Eurasia Diary held an exclusive interview with Deputy Director General of UNESCO Engida Getachew.
Eurasia Diary: Today we observe lot of challenges such as racism, conflicts between countries, discrimination, migration problems and so on all over the world. Can you explain the main goals of UNESCO?
Engida Getachew: UNESCO was established in 1946 to basically advance the cause of peace around the world after the World War II. Determination after time when it is still valid wars are made in minds of men and it is also in minds of men taht defends peace must be build.
In other word we need to teach tolerance, acceptance of diversity, challenges for spreading freedom of expression and free flow ideas , international cooperation using various means including education ,scientific cooperation ,preservation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, as well as working on inclusion particularly social inclusion and communication, information which is freedom of expression and building pluralistic media and etc. Those are our five main angles through which we are trying to build sustainable, democratic and peaceful societies around the world.
Eurasia Diary: We would like to know your special opinion about the role of media in solution process of conflicts all over the world?
Engida Getachew: Media plays very important role in any society. Obviously when it is run properly when it is done by using democratic principles this is incredibly instrument for getting people together for sharing knowledge , and spreading democracy and peaceful existence among people with different cultures and opinions. When it is done badly, negatively become also be use as instrument for pressing people for spreading hate speeches like xenophobia, many other discriminations you can find in different parts of the world. The media properly run on the basis of human rights declaration particularly article 19 plays an incredibly important role for peace and sustainable development.
Eurasia Diary: We know that the main principle of UNESCO is to protect cultural places, historical monuments all over the world. Can you say something about the current situation on this issue?
Engida Getachew: Like many other challenges we have challenges in maintaining cultural heritage ,as I said that is only one part of our work out of five major areas we are preserving and conservation of heritage tangible or intangible and etc.. When you are in a situation of conflict the heritage which people passed from generation to generation gets attacked through ignorance, hatred. We observe what is happening in Iraq ,Syria .Many of the historical heritage not only of Iraqis ,Syrians but humanity’s has been destroyed . We have seen that happening in Afghanistan, Mali and one of the richest parts of Islamic civilization has been destroyed but thanks to the efforts we have made with international community we will able to rebuild museum and protect the documents we found. But challenges are huge .This is not only UNESCO’s business it is everybody’s business.
Eurasia Diary: What can you say about relation between Azerbaijan and UNESCO?
Engida Getachew: Azerbaijan is a member state of UNESCO and Azerbaijan plays very important role in many activities of UNESCO.You see Baku all city is the part of heritage list .Mr.President coming into general conference made a very important speech .We share the same values and aspirations .The first lady is Goodwill ambassador towards this help us advance many of the agendas we have together so it is an excellent relationship and I hope we will further strengthening over the coming years .
Eurasia Diary: Azerbaijan announced many times that its histrocial monuments have been destroyed in occupied region Nagorno Karabakh .What is the position of UNESCO in this issue? What can UNESCO do in this field?
Engida Getachew: UNESCO basically can notdo much until the two countries come together actually and say please give us technical assistance and this issue is beyond agenda of UNESCO ,it is with security council we note particularly political organizations and we are specialized the agency frankly it is very difficult to make any comments what is happening in the region.
Interview by Ayaz Mirzayev
Photos by Gurban Bakirzadeh