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Saudi Minister of Culture, UNESCO Official Discuss Cooperation in Preserving World Heritage

Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan receives the director general of UNESCO in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan receives the director general of UNESCO in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Minister of Culture, UNESCO Official Discuss Cooperation in Preserving World Heritage

Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan receives the director general of UNESCO in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan receives the director general of UNESCO in Riyadh. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan met on Sunday with Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on the sidelines of the 45th extended session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, hosted by Saudi Arabia.

Prince Badr commended the efforts of UNESCO contributing to the preservation of natural and cultural heritage around the world.

He confirmed the Kingdom's keen interest and aspiration to host the forthcoming UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT), scheduled for the year 2025.

In addition, the meeting discussed cooperation between Saudi Arabia and UNESCO in preserving and protecting world heritage and the Kingdom’s backing for the organization’s efforts to support small island developing states.

Prince Badr also reviewed the projects funded by the Kingdom at UNESCO in support of the protection and promotion of culture and heritage.

The minister reiterated the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to supporting the projects and programs championed by UNESCO.

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Greek Potter Keeps Ancient Ways Alive, Wins UNESCO Recognition

A drone view of ready handmade pieces in Kouvdis’ family pottery workshop in Agios Stefanos village, near Mandamados on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece, September 23, 2024. (Reuters)
A drone view of ready handmade pieces in Kouvdis’ family pottery workshop in Agios Stefanos village, near Mandamados on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece, September 23, 2024. (Reuters)
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Greek Potter Keeps Ancient Ways Alive, Wins UNESCO Recognition

A drone view of ready handmade pieces in Kouvdis’ family pottery workshop in Agios Stefanos village, near Mandamados on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece, September 23, 2024. (Reuters)
A drone view of ready handmade pieces in Kouvdis’ family pottery workshop in Agios Stefanos village, near Mandamados on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece, September 23, 2024. (Reuters)

In his seaside workshop on the Greek island of Lesbos, Nikos Kouvdis uses ancient techniques to create pottery pieces that have recently been honored with inclusion in UNESCO's National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Kouvdis, 70, and his family have kept an old technique alive near the once humming pottery hub of Mandamados, just as the slow and careful methods of the past have been largely eclipsed by factory machines.

Their pottery is among the last in the Mediterranean to be produced from clay in local soil, using a traditional kiln with olive pits as fuel, with the pieces painted with natural lime.

"It's an honor for me," Kouvdis said with regard to the UNESCO recognition of his work.

He said a mechanized press can work at 10 times the speed of an individual potter. "There’s no continuity. There’s no space for (our) method to continue."

Still, he continues to produce individual pots on an outcrop of land overlooking the Aegean Sea.

"Above all, it’s a passion - trying to create something that fulfils you," he said.