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

countries and regions. It is the latter that our policies for decentralization needs to address, in very clear and
certain terms. Some sources would claim that the Education Decade has not realized the outcomes expected, but
nevertheless it is important for what has been achieved to be acknowledged as building blocks for future work.
Underpinning all our programme and advocacy activities should be a constant vigilance in promoting peace and
social justice for all.
6.6. Madam President, when we talk of the future, of what or of whom do we speak? It is our children. Under
the joint auspices of the French Government and UNESCO, the World Parliament of Children was convened here
in Paris last week. Tomorrow, the Youth Forum organized within the workings of this General Conference will
commence. My Government acknowledges with appreciation these two events that will instil in our children and
youth knowledge and values to ensure future peace, leading them to the appreciation of their future
responsibilities and to revel in the celebration of our rich and unique world where unity and diversity can coexist.
6.7 Madam President, the Focus on the Pacific initiative, which was introduced at our last General
Conference, has been built into the programme and budget for the next biennium. The delivery of the outcomes
of Focus on the Pacific rest largely with the subregional office in Apia, with support from the main regional
office and from the offices in Bangkok and Jakarta. The Apia office, under the able leadership of Ms Edna Tait,
was declared one of the best performing field offices at our most recent evaluation. Despite this high profile, this
office requires the urgent services of science, social science and communications technology experts. A full
complement of professional staff will enable the Apia office to fulfil its responsibilities for the planning and
implementation of Focus on the Pacific. We seek the support of the General Conference through its endorsement
of a Focus on the Pacific draft resolution that will come before the commissions for their consideration.
6.8 To conclude, I wish to speak briefly on the need for reform in the working methods of our Organization.
Samoa has been privileged to sit on the Executive Board for the last two years and has two more years to serve.
As a member that does not have a permanent representation at UNESCO, our Board experience has been truly
enlightening about this House and its inner workings. There is no doubt that our membership is still passionate
about the ideals and the founding vision that brought about UNESCO. However, its working methods are sorely
in need of updating to ensure efficiencies through transparent and accountable processes. Your Executive Board
and the Secretariat are obvious organs to take this task in hand. My delegation urges this General Conference to
give clear signals of its wish that organizational reform be a priority activity in the new biennium and the ensuing
period of the next Medium-Term Strategy. Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, finally, I wish you all a
successful General Conference. Thank you for your attention.
7. The PRESIDENT:
I should like to thank Her Excellency the Minister of Education of Samoa for her wise, knowledgeable
and well-directed words. I am sure that everyone listened and as the previous speaker from Myanmar told us, it is
important to listen, to listen and to understand. Thank you, Madam. I now call the next speaker on my list, His
Excellency Mr Guilherme de Oliveira Martins, Minister for Education of Portugal. Your Excellency, you have
the floor.
8.1 M. DE OLIVEIRA MARTINS (Portugal)
(Discours prononcé en portugais ; traduction fournie par la délégation) :
Madame la Présidente de la Conférence générale, Monsieur le Président du Conseil exécutif, Monsieur
le représentant du Directeur général, chers collègues, Mesdames et Messieurs les ambassadeurs et ambassadrices,
Mesdames et Messieurs, je commencerai par féliciter la Présidente de son élection et par lui souhaiter tous les
succès possibles dans l'exercice de ses fonctions.
8.2 Nous nous trouvons confrontés au défi de construire l'UNESCO du nouveau siècle et du nouveau
millénaire. En participant à la création d'une société de l'information et de la connaissance, nous vivons une
époque où la croisée des chemins de l'éducation, de la science, de la culture et de la communication présente
d'indiscutables virtualités qui vont dans le sens d'une société planétaire où la liberté, la dignité et la solidarité
deviennent des facteurs fondamentaux du développement humain. L'UNESCO est ainsi appelée à contribuer
activement à jeter les bases d'une authentique "culture de la paix", en rassemblant toutes les énergies disponibles
pour lutter contre la pauvreté, contre une volonté d'affrontement débridée, contre l'intolérance, contre le nonrespect
de la diversité des cultures, contre l'incapacité de comprendre la valeur du pluralisme.
8.3 L'an 2000 sera l'Année internationale de la culture de la paix, grâce à l'impulsion donnée à cet égard par
l'UNESCO, et en particulier par Federico Mayor. Et il importe de comprendre que cette initiative devra en tout
premier lieu enraciner dans la société humaine des valeurs et des convictions, des pratiques et des comportements
qui déboucheront sur la création d'institutions et d'instruments de régulation des conflits de nature à favoriser et
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