The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by its permanent delegation to UNESCO, is participating in the 220th session of the Executive Board of UNESCO, which began its opening sessions on Monday at the organization’s headquarters in Paris, France.
The Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, along with several national entities, is also participating in the session, which will continue until October 23, according to SPA.
The Saudi delegation is headed by Saudi Ambassador to France and Monaco and the Kingdom’s acting permanent delegate to UNESCO Fahd bin Mayouf Al-Ruwaili who delivered the Kingdom’s speech in the presence of member states of the board, as well as the chairperson of the Executive Board, the president of UNESCO’s General Conference, and UNESCO’s director-general.
Al-Ruwaili highlighted Saudi Arabia’s extensive and continuous efforts in collaboration with its regional and global partners to address the deteriorating humanitarian conditions and the suffering of civilians in Gaza and Lebanon. He reiterated the Kingdom’s call for an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilians and infrastructure, the prevention of violence, and the need for a just and comprehensive resolution to the crisis that ensures security and stability for all. He also stressed the importance of implementing relevant UNESCO resolutions and supporting its active role in promoting peace through the frameworks of education, culture, and science.
The ambassador referred to the Kingdom’s organization of the Global AI Summit in Riyadh in September, during which a trilateral agreement was signed between the Saudi government, UNESCO, and the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE). This agreement led to accrediting ICAIRE as a UNESCO Category 2 Center, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to advancing the future of AI and sustainable development.
Al-Ruwaili emphasized the importance of supporting joint efforts that play a pivotal role in achieving UNESCO’s goals and enhancing the protection of global heritage.
