Iran says it’ll be UNESCO’s regional representative

Islamic Republic plans on collaborating with other Middle Eastern countries to protect cultural heritage

By ToI Staff 1 May 2014, 12:08 pm

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UNESCO delegates prior to the opening of the organization's 2013 General Conference in Paris, France. (AP/Benjamin Girette)

Iran announced on Wednesday plans to become a regional representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Iranian media reported.

Masoud Soltanifar, Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization head, told reporters that the issue had already been discussed with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova during a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday, according to the Iranian Tasnim news agency.

Soltanifar went on to acknowledge the fact that becoming the UN body’s regional representative would require Iran to assist in the restoration, preservation, and protection of cultural heritage in other countries throughout the Middle East, adding that his country was up for the task.

Iran’s UNESCO bid had been a topic of discussion during Bokova’s meeting with Iranian president Hassan Rouhani earlier Tuesday as well.

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