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

21.10 Since becoming a member of UNESCO in 1982, Bhutan has had very fruitful and intimate cooperation
with the Organization. It has benefited from UNESCO’s assistance, particularly in the fields of education and
culture. It has also, in its own small way, worked to promote the principles and objectives enshrined in the
Constitution of UNESCO. The time has perhaps come for Bhutan to play a more active role in this august
Organization. In this connection, I am pleased to report that on 30 October 1999, Her Majesty Ashi Tshering
Yangdon Wangchuck, the Queen of Bhutan, attended the International UNESCO Benefit Gala for Children in
Need held in Dusseldorf, Germany, as the guest of honour as well as one of its keynote speakers.
21.11 Further, my country has decided to seek membership of the Executive Board of UNESCO, which will be
elected in part by this Conference on 9 November. My delegation is hopeful that the Conference will extend its
wholehearted support to Bhutan’s candidature. It is the first time that Bhutan is seeking membership of a
subsidiary organ of UNESCO, and if elected to the Executive Board, my country and my government are
determined to make every effort to make meaningful contributions to this body and UNESCO. As this
Conference is aware, Bhutan embarked on a gradual and cautious path of modernization only in 1961. As a late
starter, it has had the advantage of learning from others. At the same time, as stated earlier, Bhutan has
deliberately pursued a development path that seeks to find a balance between modernity and tradition. We have
gained many useful insights in the process, and would like to share them with others. We also hope to learn from
others through active involvement in the work of UNESCO and its Executive Board. I thank you, Mr President.
22. ПРЕДСЕДАТЕЛЬ:
Я также благодарю Ваше Превосходительство за Ваше выступление и за те предложения,
которые Вы сделали. Они несомненно будут приняты во внимание. А сейчас, позвольте предоставить
слово Ее Превосходительству министру культуры Эстонии, г-же Киви. Г-жа Киви, прошу Вас.
(22) Le PRESIDENT (traduit du russe) :
Je vous remercie également pour votre intervention et pour les propositions que vous avez faites. Elles
seront sans aucun doute prises en considération. Permettez-moi maintenant de donner la parole à la Ministre
estonienne de la culture, Mme Kivi.
23.1 Ms KIVI (Estonia):
Mr President, Mr Chairperson of the Executive Board, Mr Director-General, distinguished guests of
States and delegations, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Estonian delegation I would like to
express our gratitude to you, Mr Mayor, for your tireless efforts in fostering the ideals of UNESCO and for the
special attention you have paid to each and every Member State. I would also like to greet the new Director-
General and wish him every success in his challenging endeavour.
23.2 Allow me to introduce the Estonian intervention with the words of the President of Estonia, Mr Lennart
Meri: “Culture is the highest form of democracy and tolerance. There are no big and small cultures. There are
only different cultures, each priceless because of its uniqueness”.
23.3 On this very special occasion, facing not only a new millennium, not only major changes within
UNESCO, but radical change within the family and the community, within countries and regions, Estonia
believes that our time calls for a cultural transformation, for total transparency and for radical reforms both in
social structures and in mentalities - a transition from the logic of force to the force of reason. The transition,
however, has made us acutely aware of the challenge for nations of integration into a globalizing world. How can
distinct yet smaller States maintain their identity when larger States seem to dominate the global cultural space?
This is where UNESCO plays an important role and the new integration provides an opportunity for countries to
play a larger part in this mission.
23.4 The world we have inherited must be passed on to our children in the best possible shape. In order to
pass that world on as a place worth living in, we must first and foremost preserve three components: peace, health
and culture. By peace, we mean mutual tolerance, the absence of national, gender-related or political conflicts
through reciprocal acceptance and the guarantee of full equality. The notion of health implies the harmony of the
body, the spirit and the soul. Culture, the basis of our definition of the self, implies the representation of our
existing heritage and the mutual enrichment of individuals through their learning to know one another. In today’s
world, basic peace and health are out of the reach of millions. We have to develop these ideas and defend a
person’s fundamental right to the future.
23.5 Estonia fully supports the idea of the culture of peace, the need to seek new ways of living together
based on conciliation, generosity and tolerance and unlimited respect for human rights, the rejection of all forms
of oppression and violence, and equitable distribution of wealth, the free flow of information and the real sharing
of knowledge. The call by Mr Federico Mayor for measures to be taken and events to be held that will foster
these ideals has been heard in Estonia. The House of Peace, symbolizing the political will and the will of the
427
12