|
Address by His Excellency: Ambassador Michael Omolewa
President: 32nd Session of UNESCO's General Conference
and Temporary President: 33rd Session of the General
Conference of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization
at the inaugural meeting of the 33rd
Session of the General Conference
Paris, France: 3 October, 2005
Mr. Chairman of the Executive Board
Mr. Director-General of UNESCO
Excellencies, Ministers
Distinguished Ambassadors,
Friends and colleagues
Representatives of intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations
Members of the media
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great joy that I welcome you to this the 33rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference.
As President of the 32nd session, and in accordance with Article 28 of the Rules of Procedure of the
General Conference, I have the honour to preside over this inaugural meeting. I therefore declare
open the 33rd session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is my sad duty to pay tribute to a number of great men and women, who have played a major role
in the life and history of UNESCO, but who are no longer with us. At the outset, I cannot but start
by mentioning Pope John Paul II, who had so significantly marked the lives of millions of people,
and whom I had the immense privilege to meet in person, and to receive his blessings. I should also
like to recall His Serene Highness Prince Rainier of Monaco, General Gnassingbé Eyadama, former
President of Togo, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nayan, former President of the United Arab Emirates
and Emir of Abou Dhabi, Mr. Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority, His Majesty Fahd
Ben Abdel Aziz, King of Saudi Arabia, and Mr. Ezer Weizman, former President of the State of Israel,
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, President of Fiji, Mr. Zenko Suzuki, former Prime Minister of Japan and Mr.
Thomas Klestil, former President of Austria.
May I now invite you to observe one minute of silence in their memory.
[One minute of silence is observed]
Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen.
You will all understand me when I say that I am both humbled and proud to be with you here today.
The two years that I have had the honour and pleasure to preside over UNESCO’s General Conference
have been eventful and challenging, both for the world at large, and of course for UNESCO – and
for me personally.
Fortunately there have been many happy developments in our world, but we must recognize that the
past two years have been marked by numerous tragedies and drawbacks. International terrorism
continues to show its ugly face in many guises; It remains one of the greatest challenges that
have ever faced humankind, to get to the roots of international terrorism – to understand its
reasons, and the conditions under which it is breeding, and to take effective steps to prevent it.
Apart from terrorism, the world has been struck repeatedly during these last two years by natural
disasters. The tsunami catastrophe last December was devastating in terms of loss of human life
and property, the terrible flooding in the Southern States of the United States, with the
destruction of property and infrastructure; Katrina and now Rita; and we must not forget the
many serious accidents that have marred both air and rail traffic during this period.
My personal sympathy and compassion go to the victims of all these disasters, whether man made
or natural – and my hopes go to those international Organizations, and very much so UNESCO,
that can and should do everything possible to prevent and mitigate them. In this context, I
wish in particular to mention the effective response by UNESCO to the need to enhance the
early warning systems to prevent future tsunami disasters - We also support the UNESCO - led
dialogue among civilizations and the role it can play in the fight against terrorism.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:
Here we are yet at another crossroad in the life of UNESCO. The 33rd session of our Conference
is a privileged meeting point for our actions; our action, on the one hand, to wind-down the
activities of the past biennium, take stock of its successes and difficulties learn from them
and then on the other hand, to resolutely face the future, armed with lessons from the past
and with plans and programmes for the future, based on real and well considered aspirations,
clearly set, in the well-defined orbit of UNESCO’s responsibilities.
J’ai eu le privilège au cours de ces deux dernières années de participer activement à la
clarification du Programme de l’UNESCO, ainsi qu’en avait convenu la Conférence générale
lors de sa 32ème session. J’ai pu occuper une position privilégiée grâce à ma participation
aux sessions du Conseil exécutif, grâce à ma coopération et à ma collaboration permanentes
avec le Directeur général et grâce aux différentes manifestations nationales et régionales
auxquelles j’ai assisté et qui sont en lien direct avec la mise en œuvre des Programmes qui
lient l’UNESCO et les Etats membres à l’œuvre créative de la coopération internationale.
C’est grâce à cette position privilégiée que j’ai occupée que je peux aujourd’hui répondre
de l’immensité et de la diversité des activités de l’UNESCO dans les Etats membres. Je peux
également répondre des grandes espérances que nourrissent les Etats membres lorsqu’ils voient
les miracles, petits et grands, que l’UNESCO accomplit.
Cependant, en toute sincérité, puis-je dire ce que j’ai vraiment ressenti ? Puis-je dire
qu’un engagement rassurant, ferme et résolu en faveur de la solidarité et de la coopération
internationales existe, même si celui-ci était beaucoup plus important lors de la fondation
de notre Organisation ? Cette question est une question que je me suis posée quelque fois.
Je crois que cela nous ferait le plus grand bien d’examiner chacune de ces questions, que
chacun d’entre nous s’interroge et voit quelle réponse nous pouvons apporter.
Certes il est déjà arrivé à l’UNESCO de réaliser des miracles en partenariat avec ses Etats
membres. Pour autant, ne devrions-nous pas, alors que nous allons célébrer le soixantième
anniversaire de notre Organisation, nous poser à nous-mêmes ces questions très difficiles
dans l’espoir de trouver, dans les réponses que nous y apporterons, la lumière qui éclairera
notre chemin dans le futur?
Pourquoi, en dépit de nos vaillants efforts, sommes-nous toujours en train de nous battre avec
une telle frénésie pour trouver des réponses contre le fléau de l’illettrisme ? Nous savons tous
aujourd’hui que le risque de ne pas parvenir à atteindre les objectifs que nous nous étions
nous-mêmes fixés, existe véritablement dans de nombreux Etats membres. Désormais le programme
Education Pour Tous est la priorité des priorités de nos programmes. Si nous consacrions tous
\nos efforts à répondre à cette simple mais troublante question, peut-être pourrions-nous
trouver la clé de certaines des intransigeantes questions qui nous assaillent régulièrement.
Nous devons débusquer les faiblesses de notre action et trouver des moyens pour les surmonter.
Que devons nous faire pour nous montrer à la hauteur du défi de l’illettrisme?
J’ai délibérément placé ces questions parmi les premières lignes de mon discours parce que je
refuse absolument qu’elles soient noyées dans l’euphorie d’une UNESCO qui est beaucoup plus
vivante et qui remplit beaucoup mieux les fonctions qui lui avaient assignées ses fondateurs.
Car oui, l’UNESCO existe.
For a start authoritative confirmation of the health of the UNESCO enterprise came from the
recent UNITED NATIONS Summit which in its declaration has put education in its rightful place
with the top priorities in economic and social development and has recognized the six goals
adopted at the World Conferences on Education For All in Dakar. The Summit also makes clear
commitments with regard to education, sustainable development, water management, the
protection of cultural heritage, dialogue among civilizations and the prevention of natural
disaster; all areas of UNESCO’s responsibilities and expertise.
We hope that with this recognition, adequate funds will also be made available, especially
for developing countries in their struggle to attain the necessary goals in these fields.
Perhaps the most enriching experience for me in the last two years were the invaluable
manifestation and activities that I was privileged to savour as Member States from all
corners of the world, involved me in the implementation of their national, regional and
international UNESCO related programmes and activities. You cannot imagine how often I
was constrained to say to myself – yes this is UNESCO in action, there out in the Member
States, where I was treated to a feast of programme implementations, varying from places
where I witnessed the most engaging International Music Festival, to South Africa twice
for two important meetings for the World Heritage Committee. In Science, in Abuja for
the launching of a major Nigerian National Science Reform Project with UNESCO, in
Germany for the National Commission’s a symposium on cultural Diversity, and in Libya to
participate in the work of the UNESCO-NEPAD Committee. On that occasion I was able to
appreciate the magnitude of the cooperation between Africa and UNESCO which covers most
aspects of UNESCO’s interest.
The visit of President Obasanjo to UNESCO, in May, to participate in the celebration of
Africa week at UNESCO was another testimony to the state of that cooperation. President
Obasanjo was then the current President of the AU and Chairman of the Implementation
Committee of NEPAD.
Lastly, I had the opportunity to see, in three different Member States, Haiti, Cuba, and the
Dominican Republic, the implementation of activities in observance of 2004 as the International
Year to commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition, proclaimed at the request
of the General Conference. I was also fortunate to witness the bicentenary celebration of the
proclamation of the first Black State, Haiti. This experience was for me rather important, for
it gave me several opportunities to appreciate the different manner in which local flavours and
orientations can bring about rich and varied results on programmes devoted to the same subject.
One aspect of UNESCO’s responsibilities that has seen greater emphasis in recent years is that
concerned with normative action. At the request of the International Community and the Member
States of the Organization UNESCO continues to be called upon to prepare for the consideration
of the General Conference, declarations, Conventions in Sports, in Culture and in Science
especially in bio ethics. At this session alone you will have before you, for your
consideration at least three texts:
1: The Draft International Convention Against Doping in Sport.
2: The Draft declaration on universal norm on bioethics and
3: The Preliminary draft Convention on the Protection of
the Diversity of Cultural Contents and Artistic Expressions.
As you see this is yet another area in which UNESCO has continued to offer invaluable service to
the international community at large in response to one of its constitutional duties. Distinguished
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please allow me to recall that when my President Olusegun Obasanjo was with us at the 31st Session
of our Conference one of the preoccupations he expressed was the importance of universality of
membership of UNESCO, and the unhappy continuing absence of the United States of America from UNESCO.
He made a pressing appeal for the return of the USA to the fold.
It is a source of particular satisfaction to me that I, as President of the General Conference, have
witnessed the increase in the number of Member States from 189 to 191. The United States came back to
UNESCO on 1 October 2003 – just in time for the last General Conference – and Brunei Darussalam joined
the Organization on 17 March 2005. In a few days’ time, we shall listen to Brunei’s statement in the
general policy debate, and witness the traditional ceremony of raising Brunei’s flag among the 190 flags
that already ornament our conference room. I am also pleased to note that Singapore, at its own request
has now obtained the status of Permanent Observer to UNESCO, and that the Organization is moving even
further forward towards true and comprehensive universality.
It is impressive that more than 4000 persons – Ministers, delegates, members of the National Commissions,
representatives for intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and the press – will be attending
all, or part, of this General Conference. It is therefore legitimate that UNESCO, as an organization,
continues to seek to utilize its convening power even more effectively, notably to ensure that we all benefit
\more from its role as a “global market place”. This is why the question of reform continues to be an
important point on our agenda.
The most recent step in these reform efforts, as you all know, was the creation, by the 32nd session of the
General Conference, of an ad hoc working group on the relations between UNESCO’s three organs, which I have
had the honour and pleasure to chair. The group has held three sessions during 2004 and 2005, and has submitted
to the General Conference – in document 33 C/17 – its final report, comprising all of 26 recommendations.
Some of these are very far reaching; and the debate in the Executive Board during its session in April seem
to underline the need for more time to reflect over the recommendations, and assess their feasibility.
I sincerely hope that the forthcoming discussions at the General Conference will take the reform efforts
further forward and identify the next steps that must be taken to succeed in these important endeavours.
Reform is not easy; but we should not shy away from the efforts needed to make this Organization even more
effective and relevant to its Member States.
As we prepare to mark – in many varied places and manners – the 60th anniversary of our Organization, we must
strive to ensure that UNESCO continues to adapt itself to the many challenges of a rapidly changing world.
In this context, I must commend the Director-General for his efforts to modernize UNESCO and improve its
management system. I sincerely believe that we are on the right track as long as we continue to be attentive
to the aspirations of our Member States and our efforts are directed to where they will have maximum effects.
During my two year tenure, I hope that I have – in addition to the chairing of the ad hoc working group on
the relations between the three organs of UNESCO – added my own modest contribution to the animation of
UNESCO between sessions of the General Conference, and notably ensured that the Permanent Delegates have
been constantly engaged in policy debates – and in the issues that mark the daily life at UNESCO.
In particular, I have continued the tradition instituted by my distinguished predecessor, Ambassador
Jalali, to convene regular meetings in the Delegates’ Forum. These meetings allow informal debates on
issues close to the hearts of all of us, and have also served as useful fora for direct dialogue between
the Permanent Delegates and representatives of the Secretariat. I am particularly pleased that we have
been able to devote the two most recent sessions of the Forum – in November last year, and the beginning
of September this year – to the ever important theme of UNESCO’s future. My friends and colleagues in the
Asia-Pacific group have had the excellent idea to inscribe on the agenda for this General Conference an
item on reflections on the future of UNESCO. I am sure that this debate will lead to decisions by the
Conference on a good framework for these reflections during the next few years.
My efforts to reach out to the United Nations have indeed been very rewarding. My contacts with the
Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan and the Presidents of the 58th and 59th Sessions of the General Assembly,
Mr. Julian Robert Hunte and Mr Jean Ping, I hope, have brought our two Organizations that much closer. I
would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Jean Ping, Foreign Minister of Gabon and President of the
59th Session of the General Assembly for graciously accepting to come to Paris and brief the Permanent
Delegates of Member States of UNESCO on the progress of the work of the Committee he so ably chaired on
the reform of the United Nations . His conversation with us was most enriching especially at the moment
we too were seized with the question of reform.
Excellencies, friends and colleagues,
In a few moments, you will elect a new President for this session, and for the next two years. He will
have a formidable task in front of him, which I am sure he will handle both effectively and efficiently.
These two years have been one of the most rewarding experiences both in my professional, and in my private
life. I have involved myself as fully as I could; and I am - as I already stated – both humbled and proud
to look at the achievements. In my work, I have enjoyed the help of many colleagues, and of many members
of the Secretariat – visible and less visible – without whom my tasks could not have been brought
to fruition.
First of all, it has been a source of great joy to work so closely with the Executive Board, and I wish
in particular to express my heartfelt thanks to its Chairman, Ambassador Hans-Heinrich Wrede, who has
become a close friend, and who has on many occasions extended his valuable support to me in the pursuit
of my duties. I have also appreciated the close relationship with the Director-General – to whom I also
wish to reiterate my warm congratulations upon his nomination, by the Board, for a second term – and his
very able staff, including my own small, but highly dedicated secretariat. It has been gratifying to
experience their commitment to the goals of this Organization, and their hard work; and I wish them all
success in their further endeavours. I have also enjoyed major support from the Permanent Delegates, and
notably from the chairs of the electoral groups, who have always been helpful and supportive. Finally, I
wish to pay tribute to the translators and the interpreters, without whom UNESCO’s work simply could not
be carried out, and who are often called upon to work very late hours under very difficult conditions –
and all UNESCO’s technical staff, whom we rarely see, but on whom we depend so heavily.
The General Conference has many pressing items in front of it, and I do not wish to take more of its
time for this inaugural speech. But I shall have the pleasure of addressing you very briefly this
afternoon when I hand over this great Forum to my successor, the President of the 33rd session of
the General Conference.
May the 33rd session of the General Conference mark yet another step towards a UNESCO that is even
stronger, and even more credible and relevant than today.
Thank you for you attention:
Je vous remercie de votre attention
Muchas gracias por su atencion
Wa Shukran Li-Hussni Istima ‘ikum
xiè xiè dà jia
Blagodaryu vas za vnimanye
God bless you all.
____
Homepage of Delegation
|
