UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC
Statement by Professor Michael OMOLEWA
Votre excellence, Monsieur Virgilio Coelho
____
AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO)
President of the UNESCO General Conference
and Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO
at the International Conference on the
Safeguarding and Restoration of Tangible
and Intangible Cultural Heritage
UNESCO Headquarters, Paris: France
3 November, 2004
vice ministre de la culture de la République du d’Angola
Monsieur Le Président du conseil exécutif,
l'Ambassadeur Hans-Heinrich Wrede
Monsieur Le Directeur général,
Monsieur Koïchiro Matsuura
Votre excellence représentant du groupe Africain
Votre excellence M. David Jorge Marcelino
Senguende, ambassadeur, délégué
permanent d'Angola
Mesdames, et messieurs
J'ai le plaisir de vous accueillir, au nom des 190 Etats membres de l'UNESCO,
son excellence, M. Virgillo Coalho, vice - ministre de la culture de la
République l'Angola, au siège de l'UNESCO où les ministres se rassemblent
tous les deux ans pour considérer et approuver le programme et le budget de
l'organisation et pour prendre les décisions de politique qui concernent
l’organisation. Je suis particulièrement heureux de recevoir un invité venant
d'Angola, une nation dont l'histoire peut nous amener à nous rappeler pourquoi
cette organisation à été crée.
Founded immediately after the Second World War, UNESCO was given the vision
and mission of bringing hope and aspiration to the people confronted by the
frustrations of lack, inequity and the aftermath of a ravaging war of hatred
and despair. UNESCO had promptly responded with the promise of help and
assistance that would provide a solution to the need of the governments and
peoples. A post-war Angola thus returns UNESCO to its foundation as the
country struggles to pick up following years of conflict and despair.
For UNESCO, the pursuit of peace has remained at the very heart of the mission
of the organisation. And culture has always played a dominant role in the search
for peace. In the process, UNESCO has always made a conscious effort and has
spent quality time on the promotion of dialogue among civilizations and cultures
and among nations and peoples in the entire world.
Let me quickly add that UNESCO does this only strictly in cooperation with
member states and with the active participation of the member states. For us Sir
Survepalli Radhakrishan, the Indian delegate to UNESCO, then Chairman of the
Executive Board of UNESCO observed while presenting the Director-General’s
Report on the activities of the Organization to the 4th session of the General
Conference in 1949, "UNESCO is more than a Secretariat in Paris. Its mission
can only be fulfilled if Governments and National Commissions wholeheartedly
play their part."
It therefore with joy that we welcome the partnership of the government and
people of Angola with UNESCO as demonstrated by the resolution of the
General Conference of UNESCO, and this visit from the Vice-Minister of
Culture. Our Director-General should be commended for his personal
involvement in the enhancement of UNESCO's role as keeper of the devisers
culture of the world. I am confident that the Minister will be glad to know about
the decision of the World Heritage Committee to hold its next session in South
Africa, next year, the first time the Committee would be meeting in Africa. This
development is no doubt a further confirmation of the adoption of Africa as
special focus of attention. I am sure that the personal participation of the
Chairman of the Executive Board and the Director-General at this meeting will
clearly confirm that UNESCO means what it says that Africa should remain a
special attention, given the various problems and challenges currently faced by
that region and the increasing hope the region has in return in UNESCO and in
its leadership.
I thank you for your attention.