UNESCO Director-General Hails Qatar's Efforts

Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Irina Bokova hailed the State of Qatar's efforts in preserving the World Heritage by supporting UNESCO's initiatives, stressing the importance of the country's role in supporting and enhancing the ability of the Organization in preserving the World Heritage sites in areas that are exposed to natural disasters and wars.
UNESCO Director-General expressed appreciation for the initiatives of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser in educating children in poor countries as well as countries that suffer from civil wars or conflicts.
In an interview with (Al-Sharq) newspaper issued Sunday, Bokova said that HH Sheikha Moza since the mid-nineties until today has supported UNESCO in delivering education to all children.
The Organization, she said, is already launching a campaign with all UN Member States to save the World Heritage from the danger of extinction and disappearing, particularly in countries that suffer wars, civil conflicts or terrorism.
Bokova also commended the efforts exerted by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Chairperson of the Qatar Museums Board of Trustees, in the preservation of World Heritage by supporting UNESCO's initiatives, noting to an international campaign launched from Doha for the preservation of World Heritage and protect it from extinction.
The Director-General of UNESCO said that the organization is proud to support Qatar in protecting the World Heritage and educating young people to fight extremism, pointing out that in this regard, the UNESCO is working with the world's countries, regional authorities, partners from civil society and the Crescent and Red Cross Societies as heritage does not belong to one state, but it belongs to humanity.
Bokova noted that two years ago an international conference to save the world heritage was held in Doha to aware young people and educate them, saying "We must fight against extremism. We have started a big campaign in Doha two years ago to protect World Heritage" chaired by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and representatives from the UNESCO, advisory bodies of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the International Council on Monuments and Sites.
She added that Qatar had adopted very important decisions for UNESCO and the world and 40 sites were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, praising Qatar's important role in this field.
UNESCO's Director-General also hailed the support of the State of Qatar for the organization through its development fund that provided a $2 million grant as part of a pledge by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani to donate $10 million to support UNESCO in conserving world heritage sites in areas hit by natural disasters and wars.
Concerning Qatar's UNESCO candidate, Bokova said that she, as the director General of the UNESCO, takes a neutral stance toward all candidates. She noted that Qatar's candidate Dr. Al Kuwari is an internationally known figure who has a great experience in the cultural field and has important ideas.
She believed that the State of Qatar is able to lead the UNESCO if Dr. Al Kuwari won the important post, not only for enjoying high potentials but also for offering upscale educational programs and working on innovation and constant development, highlighting Qatar's important contributions to the UNESCO
The Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova expressed her happiness to visit the country Doha that will give her an opportunity to meet with a group of high-ranking officials. She will also visit Al Zubarah Archaeological site which was included on the UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2013.
She indicated that she would participate in the 3rd conference of art creativity for the future that aims to study the role of artistic creativity as an essential catalyst for economic growth and development, pointing out that the conference is an opportunity to pay tribute to the power of culture to fight violent extremism and to promote dialogue and mutual understanding, adding that the conference brings together more than 200 of the most influential figures on the artistic and cultural levels in the world from 30 countries. 

Source : QNA