Irina Bokova thanked the President for the Uruguayan government’s support to the actions of UNESCO and in particular to the Regional Office of Science for Latin America and the Caribbean, based in Montevideo. Bokova reported to the President on her visit to Fray Bentos on Sunday 26 June and told him how she was impressed by the meaning of its industrial landscape, inscribed on the World Heritage List, for both the local population and the nation, in particular for younger generations. The Director General congratulated the President once again for the Ceibal Plan, in which the government provides each child with a personal computer. This project, launched by Uruguay in 2005, has been followed by several countries.

The President reaffirmed his esteem for the mandate and actions of UNESCO in the fields of education, culture, science, technology and innovation in Uruguay and across the world. Regarding the Ceibal Plan, Tabare Vazquez informed the General Director of the creation of a similar project, named IBARATIPA, addressed to retired people. The project has already delivered free of charge 100,000 computer tablets to low-income retirees in Uruguay, allowing this population to become familiar with new technologies and stay connected with their relatives and wider society.

Irina Bokova and Tabaré Vázquez also discussed the importance of science and technology to a country that relies to a great extent on the export of agricultural products. In this regard, the Director General mentioned the importance of CILAC, the first ever Latin American and Caribbean Open Science Forum to be held in Montevideo in September next and thanked the President for opening the conference.

During her visit to Montevideo, Irina Bokova also met with the Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa, whom she thanked the country’s strong support and constructive commitment to UNESCO. The Foreign Minister expressed appreciation for the fruitful collaboration of UNESCO in a period of great change, when the world is facing multiple challenges. Nin Novoa highlighted the importance and power of diversity and mentioned the programme "Celebrating Diversity", launched on the occasion of the recent Copa America of football.