The International Advisory Committee for the Memory of the World programme, which is affiliated with the Organisation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, yesterday chose the UAE as Chair of the programme until 2018.

Abdullah Al-Rayes, Director-General of the National Archives, will chair the programme and oversee the project that aims to register original documents with global humanitarian features, and to facilitate preservation, by the most appropriate techniques, of the world's documentary heritage.

The International Advisory Committee, which is meeting in Abu Dhabi until 6th October, includes a number of leading experts and heads of National Archives from 16 countries, as well as a representative from UNESCO.

The vision of the Memory of the World programme is that the world's documentary heritage belongs to all, should be fully preserved and protected for all and, with due recognition of cultural mores and practicalities, should be permanently accessible to all without hindrance.