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

6. The PRESIDENT:
Thank you Mr Fernandez. Are there any objections to this recommendation? Or comments? I see none.
It is therefore approved by the plenary.
ADMISSION DES ILES CAIMANES EN TANT QUE MEMBRE ASSOCIE DE L’UNESCO
ADMISSION OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AS ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF UNESCO
ADMISIÓN DE LAS ISLAS CAIMÁN EN CALIDAD DE MIEMBRO ASOCIADO DE LA UNESCO
ПРИЕМ КАЙМАНОВЫХ ОСТРОВОВ В КАЧЕСТВЕ ЧЛЕНА - СОТРУДНИКА ЮНЕСКО
7.1 The PRESIDENT:
Before we continue the general policy debate, we shall examine item 13.4 of the agenda, concerning the
admission of the Cayman Islands as Associate Member of the Organization. The document for this item is
30 C/33. Admission of the Cayman Islands as an Associate Member State was requested by the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in a letter. Pursuant to Rule 103, paragraph 2, of the Rules of Procedure of
the General Conference, “Applications for Associate Membership of UNESCO by territories or groups of
territories shall be considered by the General Conference in accordance with the provisions of Article II,
paragraph 3, of the Constitution”, namely by a two-thirds majority. The document proposes a draft resolution
admitting the Cayman Islands as Associate Member of the Organization.
7.2 Are there any comments on this item? May I then consider that you are in agreement with the draft
resolution? I see no objections. The resolution is adopted.
DEBAT DE POLITIQUE GENERALE (suite)
GENERAL POLICY DEBATE (continued)
DEBATE DE POLÍTICA GENERAL (continuación)
ОБСУЖДЕНИЕ ВОПРОСОВ ОБЩЕЙ ПОЛИТИКИ (продолжение)
8. The PRESIDENT:
We shall now resume the general policy debate. The first speaker on my list is His Excellency
Mr Zdenek Novak, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic. Your Excellency, you have the floor.
9.1 Mr NOVAK (Czech Republic):
Good morning, Madam President of the General Conference, Mr Director-General, delegates and
observers, ladies and gentlemen, I am honoured to be able, on behalf of my country to thank Mr Federico Mayor,
the current Director-General, for the work he has done during the past 12 years. Over those years UNESCO has
reacted flexibly in the area of international intellectual cooperation to the changes in the world. I would also like
to express my appreciation of the constant efforts exerted by the Director-General to restore the universal
character of the Organization and to keep UNESCO what it should be – the conscience of the world in the
twenty-first century. I trust that his successor will follow successfully along this path and develop this legacy
further.
9.2 Ladies and gentlemen, in connection with the proposed agenda and the UNESCO budget for the years
2000-2001 the Czech Republic welcomes the fact that this programme has been prepared in two scenarios. We
should appreciate it if the draft programme of the Organization could be prepared with variants in the future.
However, we suggest that those variants should not differ as to the budgeted amount or main activities. But that
distinct variants should be offered in terms of projects.
9.3 In the next two years we have to give some profound consideration to the role of UNESCO in the new
millennium. We therefore welcome the creation of the special Task Force on UNESCO in the Twenty-First
Century. The Czech Republic is a member of this body and I take the liberty of assuring you that we shall do our
utmost to contribute our share to the implementation of its tasks. At its last session, the General Conference
established the practice that, while approving UNESCO’s subsequent programmes, it would immediately start
discussing the programme for the next period. This is certainly the right way.
9.4 The World Conference on Higher Education held last year documented significant trends in education.
The relevant programme of the Organization clearly formulates the long-term task ahead of UNESCO and all of
its Member States. In today’s rapidly changing world lifelong education is already a fact. It is obvious that this
323
9