Events

MINSK, 3 November (BelTA) – The Belarusian delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alena Kupchyna is expected to take part in the 38^th session of the UNESCO General Conference which officially opened in Paris on 3 November, BelTA learnt from the Belarusian embassy in France.

According to the diplomatic mission, Alena Kupchyna will speak at the General Policy Debate of the UNESCO General Conference 38^th session on 5 November. The Belarusian official will provide Belarus’ main positions and priorities in cooperation with the UNESCO. On the same day the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus will meet with UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova.

The agenda of the 38^th session of the UNESCO General Conference includes more than 80 items, including reports on the activity of the organization through 2030, its program and budget for 2016-2018, the UNESCO action plan in education as part of the 2015-2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the strategy and efforts to combat violent extremism through education as well as the protection of cultural values and encouragement of cultural pluralism in case of an armed conflict.

The agenda of the session will also include elections to the Executive Board and other UNESCO bodies.

During the session UNESCO will celebrate its 70th anniversary in a Leaders’ Forum scheduled for 16-17 November.

The program will also include a session of the General Assembly of States Parties to the 1972 World Heritage Convention.

The 38^th session of the UNESCO General Conference will be over on 18 November. Attending the main forum will be delegations of 195 member states.