The UNESCO Administrative Council is holding session in Paris at present, shortly before the 60th anniversary of victory in World War II. The establishment of the United Nations network came among principal results of the victory, and UNESCO is prominent on that network, said the diplomat.
Ideals of peace and humanism were proclaimed at that time. They remain topical today. "More than that, they are getting ever more topical now that the world has to rebuff new threats and challenges that rise out of extremism, intolerance, xenophobia and racism. We cannot be any success in combat on international terrorism unless we cope with those latest challenges," stressed Mr. Fedotov.
Moscow expects UNESCO to mark its 60th establishment anniversary with practical decisions and programs to fully implement its potential as it tackles the burning problems of the new millennium.
The current session will make a preliminary examination of the UNESCO action program and budget for 2006-07. "UNESCO is to determine its guidelines, and shift priorities whenever they need correction," he went on.
"Russia regards UNESCO as an essential organization, and so is willing to contribute to the efforts," remarked our interviewee.
UNESCO is playing an ever more prominent part in norm-setting activities. A number of conventions and other documents are ready for acceptance. No less topical were recent relief efforts in tsunami-stricken Asia. UNESCO is paying ever closer attention to overcoming natural calamities, which are acquiring a global scope.
"Whatever aspect of UNESCO activities we regard, they are all topical for Russia, to varying extents," said Fedotov.
