Qatar Keen on Preserving Its Cultural Heritage

Doha, January 14 (QNA) - HE Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr. Hamad bin Abdul Aziz Al Kuwari said Monday that Qatar was always keen on preserving its culture, ever since it ratified UNESCO's agreement for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 2003. HE the Minister of Culture was speaking at the opening ceremony of a workshop organized by the ministry on the challenges of documenting intangible cultural heritage in the Arab World. The workshop is organized in cooperation with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALESCO) and UNESCO. The four-day workshop will see 18 Arab countries participate. His Excellency said that since joining the convention, the State of Qatar along with the UAE, the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia managed to include falconry as a living human heritage. HE the Minister of Culture said that cultural heritage belong to all the people of the world regardless of its original source, adding that humanity can never compensate for losing the cultural heritage of any group, whether that heritage was conveyed in traditions, tales, traditional music or even cookery. HE added that documenting intangible cultural heritage in particular was a real problem given that it is very difficult to document, calling for a better cooperation between Arab countries in the field of defining intangible cultural heritage. His Excellency also praised the role of ALESCO in holding today's workshop since it will help Arab countries define the problems that face them in documenting their intangible heritage, as well as how to overcome those problems. (QNA)