Emphasis on Expanding Cooperation Between Iran and UNESCO in Meeting with the New Director-General of UNESCO / Iran’s Active Role in Global Cultural Dialogue
| During an official meeting between the Iranian delegation and Dr. Khaled El-Enany, the newly appointed Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the importance of expanding joint activities and cooperation in the scientific, cultural, educational, and technological fields was emphasized. |
An official meeting was held between the Iranian delegation and Dr. Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to congratulate him on his election and express Iran’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with UNESCO. Both sides emphasized the importance of reinforcing joint cooperation in the scientific, cultural, educational, and technological fields.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Masoud Shams Bakhsh, Deputy Minister of Science, Research and Technology; Dr. Mohsen Javadi, Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance for Cultural Affairs; Dr. Roozbeh Kordouni, Director-General of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts; Dr. Ahmad Paktchi, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Islamic Republic of Iran to UNESCO; and Dr. Hassan Fartousi, Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO.
The Iranian delegation congratulated the new Director-General on the commencement of his term. They also welcomed the coincidence of his taking office with the inscription of the Cyrus Cylinder on the international register, emphasizing UNESCO’s effective role in promoting cultural dialogue and strengthening international cooperation within the scope of the Organization’s mandate. Iran’s readiness to develop joint initiatives and projects across various fields was also underscored.
UNESCO Director-General Expresses Appreciation for Iran’s Role
Dr. Khaled El-Enany, UNESCO Director-General, welcomed the members of the Iranian delegation and expressed his appreciation for Iran’s active and constructive role in the Organization’s programs and specialized commissions. He emphasized the continuation of cooperation and the implementation of joint projects in education, cultural heritage protection, and the development of emerging technologies.
Referring to the prominent place of culture and science in countries with ancient civilizations such as Iran, he stressed the importance of South-South cooperation and described culture as a means of connecting nations and fostering dialogue among people, regardless of political affiliations. El-Enany also highlighted Iran’s rich cultural heritage and expressed UNESCO’s readiness to promote greater international awareness of this invaluable legacy. He added that UNESCO intends to strengthen the role of National Commissions at the international level by drawing on their experiences and expanding opportunities for networking and the exchange of knowledge.
During the meeting, each representative of the Iranian ministries conveyed the greetings and congratulations of their respective ministers to the new UNESCO Director-General. The Iranian delegation also presented an invitation from Dr. Hossein Simaei, Minister of Science, Research and Technology and President of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO, for the Director-General to visit Iran. He welcomed the invitation, describing the visit as a wish that would soon be fulfilled.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Iranian delegation requested the Director-General’s support for a proposal to hold an interregional meeting of the Secretaries-General of UNESCO National Commissions in Iran next year. The new Director-General responded positively to the proposal.
