UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova met with President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernandez here on Thursday to discuss cooperation on reconstruction of Haiti's cultural sites.

Bokova praised the Dominican government's rebuilding efforts and said President Fernandez "plays a very important role in Haiti's situation."

They also talked about joint endeavor to improve education in Haiti.

During her visit, Bokova also awarded the certificates of world's intangible cultural heritage to two traditional art groups in the country.

"It is important to give all the world the foundation of security and trust in their history, by seeking the roots," she said. "Countries must preserve their origins."

Following the Jan. 12 earthquake that shattered the Western Hemisphere's poorest state, Haiti's government and its foreign aid partners are now turning their attention from emergency humanitarian relief to recovery and rebuilding strategies.