HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, Adviser at the Emiri Diwan and Candidate of Qatar to the post of the director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has said that confronting racial discrimination is a step towards the attainment of peace among states after it caused discord, feuding and embarrassed communal unity.
In a speech he gave at Mandela Hall in the city of Johannesburg, in the presence of diplomats, political, cultural and media figures, in the context of his visit to South Africa which he started on Sunday, Dr al-Kuwari said: “It gives me pleasure to start my African tour as part of my candidacy to the post in South Africa, the country with which we maintain close bilateral relations. It also gives me pleasure to convey to you the appreciation of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the people of Qatar who appreciate this country and its struggle under the leadership of Nelson Mandela who became a model for countries the world over in his struggle against racial discrimination, construction after liberation and his adoption of the values of tolerance and peace. I also appreciate the bilateral relations between the two countries on the political, economic and cultural levels and their positive effect on the consecration of dialogue and settlement of peace.
“I would like also to express pride over the bonds of amity linking me to the leadership and people of South Africa. Some of them related to my work as deputy chairman of the Anti-Racism Committee amid racial discrimination in South Africa and Zimbabwe”.   
Dr al-Kuwari said education constitutes a creative tool for achieving understanding among people and enhancing cultural dialogue, noting that culture is the soft power that gives immunity to societies and builds bridges of contacts between people regardless of their origin, language and creed.