‘Saudi Arabia’s winning of UNESCO seat underscores its global standing’

Minister of Culture Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan said that Saudi Arabia’s role in the Executive Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) emphasizes promotion of the messages of global peace among peoples and achieve the goals and strategies of the United Nations prepared through UNESCO in cooperation with all members

“The Kingdom’s election to the UNESCO Executive Council is an affirmation of its international status and its role in building peace and contributing effectively to the establishment of the principles of culture and science.

“The Kingdom will strive to achieve three main objectives of maintaining our culture and our common heritage, and support innovation and technology for sustainable social development, and to promote a tolerant global community,” he said.

Prince Badr, who is the head of the Saudi delegation to the UNESCO meeting and chairman of the National Committee for Education, Science and Culture, thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for extending unstinted support to arts and culture. He congratulated the Kingdom’s leadership on winning a seat in the UNESCO’s Executive Council.

The minister stressed that the Kingdom would continue supporting UNESCO’s efforts to establish peace through international cooperation in the field of education, science and culture.

“The Kingdom, as a founding member of UNESCO, and based on its history of supporting joint work under the umbrella of UNESCO, will find more space to contribute to these endeavors and efforts to promote dialogue and peace, build bridges between cultures and peoples, preserve human heritage, both tangible and intangible, and support innovation and creativity, science, culture and the arts,” he said.

“Ever since the period of King Abdul Aziz, the Kingdom believes in the importance of joint cooperation between countries to promote peace and dialogue. These humanitarian umbrellas also enjoy unlimited support during the reign of King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman,” he said.

He added that the Kingdom will focus on culture, arts, technology, education and youth empowerment, based on its history of supporting and contributing with UNESCO since 1946, and being the only Arab country in the Group of 20, in addition to that its youth under 30 years of age constitute the majority of its population.

“All these factors, coupled with the convergence of UNESCO principles and the UN Sustainable Development Goals with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, will contribute to our common humanitarian goals with the world,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prince Badr held talks with UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay on the sidelines of the International Forum of Ministers of Culture 2019. During the meeting, they discussed ways of cooperation between UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture in the fields of science, culture, arts and heritage.

Prince Badr also inaugurated the Saudi cultural exhibition at the headquarters of UNESCO.