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

ACCUEIL SOLENNEL DE LA REPUBLIQUE DES PALAOS EN TANT QUE NOUVEL ETAT MEMBRE
DE L’UNESCO
FORMAL WELCOMING OF THE REPUBLIC OF PALAU AS A NEW MEMBER STATE OF UNESCO
SOLEMNE BIENVENIDA A LA REPÚBLICA DE PALAU COMO NUEVO ESTADO MIEMBRO DE LA
UNESCO
ОФИЦИАЛЬНЫЕ ПРИВЕТСТВИЯ ПО СЛУЧАЮ ПРИНЯТИЯ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ПАЛАУ В КАЧЕСТВЕ
НОВОГО ГОСУДАРСТВА - ЧЛЕНА ЮНЕСКО
1. The PRESIDENT:
Ladies and gentlemen, I declare open the twelfth plenary meeting of the 30th session of the General
Conference. During this session of the General Conference, we have great pleasure in welcoming among us
another new Member State, the Republic of Palau, which joined UNESCO on 20 September 1999. The
instruments of acceptance were duly submitted for consideration and have been accepted. I have the honour of
inviting His Excellency Mr Hersey Kyota, Ambassador of Palau to the United States of America, to come to the
rostrum to place his country’s flag, and then to address the plenary.
(Mr Kyota places the flag of Palau on the rostrum)
(Applause)
2.1 Mr KYOTA (Palau):
Madam President, Director-General, heads of delegation, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Aluwau
tutau, - that means “good morning”. I extend warm greetings from the President, His Excellency Kuniwo
Nakamura and the people of the Republic of Palau. Madam President, I join the other distinguished delegates
who have spoken before me in extending to you my congratulations on your election as President of the 30th
session of the General Conference of UNESCO. My delegation firmly believes that with your excellent
background and extensive experience, your wisdom and your leadership - you will be able to effectively guide
the work of the session to a successful conclusion.
2.2 It is indeed a great honour and privilege for me to attend the 30th session of the General Conference of
UNESCO, on behalf of President Kuniwo Nakamura and the people of the Republic of Palau. This opportunity
brings me great personal pride, as I represented the President and my government in the signing of the
Convention with UNESCO on 20 September 1999 in London, under which my country became a fully-fledged
Member of this august body. As one of its newest Members, I take this opportunity to reaffirm to all Member
States that the Republic of Palau is committed to work cooperatively in a spirit of peace and friendship to
implement the objectives and purposes set forth in the Constitution of this Organization.
2.3 Madam President, I cannot emphasize enough the educational, scientific and cultural importance our
young Republic attaches to our membership of this Organization as we strive peacefully to preserve, promote and
share our cultural heritage and improve the standard of living for our people. As a small developing State, the
Republic of Palau stands ready to listen, observe and learn from the other distinguished Members of this
Organization in order to effectively enhance and promote the educational, scientific and cultural values that this
Organization stands for. As we take our seat in this Organization, we hope to participate actively in the
programmes and activities of UNESCO and play our role in promoting peace, harmony and understanding of
mankind through pursuing the objectives of UNESCO.
2.4 In the past, the Republic of Palau, although not yet a Member of UNESCO has benefited indirectly from
certain UNESCO activities such as regional initiatives in the South Pacific area mainly focused on the
preservation, protection and promotion of the cultural heritage. We fully recognize that UNESCO has been at the
forefront in questions of cultural preservation and protection in the Pacific. Such assistance encourages small
island States in the Pacific to enhance their cooperation and exchange views and ideas concerning the
preservation and protection of the cultural heritage of these island States. To this end, Madam President, my
government welcomes UNESCO’s continued efforts and assistance in this worthwhile endeavour.
2.5 The Republic of Palau, as an emerging young nation with relatively meagre human and natural
resources, fully recognizes also the value of developing appropriate and relevant educational strategies to address
the basic educational goals and objectives for social and economic advancement of our people into the new
millennium. It is with this national goal that a comprehensive national education master plan has been formally
developed and specific strategies devised for its implementation. Nonetheless, the challenges faced by both
private and public educational institutions, with their limited resources, have often had little success in addressing
408