et gouvernements locaux unis), representatives of towns and associations of municipalities throughout the world met on 15 January in Paris to coordinate their response to the earthquake that hit Asia on 26 December 2004. They decided to give priority to helping children through a possible UNICEF/UN/CGLU partnership to create a database of local and regional experts and to use to advantage the initiatives already taken by towns. Participants at the meeting included Jeremy Smith, Secretary General of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), the Governor of Jakarta, the Secretary General of CGLU's Asia section, as well as Sergio Piazzi, who represents UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.