2012 year of opportunities: UNESCO

The UN cultural agency, UNESCO says that 2012 will be a year of opportunities.

UNESCO will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the World Heritage Convention.

The agency says that will be an occasion to highlight the role of heritage and culture as a catalyst for sustainable development and to emphasize the role of local communities in this endeavour.

UNESCO also points out that the withholding of United States contribution to its budget following the decision of Member States to admit Palestine has placed the Organization in a serious financial situation.