Singapore rejoins UNESCO

Singapore has become UNESCO’s 193rd Member State, following the deposition in London today of its instrument of adhesion. This ceremony marks return of Singapore to UNESCO after 22 years absence.

The Director-General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura welcomed the return of Singapore as the 193rd member of the Organization. “Universality is UNESCO’s main source of strength. It opens the way for global responses to increasingly complex situations,” he said.

The Director-General stressed that “the Organization’s Member States and all of our partners are as proud as I am to welcome Singapore back, and we share the conviction that this Member State will make a rich and diverse contribution to debates in all of UNESCO’s areas of competence.

Over the course of the present Director-General’s mandate, UNESCO has seen the return of the United States of America (2003), and the adhesion to the Organization of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (2000), Timor-Leste (2003), Brunei Darussalam (2005) and Montenegro (2007). Tokelau became an Associate Member in 2001. UNESCO now has 193 Member States, one more than the United Nations.

Singapore will participate in the upcoming 34th Session of UNESCO’s General Conference, which will be held in Paris from 16 October to 3 November. Its delegation will be led by the Minister of State for Education and Minister of State for Manpower for Singapore, Gan Kim Yong.

• Author(s):Press Release N°2007-117
• Source:UNESCOPRESS
• 08-10-2007