On Friday, October 7, 2005, during the Plenary Session of the 33d General-Conference, the Minister of Education, head of the Brunei Darussalam delegation to the conference, Mr. Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib, officially installed the flag of Brunei Darussalam along side those of the other 190 Member States of the Organization.

Mr. Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib then spoke of the “pride” of his country in “becoming a member of an Organization which has played a major role in the promotion of equality and human development through education, science, culture and communication”. “It is an historic moment,” he said.

At the end of the ceremony, the Director-General and the Minister of Education held a bilateral meeting attended by the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO as well as by high officials of the Ministry of Education. Mr. Matsuura expressed his great joy at seeing the country “join UNESCO, thus reinforcing by its presence the universal character of the Organization, a guarantee of its greater efficiency”. Mr. Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib reiterated “the profound attachment of his country to the ideals of the Organization”.