Statement by the Head of the Italian Delegation, Mr. Vincenzo SCOTTI, Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, at the 36th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, pronounced by the Permanent Delegate of Italy to UNESCO H.E. Ambassador Maurizio Enrico SERRA

Madam Chair of the General Conference,
Madam Director General,
Ladies and Gentlemen,


Italy would like to associate itself to the speech of the Polish Presidency in the name of European Union and Associate Members.

The present global financial crisis, still ongoing, has pushed many States to pass austerity measures. My Country has not been sheltered from these constraints, but I am proud to be here to announce that Italy will continue to be next year the 6th contributor to the UNESCO budget and its 1st contributor for extra-budgetary resources. On top of that, our Country hosts and financially supports many qualified UNESCO institutions: the International Centre for Theoretic Physics and the Third World Academy of Science in Trieste, the World Water Assessment Program in Perugia and the Regional Office for Science and Culture in Venice. Finally, during this General Conference, a new category 2 institute will be established in Turin in the field of World Heritage and the Culture of Economics.

Let me mention two more initiatives that exemplify the deep commitment of Italy to the overall activity of UNESCO. The organization in Monza, of the 2nd edition, in June 2011, of the International Forum on the future of E-book, and the ongoing preparation for the 4th edition of the Universal Forum of Cultures in Naples, in 2013.

I would like to express full appreciation for the efforts deployed by the Director General, in order to achieve a long lasting and coherent set of reforms, based on the recommendations of the External evaluation and of the Ad-hoc working group. The reform of field offices and the new strategy for partnership, to name just these two important elements, clearly demonstrate the intention of the Secretariat to move forward. We have still a long way to go, but rest assured, Madam Director General, that this Delegation follows you in this direction, and will support you along the road.

Madam Chair,

One of the tasks ahead of us will be the approval of the Program and Budget for  2012-2013. We consider that the last 36 C/5 proposal, based on a Zero Nominal Growth, goes in the right direction and takes into account the wishes and amendments expressed by the outgoing Executive Board. We are therefore fully in favour of its endorsement by the General Conference.

We live in very turbulent times. Yet unprecedented opportunities of dialogue among peoples, cultures and faiths are burgeoning in front of us.
The Italian government has placed these issues at the heart of its international agenda, by promoting a reflection at international level on the topic of inter-ethnic city and a world forum on the theme of sustainable urban development, in view of a possible resolution at the United Nations.

We should promote them, on the basis of our Charter, that puts humanity, equality, peace and understanding at the basis of our joint values and efforts. This appeal stems from the young generation all over the world; from our students, requesting means of education based on international standards; from our young girls, whose aspiration to full equality in rights and representation cannot be compressed. UNESCO should listen to these requests and be able to answer to them with an open spirit.

We should be up to this commitment, when we face the legitimate aspirations of people that have been deprived for too long of their national identity and recognition. Yet we should do so in a balanced manner, in order to preserve the overall representation of this invaluable institution, in a context that will provide peace, security and cooperation for all.
The Arab spring has opened new, exciting opportunities for UNESC0’s activities. Italy is ready to envisage projects of support in Tunisia and Egypt and of archeological conservation and restoration in Libya.

During this General Conference, we will be confronted with complex issues, and diverse national and regional sensitivities may emerge. Yet, I know that we are all committed to this goal, and that we will strive in our debates and negotiations, as passionate as they may be, to do so.

The UNESCO of tomorrow starts indeed today.