Unesco Representative for the Gulf States and Yemen and Director of the Unesco Regional Office in Doha, Salah El Din Zaki Khaled
Doha: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Representative for the Gulf States and Yemen and Director of the Unesco Regional Office in Doha, Salah El Din Zaki Khaled valued Qatar’s support for Unesco projects around the world. He also stressed the United Nations’ interest in strengthening partnership with all institutions and ministries in Qatar.
Khaled spoke to QNA following his recent appointment. He said that Unesco’s work in Qatar during the past several years has been characterised by deep relations and strong partnerships, especially with the continuous support of various institutions in Qatar for Unesco programmes. They include Qatar Foundation (QF), Education Above All Foundation, Katara Cultural Village Foundation, Qatar Museums, Qatar National Library, and others.
From the beginning, Qatar has strongly supported Unesco’s programmes. As a result of its commitment and efforts, Qatar has hosted Unesco’s Al Reem Biosphere Reserve since 2007, which has provided unparalleled research opportunities for sustainable development and the use of arid lands. There is also a Unesco-Unevoc Centre located within the Doha University of Science and Technology, which aims to promote technical and vocational education and innovation in the country and abroad, he said.
In the past few years, Qatari universities have established three Unesco “chairs” in various scientific fields, and the cities of Doha and Al Wakra are part of the Unesco Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC). The archaeological site of Al Zubarah was registered as the first Qatari site to be inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2013, while Doha was recognised in 2021 as a part of Unesco Creative Cities Network.
Khaled stressed that Unesco, which has been present in Qatar since 1976, is looking forward to strengthening its partnership with Qatar for more activities and programmes in the coming years. He pointed out that after consultations and interviews with a number of senior Qatari officials, including Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, and Minister of Culture H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, they have agreed on broad lines of cooperation between Qatar and Unesco in the next stage in all areas and programmes related to education, culture, and science.
The Director of the Unesco Regional Office in Doha revealed the readiness of Unesco and the United Nations organisations present in Doha to participate in the activities of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which are organised by the Education Above All Foundation during the tournament.
He stressed Qatar’s keenness to establish a basis for dialogue between different cultures and common understanding through its many partners. This also includes Qatar’s support for declaring September 9 as the International Day to Protect Education from Attacks and raising awareness of the plight of millions of children and youth living in countries affected by conflict.
The joining of Qatar schools to the Unesco Global Network (ASPnet) reinforces the interest of education in Qatar, with Unesco educational institutions around the world, in a common goal of building peace in the minds of children and youth, he added.
The Director of the Unesco Office in Doha stressed that the organisation will also contribute to the development of everything related to cultural heritage in the region, especially the creative industries and ways to preserve tangible and intangible heritage.
He noted the continuation of the organisation’s work in preserving archaeological and historical sites in Yemen and rebuilding archaeological and historical buildings and sites that were affected by the armed conflict.
He added that in the next stage, the geographical scope of this project will be expanded to include eight governorates in Yemen, including Socotra Island, to revive the creative and cultural industries to provide means of livelihood for youth and communities, as well as organise events related to Yemeni heritage worldwide. For example, events on Yemeni heritage will be organised in Paris, as well as in Doha in the near future.
He pointed out that an agreement was signed between the Unesco office in Doha and Qatar National Library recently regarding joint cooperation in organising an exhibition on the documentary heritage of Yemen, which will be launched from May to July 2023. He explained that this exhibition relies on unique photographs and manuscripts about Yemen in order to enrich awareness of the importance of protecting the documentary heritage of Yemen and draw attention to the need to preserve it. It also emphasises the interest and focus of Unesco on supporting the education sector in Yemen.
