Irina Bokova makes official visit to Kuwait

Paris, 10 December

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During a brief official visit to Kuwait on 8 and 9 December, UNESCO’s Director-General, Irina Bokova, participated, with Kuwait’s Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr Moudi Al-Humoud, in the award ceremony of the UNESCO/Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah Prize to Promote Quality Education for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities.

The prize, which is given every two years to two laureates, one from the Arab States and the other from a different part of the world, was awarded this year to Ms Judith Anne McKenzie from South Africa and Ms Rima J. Hatoum from Lebanon.

During his meeting with Ms Bokova, the Emir of Kuwait, HH Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, expressed his interest in developing the cooperation between UNESCO and Kuwait, notably in Education For All and inclusive education, particularly for children with special needs.

Ms Bokova also held talks with HRH Prince Khalid Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia, President of the Arab Thought Foundation. The Foundation is one of the most prominent Arab foundations for education and culture. Prince Khalid and Ms Bokova examined the possibilities for cooperation within the framework of the 2010 International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures, for which UNESCO has been designated lead United Nations agency. A draft cooperation agreement between UNESCO and the Foundation is in the process of finalization.

• 10-12-2009