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UNESCO Director General, Irina Bokova, making a point about the important work of UNESCO in various areas while Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart, listens attentively, today at Government Headquarters. (C.Pitt/BGIS)??

The outstanding work of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) was highly commended during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Freundel Stuart.

During the meeting today at Government Headquarters, UNESCO’s Director General, Irina Bokova, praised the island for its contribution to UNESCO over the years and for achieving its first inscription.

Turning to the work of the organisation, the Director General acknowledged that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) occupied a significant portion of UNESCO’s agenda.?? She also said that the organisation’s activities were not only limited to culture, but?? involved setting the global agenda for education, an examination of oceans and coastal hazards and its impact, among other areas.

"We cover quite a variety of areas and we [UNESCO] are an important addition to the work of the United Nations …," she added.

In turn, the Prime Minister pledged Barbados’ continued commitment to UNESCO and also alluded to that organisation’s strong relationship with CARICOM.?? "UNESCO, of course, has a strong relationship with CARICOM…You [UNESCO] share with us some of the same priorities such as oceans governance, which is particularly important to Small Island Developing States. One of the paradoxes of SIDS is that there is more wealth in the oceans than on land…"

On the subject of the green economy which is also of particular interest to UNESCO, Prime Minister Stuart disclosed that the Green Economy Scoping Study will be "marketed" at the upcoming RIO+ 20 Conference in Brazil.

"So, we have an ideological partnership with UNESCO in that regard and this is something that we should look forward," he noted.

julie.carrington@barbados.gov.bb

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