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

community regarding all aspects of the tourist trade is, thankfully, growing. For that reason, Aruba is actively
participating in UNESCO projects, which it fully supports. The Caribbean Sea project is a perfect example and
with UNESCO we stress the importance of conservation of the sea around us.
22.7 Aruba is actively promoting another part of our culture, our heritage, the monuments. We do not have a
specific concentration of monuments in Aruba. Recently our widely scattered monuments have been inventoried
by experts and we will in the next few years start to restore them.
22.8 The priority of the recently installed Aruban National Commission for UNESCO is the establishing of
contacts with other commissions in the region, thereby strengthening the function of the commission and getting
better acquainted with the Organization. The Aruba National Commission will be very active. Our new
Secretary-General, Mr J. Oduber, will enthusiastically participate in the UNESCO ideals dispersed in our
community. Special attention will be given to the UNESCO project "International Year for the Culture of Peace".
We in Aruba do recognize the importance of UNESCO; in particular, the ideals of UNESCO for the international
community as well as for our local community, are of the utmost importance to us.
22.9 The problems just mentioned with immigrant youngsters are of high priority. We are aware that more
countries in the Caribbean Region as well as in other parts of the world, are confronting them. However, we
cannot stress enough that behind these problems there are persons: people like you and me who deserve another
or a better life. That is why I appeal to UNESCO to establish the necessary avenues to enhance the lives of this
specific group. We know that several international organizations are specifically concerned with and active
regarding the immigrant issue. Maybe the UNESCO family can contribute to finding solutions for this global
problem.
22.10 I would like to come back to some remarks I made in 1995: the Aruban Government is prepared and
seriously interested in hosting UNESCO meetings for the Caribbean region.
22.11 Realizing that within 59 days we will enter the year 2000, with a new century and a new millennium in
front of us, the challenges ahead will be numerous. I wish our new UNESCO leader the strength, the wisdom and
the necessary inspiration to lead UNESCO to and in the coming millennium, the twenty-first century. It is a great
mission to lead this prestigious organization into the coming years. I am sure that UNESCO will be in capable
hands. We all are looking forward to a bright future. Thank you very much for your attention.
23. The PRESIDENT:
I thank Your Excellency, Minister for Education, Economic Affairs, Tourism, Social Affairs and Culture
of Aruba. I call upon Mr Željko Jerkić, Permanent Delegate to UNESCO of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
24.1 Mr JERKIĆ (Bosnia and Herzegovina):
Mr President, Chairperson of the Executive Board, Director-General, distinguished heads of delegations,
ladies and gentlemen, allow me, first of all, to congratulate the distinguished representative of the Czech
Republic, Ms Moserová, on her election as the President of the General Conference of UNESCO. We are
convinced that under her able and wise guidance the Conference will end in a productive and successful way.
24.2 The 30th session of the General Conference of UNESCO occurs at a time of taking stock and measuring
the overall results of the twentieth century. At the same time we are preparing for the encounter with the new one,
full of uncertainties and challenges as well as hopes and promises. The twentieth century was marked by
unprecedented scientific and technological developments but was also the century of major wars, disasters and
catastrophes. The political map of the world has changed several times. Now, we are still going through complex
structural changes and searching for new ways of communication and cooperation. While the reshaping of old
alliances and forging of new partnerships is still under way, the peace-democracy-development paradigm has
confirmed its universal value.
24.3 In spite of all the achievements, our planet is facing serious problems. To name but a few: peace in
different parts of the globe is too often challenged; the gap between rich and poor is widening; access to
education and health care is not for all; the benefits of modern science and participation in cyberspace are not
fairly distributed; and the environment is severely abused. But today, we have come to a situation that only a few
decades ago would have been considered as an unfounded futurism: the world has indeed become a "global
village". We call it also a "mondialisation" and globalization, but it has only one meaning: here we are in a richly
diverse but manifold, interconnected world, in a formidable quest for the best solutions to common problems.
Only by assuming individual and collective responsibility in addressing these problems may the already 6 billion
member-strong family of humanity offer the optimal solutions.
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