The Caribbean community has announced its support for HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, Adviser at the Emiri Diwan, who is Qatar’s candidate for the post of Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
The support was declared by Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne during a meeting with al-Kuwari.
Browne is on a visit to Doha heading a ministerial delegation.
Talking to reporters before the meeting, Browne said the Dominican Republic, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Republic of Haiti and the rest of the Caribbean community have mandated him to decide which candidate the group would support.
He said they have already decided to support al-Kuwari, the strongest candidate for this post.
Browne said Qatar did well when it chose al-Kuwari owing to his distinguished reputation within the country and at the international level.
He added that he was impressed with al-Kuwari’s programme which attaches special attention to the Caribbean, African as well as other countries of the world, in addition to his interest in culture, science and education.
His vision for the Unesco is expected to be a new start for this prestigious organisation, Browne said.
On relations between Qatar and his country, the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda said his government is seeking to build strong ties based on mutual understanding and co-operation in many fields.
He added that the government of Antigua and Barbuda has decided to appoint an ambassador to Qatar.
The prime minister urged Qataris to invest in his country as it enjoys democracy and stability and as is also a tourist destination, adding his government is working on putting into place the infrastructure and the legislature to ensure the stability and protection of foreign investment, as well as working on the abolition of entry visas.
Al-Kuwari said he was pleased to have the backing of the Caribbean community.
He said Qatar’s nomination of one of its citizens to the post was because it wanted to deliver a message to the world on the importance of education and culture in establishing peace, adding it was a message that reached the members of the Caribbean community.
He added that he was aware of the significance of the Caribbean islands, a matter which he highlighted in his candidacy bid.
Al-Kuwari said the Unesco, despite all of efforts, can still play a bigger role as there were many humanitarian and charitable organisations that looks forward to co-operating with the UN body.
This is possible only after the Unesco succeeds in conveying its message to the world, he added.
Al-Kuwari highlighted the role of Qatar in co-operating with Unesco in a number of initiatives, such as “Educate a Child”. This initiative will enable 10mn children to access education by the end of 2016, he added.
The Dominican Republic, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Republic of Haiti are all members of the Unesco Executive Board.