Education Minister at UNESCO Conference: Enacting Educational rules to differentiate between resistance and terrorism.
PARIS,(ST)_ Minister of Education , Dr Hezwan al-Waz, head of Syrian delegation to the 37th session of UNESCO General Conference , held in Paris stressed yesterday that the crisis in Syria has faced for more than two and a half year hampered development plans and inflected human and material losses due to incitement and external support for terrorist and takfiri groups represented by Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front.
In his speech before the Leaders’ Forum , held yesterday on the sidelines of the session with the participation of heads of delegations to discuss UNESCO general policy , the minister said that armed terrorist groups threatened Syria ‘s heritage and its infrastructure , including 4 thousand schools , and the deaths of more than 500 students and teachers , calling on UNESCO to make serious efforts to encourage States to enact educational and scientific rules to prevent interference in its internal affairs , and differentiate between resistance and terrorism.
He called for efforts to promote world peace and maintain the security and safety of journalists and hold biased media responsible in creating a crisis and raising dissension and fueling the hotbeds of terrorism , stressing the need to promote media freedom and to ensure constructive freedom of expression that avails sustainable and equitable development for societies and man alike
The minister noted the necessity of activating media code of honor and ethics of journalism and the development of a sense of responsibility , saying that UNESCO is more than ever responsible to stand with its Member States and to help develop a realistic vision to ensure media professionalism.
The minister concluded his intervention by saying ” we should leave to our children and grandchildren what is better than what we had inherited “, adding that UNESCO to contribute for the year 2015 and beyond a human edifice , abundant with cultural diversity rooted in our civilizations , history, heritage , which has be always renewed through education, science and culture as pillars of peace and sustainable security and to resort to dialogue and collective solutions , which renounce violence ,extremism and conflicts.
The Syrian delegation participating in UNESCO conference included Ambassador Lamia Shakkour , Syria’s permanent representative to UNESCO , Dr. Farah Suleiman Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Abdul Munir Najm Deputy Minister of Higher Education Maher Azar, Deputy Minister of Culture and Dr. Nidal Hassan , secretary of the Syrian National Commission for UNESCO and Mazen Nafa Director of Media development at the Ministry of Information.
T. Fateh