Khatami Hails UNESCO for Its Humanitarian Efforts

He stressed the importance of the cultured Iranian nation's participation in this world body, saying qualitative and long-term planning on dialogue among civilizations and cultures would lay the groundwork for world peace and security.

Men of thought and culture should play the main role in this dialogue, Khatami said, and urged governments to pave the way for them and encourage decision-makers to use this dialogue to educate future generations and manage their affairs.

He said Iran's proposal to establish the Avicenna Award on Ethics in Science is indicative of the great attention Iranian and Islamic civilization pays to moral principles.

The glorious scientific era of the Iranian and Islamic world is strong proof that moral principles are the essence of our scientists' work and the spirit of Islamic teachings regarding science and knowledge, Khatami added.

Jalali said that extending the dialogue among civilizations and cultures to all sectors of science, education, and communications is among the long-term goals of UNESCO.

He said that the first UNESCO Avicenna Award will be granted for the best scientific thesis on the subject of ethics in science.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was established in 1946 "for the purpose of advancing, through the educational, scientific and cultural relations of the peoples of the world, the objectives of international peace and the common welfare of mankind."

It is headquartered in Paris and has 188 member states and four associate member countries.

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MNA