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

24. Mr SARDO (Italy):
No, I do not insist on having a vote. I believe it was in the spirit of my suggestion to proceed straight to
a consensus. However, let me say once more that I do believe that rules can sometimes be suspended out of
broader considerations. In this case, I think it would not be a matter of financial recklessness but an act of
wisdom. Thank you.
25.1 The PRESIDENT:
I propose to proceed according to the rules and in an orderly fashion. This means that we have three
decisions to take, and the third will be the one which we might consider in the light of the Italian proposal.
25.2 The first decision concerns the 12 States that submitted requests in conformity with Rule 86 of the Rules
of Procedure, and these States are: Burundi, Costa Rica, Guinea-Bissau, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan,
Latvia, Liberia, Mali, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. A simple majority suffices for these
countries to have voting rights. I think this is a simple matter which does not call for a vote. As I see no
objection, it is agreed by consensus that these countries shall be granted voting rights.
25.3 Then there is a second group for which a two-thirds majority is required. The countries concerned are
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia,
Georgia, Guinea, Iraq, Niger, Republic of Moldova, Sudan … and Grenada and Kyrgyzstan. I see no objection
and shall therefore take it that it is agreed by consensus that these countries shall be accorded voting rights.
25.4 Finally, we have the case of five Member States in respect of which the Administrative Commission
considered that their requests did not comply with the provisions of Rule 86 and which consequently may not
take part in the voting. These are: Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia and
Tajikistan. Italy raised an objection. Is there anyone in favour of the objection raised by Italy to the decision of
the Administrative Commission not to grant these countries voting rights according to our rules and regulations?
Now, who is in favour of our endorsing the decision of the Administrative Commission that these countries,
unless there are any new developments within the next few days, should not be granted voting rights? Apart from
Italy, I see no objections, and therefore take it that it is so decided by consensus.
25.5 We were to consider a report of the Legal Committee, but as we are running short of time, we can, with
your agreement, postpone that until next week. It is so agreed.
DEBAT DE POLITIQUE GENERALE (suite) : REPONSE DU DIRECTEUR GENERAL
GENERAL POLICY DEBATE (continued): REPLY BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DEBATE DE POLITICA GENERAL (continuación): RESPUESTA DEL DIRECTOR GENERAL
ОБСУЖДЕНИЕ ВОПРОСОВ ОБЩЕЙ ПОЛИТИКИ (продолжение): ОТВЕТ ГЕНЕРАЛЬНОГО
ДИРЕКТОРА
26. The PRESIDENT:
Now, over the last few days, during 12 plenary meetings to be more precise, we have heard the voice of
UNESCO’s Member States. One by one, their representatives came to the rostrum and expressed their hopes and
fears. Many praised UNESCO for what it had accomplished and many spoke of their needs and their expectations
for the future. The Director-General or his representatives, and indeed all of us listened to what you had to say,
and it is now time to hear the response of the Director-General. I therefore give the floor to the Director-General.
27.1 The DIRECTOR-GENERAL:
“Peace in winter gardens, planting olive trees amidst darkness and turbulence, sharing and caring, love
amidst hatred, hope over despair”, to quote a passage from “Olives from Jericho” by Anees Jung. We must plant
every day in winter gardens knowing that many seeds will not bear fruit, but knowing also that we will never reap
the harvest. Our children will never harvest the fruits of the seeds, and of this we must be well aware. We have
not had the courage and the wisdom to plant. The future is not yet written. The future is our hope. We can still
shape it. We can invent a new design, the design that we dreamt of for so many days and nights. A dream of one
person is only a dream, a dream of many becomes a reality to be enjoyed one day. We will overcome the present
trends with tolerance and togetherness. The dignity of others is our own dignity. As you, the President of the
General Conference, Ms Jaroslava Moserová have stated: whoever violates the human dignity of another destroys
his own and whoever elevates the human dignity of others enhances his own.
27.2 Madam President of the General Conference, Mr Chairperson of the Executive Board, ministers,
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the general policy debate which has just ended has been a high point in
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