After declaring that “Cameroon and UNESCO maintain fruitful and exemplary cooperation ties,” President Biya turned to the many dangers – natural disasters, global warming, major pandemics, poverty, war and terrorism, - threatening humanity. Pointing out that “developing countries in general, and island and coastal states, notably in Africa, are particularly exposed to these threats,” he asked that UNESCO give them special attention and show its solidarity with them. “Such solidarity,” he said “must be translate into significant acts and achievements that truly respond to the needs and expectations of the countries of the South.”

“If we face common challenges and if we run the same risks,” said the President, “then we must seek collective solutions which call for increased international solidarity.” He believes that, in the age of globalization, it is urgent that the international community find ways and means of bringing all countries on board, especially those of the South which run the risk of being marginalized and weakened. He pleaded for an “a shared ethic of solidarity, which is no less than a lesson in history, a requirement in today’s world and a duty to the future.”

President Biya declared that “UNESCO must continue to assert itself as the conscience of the international community at the service of North South solidarity” and welcomed the priority the Organization is giving to Africa. “Cooperation between UNESCO and the African Union is more than ever indispensable to address the specific needs of the continent.”

After recalling that his country, which numbers more than 200 ethnic groups, enshrined cultural diversity in its Constitution of 1996, the President declared: “We have always felt that culture, in the widest meaning of the term, is the best antidote to disunity and violence.” He added: “I do not believe in a clash of civilisations but rather in a dialogue of cultures, an indispensable condition for the advent of a new, just international order based on solidarity.”