Prime Minister of Bahrain and President of Seychelles plead for education and respect for diversity at UNESCO

Paris, 12 October

• UNESCO/Andrew Wheeler
• President James Alix Michel

Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and James Alix Michel, President of the Republic of Seychelles, spoke of their commitment to the ideals of UNESCO, notably regarding education and cultural diversity, during a visit to the Organization and its General Conference.

The two leaders were welcomed by the President of the 35th session of the General Conference, Davidson Hepburn, and the Organization’s Director-General, Koïchiro Matsuura. They praised the quality of cooperation between UNESCO and the two Member States and the contribution of both Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa and James Alix Michel to education and cultural heritage.

The Prime Minister of Bahrain told the representatives of Member States that “We all highly appreciate the significant role played by UNESCO in education. Therefore, it is imperative to address the challenges it faces particularly in Least Developed Countries.”

The Prime Minister went on to urge the international community to support LDC endeavors to build their capacities through education and stressed that “Bahrain has always been keen on maximizing this cooperation, as we fully believe in the Organization’s humanism.”

Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa went on to declare that “we look forward to further enhance our relationship with UNESCO, make use of our location in the heart of the Gulf region to serve its goals and support its appeals to promote the values of diversity whether in culture, knowledge, language or customs and traditions. They remain a wealth that all can and should benefit from, rather than a pretext for isolation and suspicion.”

The President of Seychelles spoke of the threat of the financial crisis to international cooperation and development, and urged “the international community [to] give increased support to the most vulnerable as the lives of millions of people are in the balance and the gains made in education and other social sectors through great efforts, over many years, are in jeopardy.”

President Michel offered to share his country’s experience and good practices in governance and environmental management. “We can share our experience in nation-building where peace, unity, tolerance and racial harmony prevail,” he said.

After highlighting his country’s progress in education and recognizing UNESCO’s support in this area, the President warned that “climate change is the challenge of the century, for if we fail to address it, many of our islands will disappear. We are in the front line, we are the most vulnerable and we will be the ones to suffer first and most significantly if we, if all countries, do not address the problem meaningfully and urgently.”

“We are convinced,” said the President, that “development cannot be sustained unless it is based on, and nourished by, cultural identity. The Seychelles’ culture is the fruit of loans and exchanges between three continents: Africa, Asia and Europe. This diversity is the source of our strength and harmony. It remains our conviction that every individual in our society must be empowered to live, not simply to endure.”

“Our dream,” President Michel concluded, “our vision, is also that of a world society where people know they are different but complementary, aware that the accidents of their differences are not frontiers but particularities which can enhance each other’s value.”

• Author(s):UNESCOPRESS
• Source:UNESCOPRESS No.2009-119
• 12-10-2009

• © UNESCO/D. Bijeljac - Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain