PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN VISITS UNESCO

Paris, October 30 (No.2000-109) - Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin met UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura at Organization Headquarters which he visited today accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Igor Ivanov and Culture Minister Mikhail Chvydkoi.

The visit was the first to UNESCO by a Russian head of state since the country became a member of UNESCO in 1954, but Mr Matsuura and Mr Putin had already met, on July 31, in Moscow. Both wished that such meetings be repeated in the future.

Mr Putin stressed the essential role of UNESCO in the United Nations system and reiterated his support for the reform undertaken by the Director-General. He stressed UNESCO’s action in favour of great humanist values. The two also spoke of tolerance and education for tolerance and said they wished to see efforts made in places such as Kosovo and the Middle East - especially regarding heritage preservation.

The Russian President said he gave particular priority to the reconstruction of the educational system in Chechnya: “The great majority of children there are deprived of schooling. Education, notably education for girls, must be reorganised.” The Director-General offered UNESCO’s assistance to Russia, notably in assessing Chechnya’s educational needs.

Mr Matsuura and Mr Putin welcomed the excellent co-operation between the Organization and Russia, notably through flagship projects for the Bolshoi Theatre, the Hermitage Museum and the Russian State Library.

In a statement published on the occasion of the visit, Mr Putin highlighted the excellent relations between UNESCO and Russia and praised Mr Matsuura’s measures to improve UNESCO’s action.

 

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