The former President of the Republic of Portugal (1996-2006) and current State Councilor, Jorge Sampaio, is to participate in an international conference at the University of the Algarve.
‘The Cultural Heritage of the Mediterranean Diet’ which will take place on May 9th and 10th and Sampaio’s presence is particularly relevant as in April 2007 he has been the UN’s High-Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations.
This International conference includes the seven states and communities representing the Mediterranean Diet as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as defined by UNESCO.
The conference will analyse strategy and the experiences of the partner countries in research, preservation and the communication of the values of the Mediterranean diet to current and future generations as a cultural model and lifestyle, as a food ‘standard of excellence’ and as a sustainable diet.
This top level conference will see the active participation of university professors and researchers, educators and teachers of various levels of education, specialists in the fields of culture and food heritage, agriculture and the environment, health and nutrition, those involved in the sustainability of territories and communities, as well as managers and promoters of projects, entrepreneurs, students and interested members of the public.
The Conference, organised by the University of the Algarve is in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Tavira council, in support of an application for CRESC Algarve 2020 funding.
The Conference also has the support of the Algarve’s regional development body, the CCDR-A, the Regional Directorate of Culture, the Regional Directorate of Agriculture, the Tourist board and the School of Hospitality and Tourism of Faro.
Comments
No, it's another of those (presumably highly paid) posts that are handed out to people whose entire lives are spent being paid for by taxpayers. The revolving door spinning along nicely, just like for Barroso and his ilk who feel they have a right to their 'reward' for not upsetting the grand scheme of things.
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is an initiative proposed by the President of the Government of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, at the 59th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in 2005. It was co-sponsored by the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The initiative seeks to galvanize international action against extremism through the forging of international, intercultural and interreligious dialogue and cooperation. The Alliance places a particular emphasis on defusing tensions between the Western and Islamic worlds.
The "High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations" is the title of the primary leadership position of the AoC, who is to function as political facilitator and lead spokesman, and to consult directly with the United Nations Secretary General. In April 2007, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed the position of High Representative to Jorge Sampaio, former President of Portugal. In February 2013, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser assumed the post of High Representative, succeeding President Sampaio in the position.
The Secretariat of the Alliance of Civilizations provides support to the High Representative and implements developmental functions of the AoC.
The offices are based at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
As for salary, I expect a small stipend to be attached...
It is a grand sounding title. Do you know, Ed, whether it has a job description? Or a salary?