New FAO, UNESCO Representatives to Iran Meet FM Zarif
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The incoming representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Iran held separate meetings with the country’s foreign minister on Saturday.
In the meeting with new FAO representative in Iran Serge Nakouzi, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed Tehran's enthusiasm for the enhancement of ties with the UN body in diverse fields.
Zarif also put an emphasis on “management of water resources" as a major regional and international issue, and voiced the Islamic Republic’s preparedness to broaden ties with the FAO in that regard.
The Lebanese UN official, for his part, pointed to the history of Iran’s cooperation with FAO, hoping that Tehran would continue to “spearhead” the FAO missions across the region.
Separately, Esther Kuisch Laroche, director of office and UNESCO representative to Iran and Turkmenistan, held a meeting with Foreign Minister Zarif.
During the meeting, the top Iranian diplomat referred to extremism and violence as “big global challenges”, and called on the international bodies, including the UNESCO, to strive to protect civilians, their religious beliefs and the historical sites in the war-stricken regions.
The Dutch official, for her part, hailed Iran for its good cooperation with UNESCO, and expressed the hope that the partnership would continue in the future.