By Ahmad Al-Mazyed
PARIS, Oct 8 (KUNA) -- Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Ambassador Dr. Ali Al-Tarrah said here on Monday that meetings of the Executive Board of UNESCO, which started today will consider a range of issues, mainly education and destruction of World Heritage in Danger as a result of wars and conflicts.
Al-Tarrah told KUNA on the sidelines of a meeting of the Executive Board of UNESCO, which runs until October 18, that participation of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in the meetings tomorrow reflects the importance of UNESCO and the significant role it plays in the areas of rights of mankind, which are the main pillar of sustainable development.
He added that Ban Ki-moon will deliver a speech before ambassadors and permanent delegates about partnership programs between (UNESCO) and the United Nations and especially the issue of education as a right for all and the issue of cultural expression and the importance of achieving world peace through the promotion of UNESCO programs in the areas of education, cultural diversity, right of expression, freedom of information and the change led by young people in the world.
He noted that the Secretary-General of the United Nations provided his vision for the establishment of a Scientific Advisory Board to carry out issues related to UNESCO's work, especially the right to learn, sustainable development programs and how to make it on the grounds as UNESCO is the entity entrusted with this business and programs relating to education, culture and education.
He said that the Executive Board of UNESCO will consider the issue of exposure of world heritage recently to destruction as a result of the wars in several regions of the world and specifically what happened in the Syrian city of Aleppo, adding that discussions would also cover developments in Syria and its membership in the Committee on Conventions including human rights convention for UNESCO.
He disclosed that the Arab Group had discussed with various groups the possibility of suspending Syria's membership in the Committee on Conventions after the serious violations of human rights in Syria, adding that "Kuwait expressed its rejection of these violations and the position of the State of Kuwait in UNESCO would be consistent with the international positions of in this regard." The ambassador pointed out that the Arab group agreed to focus during the meetings on the theme of world peace and specifically ways of activating the Arab peace initiative in the Middle East.
He said the State of Kuwait participates in the work of the Executive Board as an observer where its membership ended, having occupied the a seat in the Executive Board for four years, hoping to return to the Executive Board membership as of 2014. (end) amm.tg KUNA 081834 Oct 12NNNN