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

the authorities running the biosphere reserves as the communities become increasingly involved in the
management of biosphere reserves and are also benefiting financially from them.
38.13 Another very successful programme is that of solar energy. UNESCO provided Kenya with seed funding
for a pilot project in order to promote literacy among the pastoral and nomadic communities. The results of this
project indicate that achievement of education goals among these communities is possible through such
programmes. It is for these reasons and because of extensive knowledge of areas of United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) competence that we do not support the proposal to transfer these projects to any body other
than UNESCO.
38.14 Mr President, we must continue to celebrate our vibrant and diverse cultural heritage. African children,
even as they embrace the information technology, must be steeped in our songs, our folklore and our traditions.
Above all, our traditional and deep sense of mutual social responsibility that exhorts us to place the communal
interest above individual ones must continue to be nurtured. Understanding our culture gives us an insight into
who we are and what we want to become. In this regard, the issue of moral decay through what is available in
cyberspace needs to be conclusively addressed. The idea of a youth parliament, youth forums in UNESCO
conferences and the involvement of parliamentarians in UNESCO activities signifies the importance of involving
all stakeholders in decision-making. In addition, we support all the proposals and efforts being made by
UNESCO to address the issue of child abuse as well as pornography and violence on the screen. We should come
up with a universal legal framework to address these issues in order to safeguard human dignity.
38.15 Mr President, while the economies of most of the industrialized countries have moved out of recession,
most of Africa is still mired in poverty. No progress of any kind can be achieved by an impoverished people.
Kenya is determined to tackle the scourge of poverty so that our people can join the rest of humanity in living
dignified and prosperous lives.
38.16 I would also like to call upon UNESCO to redouble its efforts in calling for debt relief for all African
countries, since a prosperous Africa is economically beneficial to the rest of the international community.
38.17 Mr President, we move into the next millennium with most of Africa committed to democracy,
prosperity and a culture of peace for all her people. Kenya supports the concerted efforts being made to bring
peace to all African countries mired in conflict and war. We note that such conflicts have led, and continue to
lead, to an increase in the number of displaced persons. Indeed, Kenya is today home to many refugees from the
Lake Region and the Horn of Africa. We are grateful for UNESCO’s PEER initiatives, which continue to
alleviate the lot of such marginalized groups, but we repeat that sustainable peace in these regions is the best
solution. Kenya calls for support for the Great Lakes Forum and Culture of Peace Network initiatives, which aim
to reduce conflict in our subregion.
38.18 Within the last two years, the world community has witnessed an unprecedented upsurge of disasters,
including floods, earthquakes and drought. In Kenya, the spectre of terrorism was unleashed on us and our
peaceful existence was shattered by the loss of 250 lives while many more people were maimed and injured
during the 7 August 1998 bomb blast. The world community, including UNESCO, rose as one and demonstrated
an encouraging sense of solidarity with us. It is just such solidarity, Mr President, such caring, that the people of
the world need as we enter the next millennium. Finally, let me say, Mr President, as we move into the twentyfirst
century, that we are determined to achieve the best life possible for our people. We have the resources and
the political will to ensure that we take our rightful place among other nations.
38.19 It is significant that the 30th session of the General Conference is being held on the eve of a new
millennium, at a time when all humanity is looking back and assessing the achievements, the meaning and the
worth of its existence over the last thousand years. As this is done, we should endeavour to ensure that the
knowledge and experience gained so far can help us, and especially Africa, to forge a future full of hope, peace
and prosperity for all mankind. Kenya is grateful that this has been the unfailing mission of UNESCO since its
inception. We thank UNESCO and all its member countries and wish you all and your peoples a prosperous
millennium. I thank you, Mr President, for your indulgence, and thank you all for listening to me.
39. Le PRESIDENT :
Je vous remercie, Monsieur le Ministre, de votre intervention et je vous sais gré d’avoir résumé votre
texte afin de respecter votre temps de parole. Je donne maintenant la parole à S. Exc. M. Guillermo Vargas
Salazar, ministre de l’éducation du Costa Rica.
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