Beirut: Prime Minister, Dr. Nawaf Salam, on Wednesday received Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Dr. Khaled El-Enany, at the Grand Serail.

According to National news agency - Lebanon, the meeting discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Lebanon and UNESCO in the fields of education, culture, heritage, media, science, and technology, in addition to supporting Lebanon's efforts to protect its archaeological and heritage sites, rehabilitate damaged sites, promote education, and ensure the safety of journalists.

A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Lebanese government and UNESCO. It was signed on behalf of the Lebanese side by Culture Minister Dr. Ghassan Salameh, with the aim of establishing a comprehensive and sustainable institutional framework for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

During the meeting, Premier Salam highlighted the significance of the UNESCO General Conference held in Beirut in 1948, which was a pivotal event that saw Arabic adopted as a working language of the conference. He noted the enduring cultural significance of Beirut, especially its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Literature since 2019. Despite facing challenges such as wars, destruction, and the 2020 Beirut port explosion, the city continues to thrive culturally. Premier Salam emphasized the importance of protecting heritage sites like the castles of Jabal Amel and Tyre, which are listed as endangered, underscoring that attacks on heritage are attacks on the memory of the people and the history of the country.