First Day of the Ambassador Conference, held with the participation of Turkey’s ambassadors serving abroad and in Ankara, continued with the speech of UNESCO’s Director-General Ms. Irina Bokova following the opening remarks by the Turkish Foreign Minister Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

Ms. Bokova stated that a New Turkey which is an influential economic leader, a bridge between East and West, a strategic power with a global voice is rising. Explaining that all these draw on the rooted history and diversity of Turkey, Bokova said “As Ataturk states, humanity constitutes of only one body. If one part of this body is in trouble, the other parts cannot turn their backs on it, we have to take care of it as if it is our own illness.”

Bokova underlined that we are living in a World where approximately 1 billion people live under the poverty threshold, where citizens do not have access to education or healthcare and where women do not enjoy the same rights as men. Bokova stated that the World is currently witnessing this tragedy in Iraq and an unprecedented cultural “cleansing” movement has started in this country which is going through a deep humanitarian crisis. Director General underlined that they are doing their utmost in order to prevent this cultural cleansing in Iraq and Syria.

Stating that the international community has to find new ways to establish soft power in order to build cultural ties for "education, protection of culture and cultural diversity, the sciences, communication and information." Director-General Bokova said "We need approaches to build peace and prevent disintegration and this is why Turkey's strong partnership with UNESCO is so important”.

Seventh Ambassadors Conference will continue tomorrow (6 January) with regional developments sessions and address by the UN High Commissoner for Refugees Mr. Antonio Guterres.