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

(22.3) At the end of the twentieth century, at a time when humanity is facing serious threats, such as growing
illiteracy, increasing poverty, dwindling resources, environmental pollution, desertification, water shortages, drug
addiction and the spread of AIDS, this Organization, given its responsibilities, is a suitable instrument for the
tracing of practical policies aimed at combating the various scourges I have just mentioned, provided the Member
States give it their support and work together to take the necessary measures, thereby enabling UNESCO to play its
designated role.
(22.4) My country wishes to reaffirm that lifelong education remains a top priority, inasmuch as education is the
backbone of development programmes and consequently is a necessary condition of the eradication of poverty and
illiteracy. Here we see how effective a role UNESCO can play in helping Member States to evaluate and upgrade
their education systems and orient their education programmes towards meaningful applications of science for the
eradication of vocational illiteracy, which is the form of illiteracy that will affect the coming age.
(22.5) UNESCO should also strengthen its efforts to integrate the natural and social sciences with a view to
assimilating the rapid changes the world is currently experiencing. Moreover, it should devote greater attention to
the task of strengthening the scientific capabilities of the developing countries through the exchange and sharing of
scientific and technical knowledge. This will enable them to use new networks to take advantage of databases. As a
result, the gap between the developed and developing countries in the field of technology will become narrower,
and the brain drain from the latter to the former may be stemmed to some extent.
(22.6) Ladies and gentlemen, as we approach the third millennium, a new phase in the history of humanity is
beginning, one that confronts UNESCO with a special responsibility in view of the nature of its function as a
crucible in which the cultures of the world’s nations meet and mingle. In this phase, it will also be incumbent upon
UNESCO to continue to play a pioneering role in consolidating the principle of a culture of peace, preserving
different nations’ identities and cultures, protecting the human heritage and maintaining its diversity, and
remaining alert to the dangers of globalization and the use of new technologies, in which we place such great hope.
I must note at this point that some of those technologies have been perverted to take advantage of the innocence of
children and exploit them sexually via the Internet. Similarly, women’s bodies have been degraded into an article
of commerce, a culture of violence is being propagated, and the culture of some societies is being portrayed in a
distorted and defamatory fashion in the media. These regrettable phenomena should spur our Organization to make
greater efforts to address them. Human capabilities should be harnessed for the benefit of humanity.
(22.7) The adoption of the zero growth principle in the preparation of the budget, and the placing of UNESCO
on the same footing as other specialized international organizations, are harmful to the Organization in that its
ability to carry out its role is thereby impaired, and to that extent it is weakened. This is particularly unfortunate
after its success in reaching out to all parts of the world in recent years. In approving this budget in its present
form, we are deciding to restrict UNESCO’s role and aspirations in the period that lies ahead.
(22.8) Madam President, before I conclude my remarks, I must add that it gives me great pleasure to
congratulate Mr Matsuura on his election as Director-General. I wish him all success in carrying out his functions
at the head of this venerable Organization, which stands as proudly as ever in addressing the challenges
confronting it. Lastly, gathered here as we are at this session, the last of the present century, it is fitting that we
should dream of a world characterized by a human culture, appropriate education and more noble learning, a world
in which tolerance and a spirit of dialogue prevail, a world ruled by justice and equality. We must all do our part to
infuse this Organization with a new spirit and the strength to enable it to realize our hopes and aspirations for the
third millennium. Thank you for your attention. Peace be upon you.
23. The PRESIDENT:
I thank His Excellency the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. I
appreciate that he kept within the time limit and yet was able to tell us many things. I now call His Excellency
Dr Mohammed Abdul Rahim Kafoud, Minister for Education and Higher Education of Qatar. Your Excellency,
you have the floor.
247
7