ISRAËL

Statement of the Minister of Science

on the occasion of the

World Science Day for Peace and Development

Science is a universal language, that can be a tool to build bridges and bring nations and peoples closer together.

I believe that the potential, inherent in science cooperation can bring tremendous benefits, in improving the quality of our daily lives and promoting peaceful relations between nations.

One of the primary goals of the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport is to expand opportunities for the general population to better understand science and technology, as a tool for closing social gaps and raising the socio-economic status of the domestic population.

In this context, development towns, as well as ethnic minority populations are given special attention and resources are invested, in order to increase the number of researchers and scientists in these communities.

For example – the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport initiated the establishment of Research and Development Centers in two Israeli–Arabic towns, in order to serve as focal points for attracting scientific researchers to these areas.

As a follow up on the UNESCO’s declaration on Science for the 21 Century and UNESCO’s World Science Day for Peace and Development, a Workshop is being organized in Jerusalem, by Prof. Yechiel Becker, Director of the UNESCO-Hebrew University of Jerusalem International School for Molecular Biology and Microbiology and Science for Peace in collaboration with the Science Committee of the Israel National Commission for UNESCO.

The aims of the Workshop are to develop scientific ideas and concepts on three subjects that constitute the essence of Science for Peace and Development in the UNESCO Science Agenda - Framework for Action (UNESCO, Paris 2000): namely (Chapter 2.1) Science for Basic Human Needs; (2.2) Science, Environment, and Sustainable Development; and (2.3) Science and Technology.

The participants will contribute their knowledge to identify regional projects, which will benefit all the peoples of the Middle East and enhance sustainable growth and development. In fact, joint scientific enterprises are the only true way to advance peace and sustainable development.

On this occasion, I turn to the world community of scientists, to take the lead in initiating scientific ties between countries, in order to create the basis for peace in the future generations