UNESCO. General Conference; 30th; Records ... - unesdoc - Unesco

(14.13) En transmettant à chacun d'entre vous le salut cordial du Président de mon pays, M. Hugo Banzer Suárez,
je voudrais que nous rendions hommage à Federico Mayor Zaragoza, l'homme sous la direction duquel l'UNESCO,
au cours des dernières années, a défini clairement sa nouvelle orientation pour le prochain siècle.
(14.14) Je forme des voeux pour que le nouveau Directeur général de l'Organisation, M. Koïchiro Matsuura, dont
la Bolivie appuiera l'élection par la Conférence générale, oriente l'UNESCO dans une voie positive et renforce
encore le rôle capital qui est le sien. Je vous remercie.
15. Le PRESIDENT :
Je remercie M. Tito Hoz de Vila, ministre de l'éducation, de la culture et des sports de la Bolivie.
J'invite à présent S. Exc. M. Hirofumi Nakasone, ministre de l'éducation, de la science, des sports et de la culture
du Japon, à prendre la parole.
16.1 Mr NAKASONE (Japan):
Mr President, Mr Director-General, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, this present session is
the last session of the General Conference to be held in the twentieth century. It is a very important session which
will give us a clear perspective for the future direction of UNESCO in the coming century. During the half
century since its foundation, UNESCO has made a great impact on the educational, scientific and cultural
development of its Member States, as well as on the development of people’s respect for human rights. The
Organization has also promoted international cooperation and has made great contributions to the peace and
security of the world. Unfortunately, however, a number of regional conflicts are having adverse effects on the
educational, scientific and cultural development of the nations involved. In addition, other problems such as the
marked increase in population levels and the deterioration of the natural environment have become conspicuously
evident. We will have to make further efforts to meet such challenges. In the twenty-first century, UNESCO will
be required to play a greater role as an international organization for promoting intellectual cooperation. We will
be required to cooperate in taking effective measures for coping with various issues.
16.2 Mr President, it is a great pleasure for me to learn that, at its 157th session, the Executive Board selected
Ambassador Matsuura, who was nominated by Japan as candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO,
with the support of the Members of the Executive Board. I should also like to express my sincere respect to
Mr Mayor, the current Director-General, for his great efforts and many accomplishments in the management of
the Organization during the past 12 years. In cooperation with many other Member States and as a Member of the
Executive Board, Japan has been striving to promote the development of UNESCO. My country wishes to
contribute to the solution of the various problems facing the world in cooperation with the new Director-General.
I earnestly hope that the General Conference at the present session will unanimously appoint Ambassador
Matsuura as the next Director-General.
16.3 Mr President, allow me to comment on the Draft Programme and Budget. Firstly, I should like to stress
that, as an international organization for intellectual cooperation and as “the conscience of the United Nations
system”, UNESCO should effectively conduct those programmes in which UNESCO can demonstrate its
distinctive features. It should do this while striving to rationalize its programme activities and concentrating on
selected priority projects. It is also important that UNESCO should endeavour to make its own administration
and management systems more efficient. Secondly, in the field of education, the promotion of basic education
and vocational education, especially in developing countries, is an important issue. Emphasis should be placed on
education that aims to cultivate a rich humanistic spirit in children. The importance of environmental education
for fostering a sense of harmony with nature should also be emphasized. The global meeting for the Education for
All 2000 Assessment, scheduled for next April, will provide an important opportunity for assessing the results of
the worldwide efforts over the past decade and for identifying future challenges to be faced. I hope that the global
meeting will carry out this assessment work effectively. In this regard, my government and NGOs in Japan have
been cooperating closely with UNESCO in programmes for education for all, including literacy education. My
country intends to continue to cooperate with UNESCO and its Member States for the promotion of these
programmes.
16.4 Thirdly, in the field of sciences, Japan highly appreciates the great contribution UNESCO has made to
the solution of various global environmental issues as well as to the promotion of sustainable development. Japan
also expects that UNESCO will further develop its intergovernmental scientific cooperation programmes. With
the current rapid development of science and technology, the Organization should put increasing emphasis on the
ethical dimension.
16.5 Fourthly, in the field of culture, it is crucial to disseminate traditional culture to the younger generation,
to promote creative cultural activities, to enrich the cultural life of the people and to promote mutual
understanding of other cultures. It is also important to implement a global strategy for securing a regional balance
and diversity in the World Heritage List.
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