TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) Masoud Soltanifar announced that the country plans to become a regional representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
“Given the talks we had with Ms. Irina Bokova, the UN body’s director-general, Iran is to assume the role of UNESCO’s regional representative…,” Soltanifar told reporters on Wednesday on the sidelines of a gathering to mark National Persian Gulf Day.

During today's meeting, Bokova acknowledged that the power and expertise of Iran is beyond its borders and can be used in the region, Soltanifar said, adding, “So they wanted us to cooperate with regional countries in restoration, preservation, and protection of cultural heritage in those countries.”

Earlier in a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday, Bokova and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani discussed various issues, including international developments.

“UNESCO should pave the way for a world free of violence by promoting the culture of dialogue and moderation,” the president said during the meeting.

He referred to the United Nations’ unanimous adoption of Iran’s proposal for a World Against Violence and Extremism (WAVE), and said it indicated the world countries’ need to such an approach (acting against violence).

The UN General Assembly on December 19, 2013, voted by consensus to approve the WAVE Act, which calls on all nations across the globe to denounce violence and extremism.

Under the resolution, the General Assembly would urge all member states to unite against violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as sectarian violence.

By Tasnim News Agency

 

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