Govt Blasted For Closing UNESCO Office

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دوشنبه 6 ثور 1395 ساعت 18:42 نوشته شده توسط Anisa Shaheed

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A number of cultural activists and former officials from the office of Afghanistan at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Monday blasted the Afghan govement for closing the office in France.

"The move by the Afghan govement is questionable. At least 70 percent of the Afghan population is illiterate and it is faced with many other cultural challenges. It is questionable for a country which is not able to pay the rent of three rooms [for UNESCO office]. It is questionable, seriously," said Dr. Zahir Aziz, a former Afghan envoy to UNESCO.

Meanwhile, a number of cultural activists said closing the UNESCO office means closing the doors of Afghanistan's culture and history to the world.

"Closing Afghanistan's office at UNESCO shows Afghan govement's carelessness over cultural values," said cultural activist Farhad Jawed.

"Unfortunately Afghanistan's political offices abroad prefer relations, not merit-based issues, and there is a need to review this system – especially for UNESCO," said former UNESCO official Mir Ahmad Joyenda.

The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) meanwhile said the Afghan govement has taken the decision in a cost-cutting move and that the Afghan ambassador to Paris will be responsible for Afghanistan's UNESCO office activities there.

"We closed Afghanistan's office in UNESCO and handed over the responsibilities to the Afghan ambassador there. It means that the Afghan ambassador in Paris is Afghanistan's envoy at UNESCO as well," said MOFA deputy spokesman Khairullah Azad.

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