Упрощенная HTML-версия
Author : E. Mitrofanova
Chairperson of the Executive Board of UNESCO, Permanent Delegate of the Russian Federation
to UNESCO
UNESCO's "big anniversary" was in mid-No-
vember 2010, and its main event - a celebration
ceremony at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris
- was held in December with the participation
of many distinguished guests, former heads of
the Organization, UNESCO Goodwill Ambas-
sadors and Artists for Peace, well-known public
and cultural figures, scholars and diplomats.
From the historical perspective, 65 years is a rel-
atively short period, but for a large international
organization it is a sufficiently mature age. UNESCO was established right after the Second
World War to promote international understanding and cooperation through education, science
and culture for the benefit of humanity. It was founded by world-famous scholars, public figures
and politicians who realized the importance of creating such an organization.
Today, our Organization is a laboratory of ideas, a standard-setting forum and an information
exchange center; it seeks to build the appropriate potential of its member states and is a catalyst
for international humanitarian cooperation. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has recently
noted UNESCO's significant contribution to the humanitarian aspects of the global agenda,
to ensuring sustainable development in the key areas of its mandate.
Russia is equally interested in cooperation with UNESCO in all its fields of competence: edu-
cation, science, culture, information, and communication.
Of course, UNESCO is a living organism and thus should change. Our primary task is to re-
form the Organization so that it could respond to new challenges as promptly and effectively
as possible.
Our country has been a member of UNESCO since 21 April 1954. We decided to join this
unique organization because we fully agree with its Constitution, which says that "the purpose
of the Organization is to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among
the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for jus-
tice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed
for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Char-
ter of the United Nations." In my opinion, there is nothing to add to this. It is a matter of
building peace in people's minds as well as world peace.
We are convinced that our Organization is an effective mechanism of humanity's sustainable
development in the 21st century and are prepared to continue cooperating with it in all areas
of its program activities.
http://interaffairs.ru
UNESCO: A Big Anniversary