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

system of vocational training open to people from all social strata, offering a wide variety of courses and
programmes. At the Congress in Seoul last April, UNESCO already set the course for reinforcing this field of
education. As there must be an awareness in education of the challenges currently arising in society, Austria
attaches particular importance to civic education on all levels, ranging from active participation in current
developments in one’s own country to the concept of global citizenship.
37.7 In view of education’s crucial role for peace, stability and democracy, Austria has launched a major
initiative in cooperation with countries of south-eastern Europe. During last year’s Austrian European Union
presidency, we succeeded in promoting and focusing European education projects and programmes for this
region. This effort has led to a multitude of activities commonly termed the “Graz Process” which is coordinated
by a special Task Force under our chairmanship. UNESCO, the European Union, a host of other organizations
and States all participate in this effort. Furthermore, the Task Force cooperates with major foundations, such as
the George Soros Foundation and the European Cultural Foundation. These endeavours can set a good example.
In our view, all initiatives for economic support should be complemented by educational and cultural
programmes.
37.8 Mr President, we all remember discussing the relationship between development and culture at last
year’s Conference in Stockholm. We realized that culture permeates all areas of everyday life, and I hold this to
be one of the most important conclusions of that Conference. But although the results of Stockholm were
certainly encouraging, it seems crucial to me that reflection on this important issue should be kept up in the
future. Accordingly, I wish to confirm our invitation to a summit in Vienna in the year 2002 – aneventthat,
needless to say, requires careful preparation. The Vienna Summit will aim to consolidate what has been achieved
and add momentum to a concept that is, after all, fairly new.
37.9 Ladies and gentlemen, Austria also believes that UNESCO should take decisive action to promote
contemporary art, inter alia through sociocultural projects and activities involving the new technologies.
37.10 Now I cannot think of a more symbolic and forward-looking way to celebrate the turn of the millennium
than by proclaiming the International Year for the Culture of Peace. We are particularly proud to add that, in
May 2000, a European Museum of Peace will open under the auspices of UNESCO in the Austrian town of
Schlaining.
37.11 Mr President, the worldwide reflection on global ethics currently under way within the framework of
UNESCO is of great and immediate importance. Austria supported this process at the Vienna conference on
“Globality and Universal Ethics – Illusion or Reality?” held in June this year.
37.12 Austria also welcomes UNESCO’s efforts to preserve the world document heritage and to enhance
public awareness of the fragility of documents. However, in our opinion, the funds allocated to the relatively new
Memory of the World programme are not sufficient.
37.13 Another new area for action would be the establishment of geoparks – an interesting and promising
approach that would take us much further back into the past and into the history of our earth than other
programmes.
37.14 I do not wish to end my statement without emphasizing once again that we attach particular importance
to the universality of this Organization. UNESCO will remain inherently incomplete as long as it cannot count
the United States of America among its members. Thank you very much for your attention.
38. Le PRESIDENT :
Merci, Excellence. Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs, nous avons épuisé la liste des orateurs pour ce
matin. Nous nous retrouverons cet après-midi à 15 heures pour la suite du débat de politique générale. La séance
est levée.
164
La séance est levée à 14 h.5
The meeting rose at 2.05 p.m.
Se levanta la sesión a las 14.05
Заседание закрывается в 14.05