ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SURINAME
HIS EXCELLENCY RUNALDO RONALD VENETIAAN
AT A RECEPTION ON WEDNESDAY 7 MAY 2003
 

ON THE OCCASION OF
THE CONFERMENT OF A DECORATION
ON MR. KOÏCHIRO MATSUURA
DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF UNESCO
VISITING SURINAME FROM 5 THROUGH 8 MAY 2003

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Between the Republic of Suriname and UNESCO there exists a relation of many years’ standing, which is characterized by good cooperation in the wide and varied field of education, science, culture and communication.

As a developing nation, we have the privilege to enjoy the active support of UNESCO in our efforts to continuously raise the level of development of the Surinamese people, to increase the wealth of the varied Surinamese culture, to protect our cultural heritage and to have it recognized as “world heritage”.

We are here today to pay high tribute to Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO – tribute to Mr. Matsuura personally and through him, tribute to the organization that is headed by him.

We trust that the impression of our country and people he will take back with him to UNESCO headquarters shall strengthen his belief in the rightness of the important decisions he has supported in relation to Suriname and shall encourage him to continue along the path taken in respect of Suriname.

With regard to education, we acknowledge the endeavours of UNESCO in supporting the world community to reach and sustain the goals and targets of Education for All.

Since the adoption of the World Declaration on Education for All in 1990, in Jomien, hardly any progress has been made in attaining such goals. New action plans have been drafted for the period until 2015.

The framework of “Education for All” underpins the education sector, whereby all individuals are prepared or strengthened to allow their optimal functioning in society.

Also in Suriname we have faced difficulties in reaching the Education for All targets and goals. At the beginning of the 21st century we, as a nation, find ourselves at a crucial moment that important and drastic measures have to be taken in relation to our educational system.

The changed characteristics of the present and future economies, more in particular the globalization process and the increasing intellectual contents of the production process, require a working population that disposes of a higher order of skills. In developing countries, this has led to almost universal secondary education, revised curricula and higher standards set for the learning process.

In Cochabamba, Colombia (March 2001), arrangements were made and proposals presented which confirm the framework of action of the “Education For All World Forum” in Dakar in 2000. Within this framework the new regional Education Project for Latin America and the Caribbean of UNESCO aims to bring about actual and sustainable changes, so that education can meet the requirements of human development for the 21st century.

On the basis of the existing policy documents of the Suriname Government and other documents with regard to Education for All, the Caribbean Development Strategy to the year 2020 and the Comprehensive Development Framework of the World Bank, Suriname has embarked on a national mobilization and participation process in order to formulate a Suriname Education Plan for the next 5 – 20 years.

We have not forgotten that immediately after becoming a member of UNESCO in 1976, we received support from UNESCO for the curriculum reform that was then undertaken.

Apropos of communication, I take this occasion to recall the struggle UNESCO has had to wage to secure a stronger position for the media of developing countries in a new information order.

Mr. Matsuura,

When you were elected to the high office of Director-General of UNESCO within the United Nations system on 15 November 1999, you already held a long and distinguished record as a diplomat in the service of your country.

Your first functional appearance within the scope of UNESCO was as Chairman of the World Heritage Committee. In this position you showed a firm commitment and insight into the approach to matters of cultural heritage, worldwide.

Your interest in issues in this field has undoubtedly helped to lay the foundation for your highly esteemed contribution to the place Suriname has gained in this field.

The Government and people of Suriname are profoundly grateful to you for your valued interest in, support for and dedication to the recognition of the rich cultural and natural heritage of Suriname.

Today we would like to express our gratitude to you, and to UNESCO, for the inclusion of the historic inner-city of Paramaribo and the Central Suriname Nature Reserve in the World Heritage List.
We also express our deep gratitude for the assistance to Suriname’s development, by way of several projects that are of importance to us.


Mr. Matsuura,

In acknowledgment of your meritorious work as UNESCO Director-General in the interest of the Republic of Suriname and as evidence of my Government’s appreciation for your devotion to the activities of UNESCO throughout the world in general, I appoint you Bearer of the Grand Ribbon of the Order of the Yellow Star.

***************
 

© Copyright Kabinet van de President