Paris: HE the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Dr. Nasser bin Hamad Al Hanzab participated on Sunday in a celebration marking the first anniversary of adding the southern French city of Nice on the UNESCO's world heritage list, held at the city's Massena Musee.
During the celebration, HE Dr. Al Hanzab was awarded the Order of the Golden Eagle in appreciation of the efforts of ambassadors of member states of the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in enhancing and protecting the world cultural heritage and for their roles in achieving international peace as well as intercultural understanding.
Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi hailed in a speech delivered on the sidelines of the occasion the effective roles of the heritage committee member states in boosting the sustainable development objectives through bolstering cultural heritage elements.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE Dr. Al Hanzab said it was a great honour to represent the State of Qatar in the celebration, stressing that the Medal of Honor reflects the State of Qatar's approaches to promote the role of cultural heritage in developing human beings and entrenching the international peace endeavors through culture and education. His Excellency also affirmed Qatar's commitment, in accordance with its heritage committee membership, to enhancing cooperation with the international community and preserving the world heritage as enshrined in the 1972 World Heritage Convention.
The permanent representative also presented the city of Nice with FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 shirt as a souvenir symbolizing the cultural bond between the southern French cities overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the Arab world and the Middle East region through sports.
Qatar was elected to the UNESCO'S Heritage Committee in November 2021 with the majority of votes.