Haiti at Forefront of Director-General's Official Visit to UN and US

These three educational projects included in the Haiti Flash Appeal were discussed by Ms Bokova and Ms Clark. The Director-General explained UNESCO’s plans to develop intersectoral projects, in a second phase, involving education, culture, communication and science. The aim is to work within the common UN assessment, to help gradually rebuild the social, cultural and intellectual fabric of Haiti.  

Cooperation between UNDP and UNESCO within the “One UN” framework was also discussed. UNESCO is a permanent member of the 13-strong advisory committee of the United Nations Development Group. Both heads of agency agreed that "Delivering as One" has allowed UNESCO to make a significant contribution in its fields of competence, not least in countries where UNESCO is non-resident. They reviewed the challenges in rolling out United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs) in some 90 countries and agreed these should build on the positive lessons of the "Delivering as One” approach", principally the lead role taken by countries themselves. Ms Bokova presented to Ms Clark UNESCO's four-pillar Strategy for Action on Climate Change, which she presented at the COP 15 summit in Copenhagen last month.

Looking forward to the Millennium Development Goals summit planned for September 2010, the Director-General emphasised the importance of recognizing and including culture for development. Ms Clark agreed that culture and cultural services play an important and increasing role in the economy of both developed and developing nations. She cited the pivotal role of cultural industries such as the film industry in her own country, New Zeeland.

The Director-General also met with the co-chair of the US United Nations association, UNA-USA, William McDonough and UNA/USA's president, Thomas J. Miller. Talks centered on cooperation and on how to bring UNESCO's objectives and activities to a broader audience in the US. UNA/USA has more than 100 chapters throughout the country. Ms Bokova also met Aryeh Neier, president of the Open Society Institute, with whom she discussed dialogue and better understanding between cultures and media-related activities in post-conflict countries.

Dialogue among cultures was also the subject of exchanges with a number of ambassadors at an informal working lunch. The participants welcomed the initiative for this exchange. They underlined the unique mandate and important role of UNESCO concerning dialogue among cultures and called for complementary action and synergies by UNESCO with the Alliance of Civilizations.

Irina Bokova travelled to Washington on Wednesday afternoon and took part in a dinner organized by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Esther Coopersmith and attended by several members of Congress, the Science Advisor to the President of the United States, the Assistant Secretary of State for international organisations in the State Department, Esther Brimmer and both the current and previous US Permanent Delegates to UNESCO, David Killion and Louise Oliver.