Tal
Unesco, Paris 18 oktober 2007
Lars Leijonborg, Högskole- och forskningsminister

Tal vid Unescos generalkonferens

(Check against delivery.)

Mr President of the General Conference, dear delegates,

Last time I participated in a General Conference was a long time ago, in 1976 in Nairobi. The world has changed a lot since then - often to the better, in some cases to the worse. Globalisation has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and hopelessness. In many respects the world is a better place today than 31 years ago.

Like all colleagues, I would like to congratulate you, Ambassador Anastassopoulos, to your election as President of this General Conference. In Greece stood the cradle of democracy, and it is my conviction that democracy need to be a cornerstone in all of UNESCO's work - your role here is a reminder of that responsibility.

Last time I attended a UNESCO General Conference 31 years ago only half of the adult population knew how to read, today two thirds are literate. The infant mortality rate has decreased substantially, even in the world's poorest countries. The share of people living in extreme poverty has been reduced by more than half since the 80s. UNESCO should in part be credited these remarkable achievements. The organization is much better equipped today to deal with the rapidly developing world than it was 1976.

However, a lot of problems still remain, and some are even growing. Climate change, other environmental problems and nuclear proliferation are examples. Two billion people still live under dictatorship. Basic human rights and freedoms are not respected. Last year alone 85 journalists were killed while practicing their profession. Concerning issues on freedom of speech in general and on the working conditions of journalists specifically, UNESCO has an extremely important role to play. Sweden would like for UNESCO to have an even higher profile in this area.

Sweden fully supports the views expressed yesterday by the Portuguese delegation on behalf of the European Union.

I would like to take this opportunity to express our firm support for the people of Burma in their struggle for a democratic future. We strongly urge the Burmese government to initiate a peaceful dialogue, to resist all violence and to respect the human rights of the Burmese people, not least their freedom of expression and assembly. These are core values of UNESCO!

Without freedom of speech, where established facts can be challenged, there cannot be any development of education, science, culture or communication. We would like UNESCO to take up this challenge with courage and force. Especially today when we can see attempts to undermine the freedom of expression, where journalist are being murdered and cyber dissidents imprisoned.

Mr Chairman,

As the King of Sweden underlined the day before yesterday climate change is one of mankind's largest challenges and we have to face it wisely and bravely in new and creative ways.

Taking climate change seriously is equally important as not to despair. Increased investments in research is a vital part of the solution. As main responsible for science within the UN system UNESCO plays an important role in arguing for more R&D investments. We need knowledge - and we need political determination to use that same knowledge.

This is why the UN resolution on a special decade of education for sustainable development is so important, also for Higher Education Institutions. The link between science and education is crucial for the concept of Education for Sustainable Development - it is through science that schools can be made aware.

Sustainable development requires innovative thinking and scientific breakthroughs in order to find new solutions, for example environmental friendly alternatives. Therefore, knowledge must be widely shared in order to increase awareness and to provide a basis for decision-making. This is a large societal learning process.

Mr Chairman,

We have received the findings of the overall review of UNESCO's science programmes. It is our view that here, as in all other programmes, UNESCO should focus on its exclusive tasks and concentrate on advising Member States in research policy and on how to implement it. We would like to see that these tasks are given higher priority in the final report.

Mr Chairman,

Sweden has introduced a draft resolution, where we want to increase the resources for the educational institutes. We have made resources available by reducing the suggested appropriations to some other programmes, which could be reshaped in order to improve efficiency. We hope for your support in this matter.

Mr Chairman,

Finally. We live in an era of knowledge. Today knowledge is the most important factor of production. In such times it is a great privilege for UNESCO to be the leading agency within the UN system on knowledge and science. Sweden wants UNESCO to play an important role in the future in order to make sure that the benefits of the knowledge driven globalisation will reach everyone on this planet. Expressing our support and loyalty with the organisation we wish UNESCO all the best in the future!

Thank you!