Last Updated on August 25, 2020, 7:50 AM AST by Anthony Morris
As the diplomatic missions to UNESCO in Paris returned to some semblance of normality after a lengthy closedown as a result of Covid-19, the St. Kitts and Nevis envoy to UNESCO met his counterparty representing Brazil this week to discuss areas of cooperation in relation to UNESCO activities and programmes.
Over a fruitful discussion in Paris, H.E. Santiago IRAZABAL MOURÃO, Ambassador of Brazil to UNESCO and Dr David P. Doyle, Ambassador of St. Kitts and Nevis to UNESCO, identified a number of areas of mutual interest to both countries, covering the main competencies of this specialised UN agency, in education, nature science and cultural heritage.
They were accompanied by Mr Milton de Figueiredo Coutinho Filho,
Counsellor at the Permanent Delegation of Brazil to UNESCO.
St Kitts and Nevis and Brazil are poised to support each others’ candidacies to two important UNESCO committees: Brazil’s quest for a seat on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Committee this year and, next year, the Federation’s desire to sit on the Intergovernmental Council of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP).
Kitts and Nevis and Brazil have both prioritised sustainable water development as an area where UNESCO’s IHP expertise can deliver scientifically-based solutions to the perennial water challenges. A St. Kitts and Nevis seat on the IHP Council is seen as being a factor that would strengthen the Federation’s voice on behalf of the Caribbean developing states (SIDS) in developing a dedicated scientifically-driven water strategy. Brazil has a key interest in the water agenda at UNESCO, as the catalyst behind the Latin American megacities initiative that seeks to address issues and solutions related to water management in the face of climate change.
As regards the UNESCO culture programme, Brazil is placing a particular emphasis on highlighting national cultural milestones, including an active role on the ICH Committee, as it approaches celebrating 200 years of Independence in 2022.
On the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Committee, both Brazil and St. Kitts and Nevis enjoy productive working relationships, as part of three Group of Latin American and the Caribbean States (GRULAC), who sit on this body.
Following the meeting with Ambassador Doyle, His Excellency IRAZABAL MOURÃO stated:
“With Ambassador Doyle, we reaffirmed the important links between Brazil and Saint-Kitts and the close cooperation of our countries at UNESCO”.
“We consider that Saint Kitts and Nevis, as a prominent representative of the Small Islands Developing States (SIDS), brings an important perspective to discussions within UNESCO, in particular to those related to the management of water and environment”.
He added: “It was a valuable meeting to exchange views about many UNESCO issues and coordinate positions”.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
