Paris - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) welcomes the Latin American and Caribbean Week to celebrate the region''s cultural diversity, Deputy General Director Edouard Matoko said on Tuesday.

In statements to Prensa Latina, the UNESCO top official expressed satisfaction with the festivities, which started on Monday until Friday, because 'promoting all cultures of the world is a UNESCO mission'.

He underlined that Latin America and the Caribbean is a region of great cultural wealth, adding that 'that diversity is an element of cohesion and peace', as well as a fundamental part of UNESCO's own wealth in terms of knowledge and cultural exchange.

He recalled that for the fourth consecutive year, UNESCO has hosted the Week, which has become a tradition.

Matoko pointed out that the current edition is dedicated to the International Year of Indigenous Languages, and noted that many of them are native languages from Latin America and the Caribbean.

He added that there are more than 700 indigenous languages in the world and a large group of them are in danger of disappearing, so UNESCO's priority is to safeguard them.

Among the lectures is one entitled 'Restoration of Havana's Historic Heart: the Challenge of a Utopia', by the historian of the Cuban capital, Eusebio Leal, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the city this year.