Shaikh Khalifa stresses role of Unesco in world peace
paris — The UAE cherishes the role of culture, education and development in achieving positive interaction between civilisations to attain peace and curb conflicts worldwide, the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has stressed.
“Wisdom is our way to achieve prosperity, spread peace, justice and tolerance worldwide,” Shaikh Khalifa said in a speech read out at the 37th General Conference of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). The speech was read on his behalf by Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development.
Shaikh Nahyan conveyed the regards of Shaikh Khalifa to the participants, wishing them success at the conference. He underlined the role of Unesco in strengthening cooperation in the areas of education, culture and the sciences.
“This event evokes major challenges facing the world in the areas of economy, environment, water, food, energy, extremism, terrorism, conflicts and demographic changes. All these challenges require us to specify the role of culture in tackling these issues and problems through identifying the responsibility of Unesco, which will help to fill gaps in education, health, women’s rights, IT and the economy,” the President said.
“We are proud in the UAE that our civilisation has provided an integral system of authentic heritage values that constitute the framework of our life and encourage understanding between us and the peoples of the world. Our culture is universal and reinforces our sense of
belonging to the world,” he added.
Shaikh Khalifa said that as the UAE looks forward to working with Unesco, it would like to focus on the role of culture derived from the country’s experience.
“We have a strong conviction about the role of culture regarding the encouragement of interaction among cultures, as well as establishing international relations based on cooperation, and getting rid of stereotypes about other peoples.”
He called on the Unesco to regulate the use of modern technology in the areas of culture and to provide leadership so as to address the world’s challenges in the 21st century. He urged the Unesco to adopt a cultural tool to encourage peace, development and technology.
“I also call upon the Unesco to assist various countries to preserve their heritage and demonstrate their cultures before the world. There is no doubt that culture and heritage represent what we call now ‘popular diplomacy’, which aims to build confidence, optimism and cooperation among all the countries of the world,” the President said in his speech.
He said the Unesco has a major role in the lives of peoples, and hence has an opportunity to provide support to various countries to preserve their heritage, while encouraging cultural exchange and supporting innovation and creativity worldwide.
“The UAE will celebrate within the next three weeks the 42nd anniversary of its establishment. On this occasion I would like to point out that the founding father of the UAE, the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, known as “the Wise man of the Arabs”, was far-sighted and had a clear vision for the future of his country and its standing among the world’s countries.
“Today, the world desperately needs wisdom of leaders and citizens alike, as wisdom is our way to achieve economic prosperity and to spread peace, justice and tolerance around the world,” Shaikh Khalifa said, calling upon the gathering to support the Unesco and its prestigious role in strengthening the principles of hope, cooperation, stability and prosperity across the world.
Shaikh Nahyan met Unesco Director-General Irina Bokova and a number of ambassadors and foreign permanent representatives at the Unesco. —