UAE, UNESCO sign MoU for joint cooperation

UAE, UNESCO sign MoU for joint cooperation
posted on 01/04/2008

Paris - HE Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, and HE Koichiro Matsuura, Director General of the UNESCO, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for boosting joint cooperation in culture, heritage and antiquities.

Under this memorandum, the UNESCO will provide the ministry with expertise and consultancy in the said fields. The signing ceremony was attended by HE Mohammed Abdullah Al Ghafli, charge' d'affaires of the UAE to France, and HE Bilal Al Bodour, executive director of the ministry of culture, youth and community development. The signing of the MoU crowned three days of extensive talks between officials from the ministry and UNESCO over prospects for joint cooperation.

The scope of the agreement covered translating innovative works by UAE citizens through UNESCO publications, convening of intellectual symposiums and conferences on exchange of knowledge, cultural diversity and translation, holding training workshops for development of skills of UAE citizens at UNESCO and its specialised agencies and empowering woman and building her capacity in the fields of folklore and handicrafts.

Under the MoU, the UNESCO will tailor special programmes for preserving UAE heritage and identity and commission a feasibility study on establishing a national library and restructuring and management of UAE archives.

UNESCO experts will also offer technical assistance in the areas of registering UAE archaeological landmarks and nature reserves in the world heritage and nature sanctuaries records. Experts will also take care of the non-material cultural heritage. Cultural and artistic events and exhibitions will also be staged at UNESCO venue.

UNESCO Assistant Director General for Culture Francois Rivera thanked the UAE for the high confidence it reposed on the UN organisation and for concluding a long-term agreement with UNESCO. She said she sensed during her previous visit to the UAE an indomitable spirit of care lent by the government for culture.

She noted the UAE's firm desire to preserve its heritage and identity in light of the dramatic modernising transformations of its society. She also praised the UAE for advancing and promoting Arab culture and heritage through the Sheikh Zayed Book Award and Sharjah Award for Arab Culture.

On his part, Al Bodour gave a presentation on the mission and role of the ministry. He reaffirmed the UAE's firm desire to boost cooperation with the UNESCO. – Emirates News Agency, WAM