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

controversial issues. They are difficult issues. They are complex issues. If they were not, then UNESCO would
not be needed. We are here precisely in order to face and to address the important challenges, not the easy ones.
14.19 At the financial level, ladies and gentlemen, even if budgets have stagnated, we have witnessed an
unprecedented increase in extrabudgetary resources. I must at this moment thank, and do so from the bottom of
my heart, all those countries that have, in very difficult situations, now made the cash-flow situation of the
Organization much better than it was. Because even those countries of which many people said they could not
and would not pay their arrears, have done so and are doing so, as a result of which our cash-flow situation has
much improved. I must also thank those countries that in the past year have provided this unprecedented
extrabudgetary support of nearly $170 million. This shows that the path we are pursuing is the correct one and is
supported by those countries. I have already given more detailed information about this to the Executive Board
but I would very much like to draw your attention to this unprecedented support, in the information provided to
the General Conference, where you may see the countries that are giving us this special support.
14.20 At the institutional level, UNESCO is today present in 70 locations around the world, enabling us to
closely support actions for the benefit of all countries. Now we are present in many countries, sometimes through
institutes, sometimes through field units, and this, in my view, is one of the most important aspects to be stressed:
UNESCO being receptive to Member States, listening to them, being close to them in order to be able to react
promptly and efficiently. We work in close partnership with the Member States, their governments, their elected
officials, their National Commissions, which are absolutely crucial, and in support of which we have provided
many millions of dollars so that they can have the equipment, the telecommunications and other facilities they
require, and also with all the other institutions present on the spot, the NGOs, and, particularly, the populations
and individual citizens.
14.21 This points to the very real presence of an organization that used to appear remote, confined to its
Headquarters that resembled an “ivory tower”, that had only three institutes, all of them in Western Europe; we
are now beginning - and I hope we will continue - to be close to the peoples, to the countries, to the Member
States, in order to become a truly universal organization. I hope that this network will bring stimulus and added
value to other networks that are active throughout the world and through which the goals of UNESCO are
concretely achieved.
14.22 This transformation, which has required in-depth restructuring, has been carried out for the past six
years without any budgetary increase. I would like to say this very clearly: never, in 12 years, has a single dollar
been spent above the budget ceiling for staff, and we have been working, as you know, with the same budget for
the last six years. The budget in real terms has decreased and we have been able to be just as efficient because we
have had other modalities of staff cooperation, such as the national professional officers, and local staff
consultants and other forms of cooperation. I must here, ladies and gentlemen, pay tribute to all those very
prominent personalities who have always been ready to say yes to UNESCO without being paid a single dollar.
As you know, the General Conference decided at the end of its last session to constitute a Council on the Future.
I have asked 64 world personalities to be a part of this virtual consultative network on the future, which by the
way is open-ended, that is to say it is open to all those who want to cooperate. Sixty-four personalities, and all of
them have agreed, showing that a “yes” to support for UNESCO at the top level is really available, and I must
express my thanks because this is without cost to the Organization. The influence of the Organization, the
constant widening of its circle of partners, the increasing interest in working under its auspices, under its
patronage, in cooperation with it and its assistance, involving UNESCO in the highest causes and the most
humble ones, such as a solar oven in Africa or basic training in a small village in Latin America - these are but
some examples of the efforts made to establish our Organization in the minds and hearts of people everywhere.
And we cannot be in the minds and hearts of the people if we are only in a very distant ivory tower.
(Le Directeur général poursuit en français)
14.23 Mesdames et Messieurs les ministres, Mesdames et Messieurs les délégués, Mesdames et Messieurs.
Quelles missions pour l'UNESCO au XXIe siècle ? Forts de ce redressement, nous avons désormais des
responsabilités accrues. A l'heure où s'ouvre votre Conférence générale, je vois pour ma part se dessiner trois
enjeux fondamentaux.
14.24 Le premier est l'enjeu formidable de l'éradication de la pauvreté, de cette misère scandaleuse qui devrait
nous enlever le sommeil. Nous sommes depuis quelques jours six milliards sur terre. Encore, et je m'en réjouis,
ce chiffre est-il inférieur de 160 millions aux estimations que nous avions faites en 1990 à Jomtien. C'est peutêtre
la bonne nouvelle de cette fin de siècle : la courbe démographique commence à fléchir tandis que l'éducation
gagne du terrain. Compte tenu de ce chiffre de six milliards et de la proportion de jeunes en âge de procréer, nous
savons que la population mondiale va continuer de s'accroître pour atteindre huit à neuf milliards, mais nous
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