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DE RUEHFR #1455 3021456
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FM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS FR
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UNCLAS UNESCO PARIS FR 001455 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/MPR LISA SPRATT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC PREL UNESCO
SUBJECT:  UNESCO'S 35TH GENERAL CONFERENCE: PROGRAM AND EXTERNAL 
RELATIONS COMMISSION (PRX) SESSIONS 
¶1. Summary:  Program and External Relations Committee (PRX) meetings 
October 9-13 held the line on the budget and rejected constitutional 
changes suggested by outgoing General Conference President George 
 
Anastassopoulos.  Two minor draft resolutions were approved.  End 
Summary. 
¶2.  The Program and External Relations Committee (PRX)of UNESCO's 
35th General Conference met October 9-13. Its work was structured 
around eight separate debates on program support, external relations 
and a variety of general questions.  Mr. Mohammad Zahir Aziz 
(Afghanistan's Permanent Representative to UNESCO) was appointed 
Chairperson of the PRX. 
¶3.  Items of note included: a report on the UNESCO Institute for 
Statistics (UIS); a proposed procedure for consideration by the 
General Conference regarding the Draft Medium Term Strategies; 
implementation of 33 C/Resolution 92 (Relations between the three 
organs of UNESCO); a report by the President of the 34th General 
Conference which contained proposals for reforming the organization 
of work of the General Conference and the Executive Board; UNESCO's 
Participation Program and Fellowships Program; and proposals for the 
celebration of anniversaries in 2010-2011 with which UNESCO could be 
associated. 
¶4.  Largely due to the positive tenor and atmosphere set by the 
Afghan Chair, debate in the PRX was cordial.  The PRX examined four 
draft resolutions (DRs) for amendment of the Draft Program and 
Budget for 2010-2011 (35 C/5).  The Chair drew attention to the 
Director-General's position on each.  The Director-General's 
recommendations regarding the adoption of each were followed.  In 
the end, three of the four budgetary DR's were withdrawn (originally 
proposed by Burkina Faso, Argentina, and Nigeria), and the DR from 
Azerbaijan was adopted with one amendment that followed the DG's 
observations.  The Azerbaijani DR (35 C/DR.64) encourages National 
Commissions and NGOs with official relations with UNESCO to increase 
their involvement with the Organization. 
¶5.  The PRX also adopted a DR put forward by Venezuela and supported 
by eight Latin American countries and Spain (Argentina, Bolivia, 
Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Spain) 
entitled "Celebration of the bicentenary of the independence 
processes of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean." 
Discussion surrounding this item supported its intent to invite the 
Director-General to consult with Member States in the region with a 
view to having UNESCO celebrate the bicentenary in 2010.  The U.S. 
Delegation intervened and received assurances from the Assistant 
Director-General for External Relations that this item did not have 
any budgetary implications. 
¶6.  Item 1.6, Organization of the Work of the Session and Report by 
the President of the 34th Session of the General Conference, 
provided some of the more lively debate in the PRX.  George 
Anastassopoulos, President of the 34th General Conference and Greek 
Permanent Representative to UNESCO, presented his observations and 
recommendations for a new division of labor between the Executive 
Board and the General Conference.  While the report contained some 
recommendations with which the U.S. delegation could agree, the U.S. 
could not agree with the broad substance of the report.  U.S. views 
were shared by most other delegations and in the end, the PRX simply 
took note of the report. 
 
¶7.  Comment.  Debate and discussion in the PRX was largely anodyne. 
 The Swedish Delegation proved to be the most outspoken with regard 
to effective use of resources and spoke out strongly against the 
Fellowship and Participation program.  Ambassador Anastassopoulos, 
who acted as if he were continuing in his former capacity as 
President of the General Conference, took great offense with those 
delegations that did not wholeheartedly embrace his report.  The 
Anastassopoulos report will not likely surface again. 
End Comment. 
KILLION