Caracas (Venezuela), January 18 (No. 2001-07) - UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, on an official visit to Venezuela, today welcomed the statement issued by President Bill Clinton to urge the resumption of US membership of the Organization.

“It is my hope that the United States will soon return to full and active membership of our Organization”, Mr Matsuura said, adding: “United States participation would indeed provide a valuable boost to our work to provide universal access to quality education, promote scientific co-operation, preserve our cultural heritage, defend press freedom and human rights, and bridge the digital divide.”

On January 16, President Clinton urged the incoming administration to include funding for UNESCO membership in its 2002 budget “and thereby pave the way for reentry into this important Organization.” Recalling that “for several years, we have indicated our willingness to consider rejoining UNESCO subject to reform efforts and the availability of funding”, the President noted that “substantial progress on reform” of UNESCO and the recent agreement on funding concluded with the United Nations’ General Assembly “present the United States with a new opportunity to move forward on this issue.”

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