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

make its first payment before the end of 1999, and I hope that we shall be able to confirm this very soon in a
letter to the Comptroller.
8.2 Madam President, Grenada is a small and young country facing serious economic difficulties.
Independent in 1974, Grenada became a Member of UNESCO in February 1975. In its desire to participate fully
in the work of the Organization, the Government of Grenada decided to establish a permanent delegation to
UNESCO in Paris and the Ambassador presented his credentials only in November 1998, less than one year ago.
Since then, the delegation of Grenada has been trying, despite the limited number of its members, to participate
in all major events and activities of UNESCO. In this way, the Government of Grenada wishes to confirm its
commitment to the purposes and objectives of UNESCO and hopes that, on the basis of the payments plan
presented today, the General Conference will grant it the right to vote. Thank you, Madam President.
9. The PRESIDENT:
Thank you. I give the floor to Mr Koch.
10. Mr KOCH (Germany), Vice-Chairperson of the Administrative Commission:
Madam, let me just say the following. I happen also to have chaired the Working Group, you know,
although I am reporting now on behalf of the Administrative Commission. If in the Working Group we had had
the information that we have just heard from the representative of Grenada, I would submit that the Working
Group would of course have recommended that Grenada should be granted the right to vote. With reference to
your earlier remark, such a decision, were a vote to be taken, would be on the basis of a two-thirds majority. This
is the information I am able to convey to you.
11. The PRESIDENT:
Does this mean that we can reconsider this and immediately give Grenada the right to vote? Could you
make that clear, please.
12. Mr KOCH (Germany), Vice-Chairperson of the Administrative Commission:
Yes Madam. As you ask me, I would like to propose that, on the basis of our experience in the
Administrative Commission and the procedures we follow, we add Grenada to the group of countries that would
be granted voting rights, which would increase their number from 27 to 28. Thank you.
13. The PRESIDENT:
Thank you. That is a good decision. Does Kyrgyzstan want to take the floor? Yes. I give the floor to
Kyrgyzstan.
14. Г-нТОКТОМЫШЕВ(Кыргызстан):
Глубокоуважаемая г-жа председатель, уважаемый президиум, уважаемые дамы и господа, от
имени правительства Кыргызской Республики наша делегация убедительно просит Вас сегодня
поддержать нас и не лишать голоса Кыргызстана на 30-й сессии Генеральной конференции ЮНЕСКО.
Мы очень тесно сотрудничаем с ЮНЕСКО, у нас совместно с этой авторитетнейшей Организацией
ведется очень большая широкомасштабная работа. Мы обещаем начать ликвидацию своего долга в
первом квартале 2000 года. У нас есть гарантийное письмо с конкретным сроком, т.е. планом погашения
всей задолженности в течение 6 лет, подписанным премьер-министром Кыргызской Республики. Просим
вас, уважаемые делегаты Генеральной конференции, поддержать нас и отнестись с пониманием к
ситуации, сложившейся в Кыргызстане, который получил суверенитет при полном развале экономики,
отягощенной вооруженным конфликтом на юге Республики. Благодарю Вас за понимание и за
поддержку. Спасибо.
(14) Mr TOKTOMYSHEV (Kyrgyzstan) (Translation from the Russian):
Madam President, members of the General Committee, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the
Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, our delegation earnestly appeals to you to support us today and not to deprive
Kyrgyzstan of a voice at the 30th session of UNESCO’s General Conference. We cooperate very closely with
UNESCO and, in partnership with this most authoritative Organization, very considerable work is going on in our
country on a large scale. We promise to begin paying off our arrears in the first quarter of the year 2000. We have a
letter of guarantee with a fixed term, i.e. a plan to pay off all our debts over a period of six years, signed by the
Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic. We request you, honourable delegates to the General Conference, to
support us and to show understanding concerning the situation in Kyrgyzstan, which acceded to sovereignty at a
time when the economy had completely collapsed, overburdened by the armed conflict in the south of the
Republic. Thank you for your understanding and support. Thank you.
512