Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Azerbaijan and UNESCO have signed an agreement on the establishment of the Young Professionals' (YP) Program.

Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova signed the agreement in France on January 24.

Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the cooperation with UNESCO, and emphasized the important role of the Framework Agreement for Cooperation between Azerbaijan and UNESCO signed on July 18, 2013 in the further development of relations between the two sides.

Irina Bokova, in turn, expressed her gratitude for Azerbaijan's attention to UNESCO and appreciated country's support for the global mission of the organization and active participation in its work.

She also emphasized the special role of Azerbaijan's First Lady, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva in the development of bilateral relations.

The agreement on the establishment of the Young Professionals' (YP) Program, signed at the meeting provides the opportunity for young university graduates and young qualified professionals from non- and under-represented member states to join UNESCO early in their professional career.

Earlier, Azerbaijan hosted the 8th Session of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, during which different elements, including Azerbaijan's Chovgan, a traditional Karabakh horse-riding game were added to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Moreover, UNESCO granted enhanced protection status to Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape and to the pearl of Azerbaijan's architecture and culture, Icherisheher or the Old City of Baku during the eighth session of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, held in Paris on December 18-19.