Qatar's UNESCO Candidate Presents Platform to Executive Board

HE Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz AL Kuwari, advisor at the Emiri Diwan and Qatar's candidate for the director general post at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), presented his candidacy platform and his vision for the organization before the 58 members of UNESCO's Executive Board under the chairmanship of Germany's Michael Worbs.
Presenting his program on Thursday night, the Qatari candidate stressed UNESCO's mission in establishing peace, saying that UNESCO was founded for peace and it should carry on for it. He added that throughout his educational and professional career, he was able to learn and talk with different cultures, and live the wealth of humanitarian experience in building civilizations and constantly looking for peace.
The UNESCO spirit means the right of any civilization to be at the top of the organization, he said, adding that the Arab civilization, like any other civilization, has this right.
He touched on the current challenges of UNESCO, saying that despite the numerous successes, there is a decline in public awareness of its role, which affected cooperation with it. He said that some challenges are political due to the lack of consensus that most of UNESCO's decisions were based on, which resulted in the current financial crisis.
HE Dr. Al Kuwari spoke about the role of education and the need to provide it to all deprived children across the world because there is no development with out education and the participation of literate women, highlighting the importance of critical education and the development of programs to instill humanitarian values such as tolerance and interaction among civilizations so as to dry up the intellectual sources of terrorism.
The Qatari candidate pointed to the role of scientific and technological contribution in facing UNESCO's challenges and benefiting from its experts and scientists, stressing that he will partner with scientific groups to establish UNESCO as a home for scientists and experts from all over the world.
Dr. Al Kuwari said the space must be given to such talents in order to create innovative scientific and knowledge products so as to address the problems of development through technological research, highlighting the role of sciences in deepening ties between scientists and experts in issues related to humanitarian issues so as to work to limit the impacts of natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes as well as climate change and water problems.
He touched on his vision for the importance of world heritage, promising to carry on preserving it and protecting it from destructive hands and calling for legislations that protect mutual heritage as UNESCO serves as the legitimate incubator for such laws.
The Qatari candidate also pointed to UNESCO's role in dialogue among civilizations and means of boosting it through contacting global intellectuals, knowledge circles and open media as well as using modern technology to communicate with young people and encourage them to realize the goals of UNESCO, stressing the organization's mission in protecting freedoms, establishing freedom of expression, defending journalists and innovators who face aggression in conflict zones.
HE Dr. Al Kuwari said he will do his best to develop the organization by cooperation with the General Conference, the Executive Board and staff, whom, he said, must have all obstacles removed so that they can do their job and achieve its noble goals.
He proposed a fund for small industries to support deprived and needy countries, saying that he discussed the idea with a number of businessmen and they are ready to contribute, adding that the fund will be active from day 1 if he were to be elected director general.
UNESCO's current crisis is political rather than financial. the Qatari candidate said, adding that it should be handled through a comprehensive strategy. He said decisions were used to be made through consensus and this approach must revive by electing a neutral director general.
After presenting his program to the Executive Board, HE Dr. Al Kuwari listened to the comments and questions of board members on challenges facing the organization and the candidate's vision to address them. 
Asked about measures he would take to achieve good governance for the organization, HE Dr. Al Kuwari said there is a need to re-consider the reforms that UNESCO did through consensual mechanisms for decision-making, noting that he received many complaints during his visits to may countries about the politicization of the organization, which, he said, calls for reform. He promised that member states will be given time to negotiate so that the final decision is accepted by all. 

Source: QNA