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

future over which the banners of rationality and justice will wave. My hope is that this session will be a successful
forum for constructive dialogue among the world’s most prominent figures in the fields of education, science and
culture. I firmly believe that if sufficient effort is put into the development of education, culture and science, the
result will be the closing of the gap between advanced and underdeveloped countries, the gap between North and
South. I wish this Conference every success in the pursuit of its important task, and I ardently hope that UNESCO
will always remain the symbol of constructive international cooperation among the world’s forces for good. May
God grant you success. The Peace, Mercy and Blessings of God be upon you all.
(M. Gilavogui, Guinée, prend la présidence)
35. Le PRESIDENT :
Je vous remercie, Monsieur le Ministre, de votre intervention et je donne la parole à l'orateur suivant,
S. Exc. M. Irakli Menagarishvili, ministre des affaires étrangères de Géorgie.
36.1 Mr MENAGARISHVILI (Georgia):
Mr President, Mr Chairperson of the Executive Board, Mr Director-General, colleagues and friends,
first of all, allow me to perform the honourable mission of conveying the wishes for a fruitful and successful
session from the President of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze, to all the participants of the General Conference of
UNESCO. As he has stated, UNESCO is viewed as an organization capable of successfully resolving the
problems of preserving the cultural diversity of nations and finding ways of addressing economic and
environmental concerns.
36.2 Tangible support from international organizations has contributed substantially to the successful
implementation of the transition process, launched in Georgia with the restoration of its independence. UNESCO
has been among these organizations. The Days of Georgian Culture at UNESCO Headquarters in July 1993, the
inclusion of ancient monuments of Georgian culture in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the International
Forum “For Solidarity Against Intolerance, for a Dialogue of Cultures” in July 1995, held under the auspices of
UNESCO and with the participation of the Director-General and the President of Georgia, were the first
important milestones of our cooperation. Cooperation with UNESCO has become an invaluable support for
Georgian educational establishments and scientific and technological institutions. I would like to express my
country’s gratitude for the active support provided to UNESCO’s activities in Georgia through the Participation
Programme.
36.3 Ladies and gentlemen, Georgia has always voiced its support for inter-ethnic accord, peace, security and
stability in the Caucasus, a region that was historically the cradle of various cultures representing a unique
spectrum of human civilization. In September 1998 Tbilisi hosted an international conference of mass media
representatives of the Caucasian States and in September 1999 another international conference under the
auspices of UNESCO. The subject of the latter was “Peaceful Caucasus and the Eurasian Corridor – Aspects of
East-West Integration”. The Caucasus – its past, present and future – has attracted the attention of the world
intellectual community in the light of the “Peaceful Caucasus” concept advanced by the President of Georgia.
This concept and its dynamic implementation proceed from a vision in which the confrontation of civilization is
ended through an extensive dialogue between cultures and the integration of economic and financial cooperation
between East and West.
36.4 A bright example of the development of sustainable cooperation is the creation of the Transportation
Corridor “Europe – Caucasus – Asia”. This is the Great Silk Route of the twenty-first century, stretching through
a vast territory from Japan to Europe. As part of the “Peaceful Caucasus” concept and within the framework of
the interdisciplinary project “The culture of peace”, Georgia has submitted a resolution on the intersectoral
subregional project “Caucasus” to the General Conference. It proposes the South Caucasus subregion, with the
possible extension of the project to include the whole Caucasus. The project is designed to make full use of all
means of communication for the intensification of regional cooperation in all fields of UNESCO activities. The
Governments of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan have supported this important undertaking. I would greatly
appreciate your support.
36.5 Your Excellencies, esteemed heads of delegation, at this session the General Conference will decide on
the issue of the participation of UNESCO in the activities dedicated to the 3,000th anniversary of Georgian
statehood. This event is of symbolic importance for us and will take place in the year of 2000 – the year of the
Culture of Peace. I ask this highly authoritative forum to support this initiative, which will contribute to the noble
goal of peace.
36.6 Mr President, cooperation with UNESCO has stimulated us to conduct an in-depth rethinking of the
future of the Georgian energy system. As early as 1994, under the aegis of and thanks to the financial support of
UNESCO, the International Energy Centre was founded, and has been fostering the implementation of concrete
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