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

mobilize the international intellectual community to one purpose and thereby motivate all nations to work
together for world peace and progress.
6.3 With the Cold War behind us, there is fertile ground for UNESCO to leverage a global coalition to
engage in exchange programmes and collaborative activities in the fields of education, science, culture and
communication. These are measures recognized for their effectiveness in furthering human welfare and bringing
peace and prosperity to the international community. The Organization’s mission is above all an ethical one, to
secure the right of everyone to education, without which science, culture and communication cannot be advanced.
Mr Director-General, you bring to this new assignment a distinguished career stretching over 40 years as one of
Japan’s foremost diplomats. This professional background adequately equips you to play the role of a statesman,
diplomat, scholar, manager and peacemaker. As we stand on the threshold of the new millennium, the Director-
General can add value to UNESCO’s activities by drawing upon the treasure of wisdom and talent in Member
States from all over the world. Such inputs will strengthen UNESCO’s ability to come to grips with the new
challenges of the twenty-first century. We are all sure that you will bring to UNESCO a new vision that will
enable our Organization to fulfil its role of serving as the intellectual powerhouse of the United Nations system.
6.4 Basic education for all remains a priority for UNESCO’s Member States gathered here today. Enormous
resources have to be provided to develop and improve the quality of education in developing countries.
Mr Director-General, your experience of working in developing countries will have given you clear insights into
how UNESCO’s response to the problems of such communities can be effectively administered. In discharging
your duties, you will be guiding UNESCO’s activities in both bilateral and multilateral interactions. Your long
experience and understanding of the challenges of development will be absolutely critical for this task.
6.5 Mr Director-General, in appointing you the General Conference has recognized your merits and your
demonstrated abilities to assume the responsibilities of this high office. Member States are impressed by the
strategic appointments that your country has assigned to you in various aspects of foreign service and
international cooperation. The issue of mankind’s cultural heritage ranks high among the priorities in UNESCO’s
areas of competence. The Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development, held in
Stockholm in March 1998 marked the watershed for a lively exchange of views on the critical importance of
cultural policies in promoting national development. It is in this context, Mr Director-General, that we wish to
take particular note of your time as Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee, whose activities you
revitalized.
6.6 Mr Director-General, you are an old hand at working in the international arena. Your sensitivity to the
horrors of war and your advocacy of peace and harmony in human affairs adequately suits you to UNESCO’s
ideals. All of us at this General Conference, in the tradition of UNESCO’s founding fathers, hold these ideals
very dear to our hearts. We look forward to your piloting this House of Peace to higher ground of human
endeavour. There is absolutely no doubt that UNESCO will have a great future under your guidance. We entrust
the Constitution of UNESCO and all the values enshrined therein to your leadership. You now carry the
responsibility of serving as the guardian of all the aspirations and ideals of UNESCO. You are fully qualified for
the task. You enjoy the best wishes of the Executive Board and the General Conference. Thank you, Madam
President.
7. The PRESIDENT:
I should like to thank the Chairperson of the Executive Board, Mr Chetsanga, most sincerely. I now
invite the representative of Group I at UNESCO, His Excellency Mr Tassilo Ogrinz, Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Delegate of Austria, to take the floor on behalf of his group.
8.1 M. OGRINZ (Autriche) :
Madame la Présidente, Mesdames et Messieurs les délégués, en cette occasion solennelle, c'est un
honneur et un privilège pour moi de m'adresser à M. Koïchiro Matsuura qui, par un vote massif, vient d'être élu
directeur général de notre Organisation. Je tiens à lui exprimer, au nom du groupe électoral I mais aussi en mon
nom personnel, nos félicitations les plus sincères, accompagnées de tous nos voeux de succès dans cette mission
exigeante.
8.2 Monsieur le Directeur général, vous prenez vos fonctions à un moment où l'UNESCO, à l'aube du
nouveau millénaire, doit faire face à de très nombreux défis. Vous allez diriger une organisation complexe, dont
le rôle ne se limite pas à travailler dans un domaine technique restreint, mais dont les compétences sont bien plus
vastes. Je n'ai, bien sûr, nullement l'ambition de dresser un tableau exhaustif de toutes les tâches que vous aurez à
assumer, de tous les domaines relevant de la responsabilité de l'UNESCO qui exigeront votre attention, ou
d'évoquer les perspectives d'avenir de notre Organisation. Néanmoins, je me permettrai de mentionner
brièvement quelques-unes de nos préoccupations et de nos attentes.
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