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Kuwait elected to World Heritage Cmte membership

Kuwait's permanent delegate to the UNESCO Dr. Meshal Hayat
Kuwait's permanent delegate to the UNESCO Dr. Meshal Hayat
PARIS, Nov 18 (KUNA) -- The general assembly of state parties to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage has elected the State of Kuwait as a permanent member of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee on Wednesday.
Kuwait won a majority of 98 votes surpassing the other five competitors, Kuwait's permanent delegate to the UNESCO Dr. Meshal Hayat said.
"The country will serve a four-year term as one of the 21 members of the Committee for the second time since joining the UNSECO," he pointed out.
He welcomed Kuwait's election as a great international achievement in recognition of Kuwait's contributions to the activities of the UN agency.
He recalled that UN honored His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as Humanitarian Leader and Kuwait as international humanitarian center in September last year.
Tunisia was awarded the seat of the Arab group uncontested, he said.
He reaffirmed Kuwait's commitment to the Global Coalition "Unite for Heritage," launched by the Director General of UNESCO Irina Bokova on June 29, 2015, the during the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee.
The campaign is designed to strengthen the mobilization of governments and all heritage stakeholders in the face of deliberate damage to cultural heritage, particularly in the Middle East.
Dr. Hayat thanked Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr. Bader Al-Issa for leading Kuwait delegation to the 28th session of the UNESCO and Ambassador to France Sami Al-Suleiman for supporting the Kuwaiti delegation to the 20th session of the general assembly.
The World Heritage Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties.
It has the final say on whether a property is inscribed on the World Heritage List. It examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed properties and asks States Parties to take action when properties are not being properly managed.
It also decides on the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger. (end) amm.gb