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

twelve departments and nineteen undergraduate courses. Since September 1997 the University has offered
postgraduate studies at both Master and Ph.D. levels, and today all of its twelve departments offer postgraduate
studies. With regard to university cooperation, which is another objective of Major Programme I, I can report
that the Cyprus University has established an elaborate network of bilateral and multilateral relations through
participation in various programmes and seminars.
16.6 Concerning Major Programme II, “The sciences in the service of development”, in which priority is
accorded to the follow-up of the World Conference on Science, I am glad to report that Cyprus is in the process
of implementing innovations in its science and technology curricula which are in line with the Declaration and
Framework for Action adopted by the Conference. In this context, and as from the next academic year, a new
type of school will be introduced in the upper secondary cycle. The teaching time allocated to science education
will accordingly be increased, more emphasis will be placed on experimental and practical work, and technology
courses will be introduced for the first time.
16.7 Madam President, my country accords high priority to Major Programme III “Cultural development:
heritage and creativity”. It is right that UNESCO should promote a strategy to implement the Plan of Action
adopted at the Stockholm Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development. We value all
programmes relating to the preservation of cultural heritage and we welcome the fact that in the next two years
increased importance will be given to the preservation of intangible culture.
16.8 We attach the highest importance to our Organization’s efforts to create and reinforce international
conventions aiming at the protection of the cultural heritage of mankind. The new Convention on the Protection
of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, now under preparation, has our full support. The Second Protocol to the
Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict has for us a special
significance and we look forward to its coming into force in the near future. In the context of this Convention, as
it applies to occupied territories, we have recently had to deplore an instance of illegal excavations carried out in
Salamis, one of the most significant archaeological sites in the occupied part of Cyprus, by a representative of the
university of the capital city of the occupying power.
16.9 Madam President, I find myself once again in the sad position of having to report the continuing
destruction of the cultural heritage in the part of Cyprus which, on account of foreign military occupation, is
inaccessible to the Government’s competent authorities. Important monuments that have been respected
throughout the centuries and are part of the cultural heritage of mankind are under serious threat, at best
neglected and abandoned, more often looted and deliberately destroyed.
16.10 With reference to Major Programme IV, “Towards a communication and information society”, my
delegation welcomes the emphasis placed on the reinforcement of communication, information and informatics,
the free flow of information and the broadening of the scope of UNESCO’s action and reflection on the ethical
and sociocultural challenges of the information society.
16.11 Cyprus promotes electronic literacy through the education system and we consider it to be the necessary
foundation for accessing and utilizing knowledge. Our educational policy also encourages the use of the Internet
as a means of communication, collaboration and making wise use of available information. This kind of
technology has already been introduced in schools and has become part of our curricula. At the same time the
education system encourages the learning of foreign languages and thus reinforces communication and cultural
diversity. Parallel to all this and aware as we are of the dangers that stem from the uncontrolled use of
information technology, data protection legislation is being introduced to safeguard the individual’s right to
privacy.
16.12 Madam President, let me conclude by wishing this session of the General Conference, the last before the
dawn of the new millennium, every success in its noble and ambitious task. Thank you very much.
(Mr Vargas Salazar, Costa Rica, takes the Chair)
17. El PRESIDENTE:
Agradecemos profundamente al Excelentísimo Señor Ministro de Educación y Cultura de Chipre su
participación en esta reunión de la Conferencia. Compartimos sus logros y sus anhelos. Tiene la palabra el
Excmo. Reverendo Abednego Ntshangase, Ministro de Educación de Swazilandia.
(17) Le PRESIDENT (traduit de l'espagnol) :
Nous remercions infiniment Monsieur le ministre de l'éducation et de la culture de Chypre pour sa
participation à la présente session de la Conférence et nous partageons ses sujets de satisfaction et ses aspirations.
Je donne la parole au révérend Abednego Ntshangase, ministre de l'éducation du Swaziland.
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