The UAE’s President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has been praised on Friday by the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Kochiro Matsuura for his commitment to preserve the global human heritage and legacy.
Speaking on the occasion of the first award giving ceremony of the Sheikh Zayed Award for Best World Human Spiritual Culture and Natural Heritage, Matsuura said that his organization was giving a big boost to human oral heritage and working hard to protect endangered heritage, UAE’S official news agency (WAM) reported
"We are taking a fresh step in encouraging efforts aimed at maintaining human heritage and culture, thanks to the UAE support," he said.
According to the agency, Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented the award to the Moroccan Fina Mosque Society in Marrakesh and the Zabara National Society in Ecuador and Peru in recognition of their contributions to preserve indigenous heritage in the presence of UAE Ambassador in Paris Saif Sultan Al Aryani and UAE Representative at Unesco Hussein Ghobash.
Ghobash praised Sheikh Zayed for his care for human heritage and thanked Minister of Information and Culture Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his efforts to institute the award, it added.
Ghobash also warned of the negative social and cultural consequences of globalization on oral and spiritual heritage.
"It is no surprise that Sheikh Zayed gives attention to spiritual heritage outside the UAE as he usually does to local heritage," Sheikh Khalid said.
According to WAM, the $150,000 prize will be organized every two years.
Unesco Assistant Director-General for Cultural Affairs Munir Bushnaq hailed the prize as one of the most prestigious awards offered by the international organization – Albawaba.com
