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

2.2 Mr President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Madam President, Mr Director-General, distinguished
delegates, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great privilege and honour for me to welcome, on behalf of
the Executive Board, His Excellency Mr Robert G. Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe. We on the Executive Board
of UNESCO feel highly honoured by your presence.
2.3 Mr President, your presence at the General Conference is a strong expression of your spirit of goodwill
to all UNESCO’s Member States represented at this forum. Your presence provides a strong confirmation of the
warm relations that underpin the cooperation existing between Zimbabwe and our Organization. UNESCO is a
body that treasures the principles of freedom, social justice and intellectual cooperation. Your visit, Sir,
represents a commitment of Zimbabwe to the ideals of democracy, peace and development which your country
shares with UNESCO. I know that, on account of your own personal history as a freedom fighter, you have
continued to be a fierce defender of democracy, human rights, peace and tolerance. You come to UNESCO at a
point in history when we are on the eve of a new millennium. This is an era in which human development, as well
as the provision of goods and services, are all knowledge-driven. The provision of education and knowledge falls
within UNESCO’s area of competence. Therefore, if you want cooperation in education for your country and
your people, you are in the right place.
2.4 The challenge to UNESCO to provide mankind with better systems of education has never been greater
than it is today. UNESCO is called upon to be extremely creative in leading mankind in this intellectual battle to
empower our younger generations with the intellectual tools to compete in this new global era. UNESCO
provides opportunities for the developing world to acquire technological skills in order to achieve sustainable
development. UNESCO, the house of ideas, renewal and cultural upliftment, a place where global alliances are
forged for the eradication of illiteracy, serves as the hub of a system of global networks for the promulgation of
knowledge.
2.5 The Executive Board had commendable foresight in making the important decision to initiate the World
Solar Programme during the 1994-1995 biennium. They had foreseen the potential of solar energy in serving as a
clean source of energy. Mr President, your passion for a cleaner environment and desire to see remote villages in
developing countries gaining access to energy made you accept UNESCO’s request that you serve as President of
the World Solar Commission. UNESCO commends you for your strong interest in promoting the reduction of the
emission of greenhouse gases and your desire to contribute to the eradication of poverty through energy
economies. UNESCO is now focusing its activities on education and training in solar energy. Your presence here
provides renewed vigour to the Organization’s action in regard to international cooperation and the search for
innovative approaches in the fields of UNESCO’s competence. You are saying to UNESCO today: “We helped
you launch this major global initiative in solar energy. Please use your intellectual leadership to come up with
similar initiatives to improve the quality of life for the less privileged”.
2.6 Zimbabwe’s investment in education is known to be beginning to pay national dividends. In your
dialogue with UNESCO, the Organization would benefit from knowing how you have succeeded in taking
education to village communities on such a large scale. UNESCO hopes that your visit today will strengthen the
bonds of cooperation that will provide a medium for renewed cooperation and solidarity. Mr President, UNESCO
is actively recruiting partners for its global campaign for a culture of peace, freedom and protection of human
dignity. UNESCO appreciates your cooperation in the globalization of peace, justice and freedom from hunger
and poverty. On behalf of the Executive Board, I wish to assure you again that we look at your presence here
today as a privilege and honour. Thank you.
3. The PRESIDENT:
Thank you, Mr Chairperson of the Executive Board. I should now like to invite the Director-General of
UNESCO to take the floor.
4.1 The DIRECTOR-GENERAL:
Your Excellency President Mugabe, First Lady of Zimbabwe, Ministers and friends, distinguished
Ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honour and a privilege to welcome you again to UNESCO House. I
should say, “welcome you back to UNESCO House”, for you addressed our Organization here at Headquarters
10 years ago. At that time, you were in our host country, France, to attend the bicentenary celebrations of the
1789 French Revolution. At that time, Zimbabwe was playing a leadership role in the struggle against apartheid
as one the front-line States. When, Sir, you last came here, we were about to experience the events that led to the
fall of the Berlin wall. Now, 10 years later, we must reflect seriously on what has been done in the decade since
those extremely important historical events.
4.2 Today, Mr President, you do us the honour of visiting our Organization at another historic moment - on
the eve of the new century and millennium, when all our thoughts, hopes and fears are turned towards the future.
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