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

Slouches toward Bethlehem to be born?
35.14 After the most savage of conflicts against race-obsessed military empires, UNESCO was created to
mobilize the intellectual, scientific and cultural power of the international community in order to advance respect
for universal human liberty and justice. So the reassertion of ethnic chauvinism and the elevation to power of
chauvinistic political parties, especially in the very continent which first proclaimed the rights of man, is a
phenomenon that we in UNESCO must observe with intense concern and combat with all our power.
35.15 It is therefore fitting that a non-racial and democratic South Africa has offered to host, in 2001, the first
United Nations World Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia.
35.16 The Government of South Africa aligns itself with the movement of renewal and transformation in the
organs of international collaboration: in the Southern African Development Community, the Organization of
African Unity, the United Nations and particularly its agencies, including UNESCO.
35.17 It is a simple but powerful truth that these bodies can lead the world system only by example. It is now
obvious that the motive power of the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitution of UNESCO is an
ethical vision of human society and a belief in mutual human interdependence, of the equality of men and
women, in particular. If we fail to drive UNESCO’s programme by these shared values the Organization will be
eroded by self-interest and self-absorption. If UNESCO does not keep its own house in order it will not deserve
the public respect on which its influence depends. If UNESCO does no refocus its limited resources on its core
business, it will dissipate them in feeble posturing.
35.18 For us in Africa, the regeneration of our continent involves a renaissance in the very core areas of
UNESCO’s work. This is the millennial challenge to our great Organization, and to each one of us. Siyabonga!
As we say in South Africa. I thank you.
36. Le PRESIDENT :
Je remercie S. Exc. le professeur Kader Asmal, ministre de l'éducation de l'Afrique du Sud. Nous allons
écouter à présent la dernière intervention de ce matin, celle de S. Exc. M. Tassilo Ogrinz, ambassadeur, délégué
permanent de l'Autriche auprès de l'UNESCO.
37.1 Mr OGRINZ (Austria):
Mr President, Mr Chairperson of the Executive Board, Mr Director-General, distinguished delegates,
may I first of all congratulate Ms Moserová on her election as President of this session.
37.2 This statement should actually have been delivered by the Secretary of State at the Federal Chancellery,
Mr Wittmann. He is unfortunately ill and, to his deep regret, unable to attend this Conference. I have therefore
the privilege to speak on his behalf.
37.3 During the last Board meeting I already had an opportunity to pay tribute to Director-General Federico
Mayor. I do not want to miss this occasion to thank him once again for his outstanding leadership and all he has
done for this Organization during his 12-year tenure. May I also extend my best wishes to Ambassador Koïchiro
Matsuura whose name has been submitted by the Board for approval by the General Conference as the incoming
Director-General. UNESCO now has 188 Member States. I cordially welcome Palau and Micronesia which have
joined the Organization this autumn.
37.4 Ladies and gentlemen, on the eve of the twenty-first century, we should recall our Organization’s
fundamental mission, which is to sustain its intellectual and ethical role in a radically changing world, to further
the principles of freedom and equality, to promote human rights and to foster respect for human dignity. In spite
of increasing globalization and networking, shortcomings and deficiencies in international cooperation persist. I
am confident that, with the help of UNESCO, we will have a better chance of filling these gaps in the future.
37.5 Of course, Austria will continue to support UNESCO’s efforts to facilitate international cooperation in
the fields of education, science and culture in an atmosphere of open dialogue. The international conference
entitled “Culture Counts” held recently in Florence under the aegis of the World Bank is a good example of such
cooperation.
37.6 Mr President, providing adequate education for all throughout life remains a major challenge for all
governments. Austria has redefined her own objectives in this area, notably by including the promotion of
computer literacy as another basic element of education and culture. A high rate of employment, known to
enhance social cohesion and thus improve economic and political stability, should be obtained with the help of a
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