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| | The Director-General of UNESCO meets with the President of Timor Leste, laureate of the 2002 UNESCO Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize
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10-06-2003 - The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura received, on Tuesday, 10 June 2003, the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, a few days after Timor Leste officially joined UNESCO, becoming, on 5 June, the 189th Member State of the Organization. |
The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura received, on Tuesday, 10 June 2003, the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, a few days after Timor Leste officially joined UNESCO, becoming, on 5 June, the 189th Member State of the Organization.
The Director-General began by warmly congratulating President Xanana Gusmão, laureate of the 2002 UNESCO Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize. The prize, which he will receive this afternoon, was awarded to the President of Timor Leste “in recognition of the struggle carried out, in the name of his people, to promote human rights, freedom and justice”. President Xanana Gusmão declared that he was particularly proud of this distinction,seeing it as “an encouragement, at a time when [his] country is fully engaged in consolidating the peace process”.
During the meeting, the President of Timor Leste told the Director-General of his country’s attachment to cultural heritage as a constituent part of national identity and of his wish to launch rehabilitation operations rapidly. He accordingly requested UNESCO’s assistance in recovering numerous stolen works of art, which are currently dispersed in several foreign countries. He also expressed his resolve to keep alive traditional cultures of his country, based essentially on oral traditions that are particularly endangered and hoped that the Organization would provide its support.
On these two points, Mr Matsuura assured him of UNESCO’s active assistance and described the initiatives taken by UNESCO to promote cultural diversity and intangible heritage. He also stressed the importance of certain normative texts, such as the 1970 Convention on illicit trading in cultural property which, while not having retroactive effect may provide moral support and encouragement.
The continuation of cooperation in the field of science, notably with regard to the establishment in Timor Leste of a community science centre, the “Community Science Park”, and the development of science education were also discussed. Science is one of the domains in which cooperation between UNESCO and Timor Leste is already active, particularly concerning the development of scientific programmes, innovation and in-service teacher training.
At the close of the meeting, President Xanana Gusmão offered to UNESCO a wooden sculpture, originating from the Isle of Atauro, symbolizing the spirit of the ancestors of the Makili community.
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Office of the Spokeswoman
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