RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has won membership of the Executive Council of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. The member states of the Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held the election during the council meeting held in Paris last week. Saudi Arabia's victory comes as an extension of the leadership's keenness in everything that preserves its diverse environmental systems. The membership in the council would enhance the Kingdom's multilateral international cooperation to develop research and studies in marine and ocean sciences and exchange experiences in these realms. Saudi Arabia is one of the major countries that have research ships specialized in marine sciences in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, including the two research ships "Al-Azizi" and "Marine Sciences." The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology launched recently its scientific research ship from the port of Jubail, which is dedicated to scientific research service in the marine environments of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. It is noteworthy that the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOI) is the United Nations body responsible for supporting global ocean science and services. The commission was established in 1960 as an independent body under the natural sciences sector in UNESCO and is specialized in oceanography, which aims to strengthen international cooperation and coordination of programs in the field of research, services and capacity building. It also aims to acquire more knowledge about the nature and resources of the oceans and coastal areas, and the application of that knowledge to improve management, sustainable development, marine environmental protection, and the decision-making processes of its member states. The work of the commission focuses on other UN organizations and agencies in relation to ocean science and data exchange with the aim of developing policies and management procedures conducive to environmental sustainability.
