UNESCO awards gold medal to President Saleh [Archives:2006/1010/Front Page]
Yasser Al-Mayasi
SANA'A, Dec. 24 ) UNESCO gave President Ali Abdullah Saleh the Gold Medal of Qertaj City on Saturday in recognition of the efforts he expended in supporting the organization's activities, maintaining the human heritage and improving the country's infrastructure.
Saleh was honored in Aden by the UNESCO Director General Kushiro Matsura and his delegation that is currently touring Yemen. Matsura confirmed that the Yemeni government pays closer attention to the ancient sites and protected areas, and maintains the country's architectural heritage.
He pointed out that his organization is discussing the announcement of the Yemeni Island of Socotra as a protected area to include it on the list of world heritage sites.
The UNESCO top official praised the cooperation programs carried out so far by the international organization in Yemen in the areas of education and illiteracy eradication. Also, he praised the efforts Yemenis exert in the area of popular songs and dance, as well as the government efforts in fighting corruption.
The UNESCO Director General visited Al-Hajrain City in Hadramout Valley with the aim of announcing this city as a protected area. The Yemeni government declared last week that Al-Hajrain City is a cultural and historic protected area at the national level.
Matsura agreed with the Yemeni government to send a UNESCO technical team to evaluate and view the city and its distinctive human heritage in order to set the necessary requirements for announcing the city as a world human protected area.
The UNESCO Director General received a copy of a study conducted by Hadramout University on the main components necessary for announcing Al-Hajrain City as a world human and historic protected area. The study contained many photographic shots of the city.
The UNESCO official paid a visit to Sana'a University and many research centers to discuss the organization's programs, which are under implementation in these centers.
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