Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma will travel to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on October 17. During the visit, he will participate in an inscription ceremony recognizing the Moravian Church Settlement of Bethlehem as the 26th United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in the United States. This area will also become the first UNESCO transnational site in the United States.
Deputy Secretary Verma will join Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds, World Heritage Director Lazare Assomo, and Acting Deputy Director of the National Park Service Pedro Ramos to welcome representatives from the Moravian Church Settlements from Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom. U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO Courtney Diesel O'Donnell will also join the U.S. government delegation. The Deputy Secretary's remarks will celebrate the United States' efforts to protect cultural and natural heritage through its engagement with UNESCO and the World Heritage Convention.
In addition, Deputy Secretary Verma will participate in a meet and greet with Lehigh University students as part of their United Nations Partnership program. This event will focus on discussing foreign policy and youth empowerment, while also celebrating the program's 20th anniversary.
