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

projects in the field of renewable energy. Later, the elaboration of the “National Renewable Energy Programme”
was begun. The carrying out of demonstration projects, proposed by Georgia to the World Solar Programme
1996-2005, has been given special priority. Two international conferences under the aegis of UNESCO, in which
the President of Georgia also took part, were dedicated to this issue. In this connection, the plans to build a solar
settlement in the mountains near Aspindza, southern Georgia, deserve particular emphasis. We believe that the
inclusion of Vardzia – a pearl of ancient Georgian architecture located near the Aspindza solar settlement – in the
World Heritage List will promote the social development of the region. Our future cooperation with UNESCO in
this field is also planned within the framework of the initiative of the Georgian Government and UNESCO to set
up an International Agency for Sustainable Development. The Agency’s goals are to lend support to the World
Solar Programme 1996-2005 and the United Nations Programme on Climate Change and to search for new
opportunities for multifaceted development in the Black Sea countries and particularly in the Caucasus. The
Agency will encourage private investors as well as international financial institutions and other organizations to
increase funding for top-priority national and regional projects, and thus contribute to socio-economic and
cultural development, to the irreversibility of democratic processes, and to peace and stability in the region. The
Georgian Government hopes that UNESCO will provide assistance in the establishment and further development
of this programme.
36.7 Mr President, as the President of Georgia observed in his recent address to the United Nations General
Assembly, “the founders of the United Nations Organization certainly deserve praise for their wisdom and vision,
but we should not forget that the mechanism they created to serve our collective responsibility for the world’s
fate was framed for a different epoch”. The same could be said about our Organization. We believe that
successful implementation of this approach will be promoted by the decentralization of the UNESCO system,
which will resolve the burning issues of its Member States in a more comprehensive way. It is also important that
the creation of units away from Headquarters should be on a more systematic basis and focused on problemoriented
needs. This will enhance regional cooperation based on commonality of interests and historical
experience in most of the regions.
36.8 We strongly believe that the United Nations and its specialized agencies, including UNESCO, should
adapt to the realities of a qualitatively new world. Georgia, as a candidate for election to the UNESCO Executive
Board, would greatly appreciate your support and promises to play an active role in this transformation.
36.9 We fully support the proposed UNESCO Programme and Budget for 2000-2001, which constitutes the
last stage in the implementation of a unique medium-term strategy that, for the first time in the history of the
Organization, links two centuries and two millennia. The high prestige of UNESCO in Georgia is strongly
associated with the personality of its Director-General. On behalf of President Eduard Shevardnadze, the
National Commission for UNESCO and the people of Georgia, I would like to express our gratitude to
Mr Federico Mayor for this support and understanding. We believe that by subscribing to the traditional values
and long-standing experience of UNESCO and by giving a fresh impetus to the process of transformation, the
new Director-General will efficiently guide our Organization into the twenty-first century.
36.10 Dear friends, along with its integration into UNESCO, Georgia has assumed certain commitments. I
would like to assure you finally that we will fulfil all these commitments, always promoting the realization of
ideas which constitute the cornerstones of our Organization. Thank you.
37. Le PRESIDENT :
Je vous remercie, Monsieur le Ministre, de votre intervention et je donne la parole à l'orateur suivant,
S. Exc. M. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, ministre de l’éducation du Kenya.
38.1 Mr MUSYOKA (Kenya):
Mr President of the General Conference, Mr Chairperson of the Executive Board, Mr Director-General,
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I wish to join all the distinguished delegates who
have spoken before me in sincerely congratulating Madam Moserová on her election. I have no doubt that her
vast experience and knowledge will ensure the smooth operation of the deliberations of the 30th session of the
General Conference so that they result in fruitful conclusions.
38.2 May I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to Mr Federico Mayor, the outgoing Director-General,
who in his tenure of office has distinguished himself as an industrious and skilled leader. His vision and foresight
have shaped and revitalized UNESCO for the benefit of all over the last 12 years. This Organization is now in a
stronger position to face the challenges of the twenty-first century with confidence, thanks to his efforts. My
delegation wishes Mr Mayor every success in his future endeavours.
265
7