Bulgaria Supports UNESCO’s Strategic Transformation
09 October 2018 News
The Bulgarian Ambassador to France and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Angel Cholakov, confirmed our country’s support for the strategic transformation of the international organisation. He did so in a statement at the 205th session of the UNESCO Executive Board. Bulgaria is a Board Member for the 2017-2021 period.
Ambassador Cholakov recalled that the change initiated by Director-General Audrey Azoulay is aimed at improving the effectiveness and transparency of UNESCO’s programming activities, its visibility on the international stage, as well as at strengthening its international partnerships and making maximum use of its relative advantages within the UN system.
The Bulgarian diplomat noted that UNESCO plays a leading role in coordinating the global response to such challenges as overcoming violent extremism and violence in schools, fighting illiteracy, and strengthening the equality of sexes in various spheres of education. This is of great importance for mobilising global efforts for reducing poverty and economic inequalities.
He pointed out the prime importance of strengthening the organisation’s work on fulfilling Sustainable Development Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the sphere of education. Ambassador Cholakov emphasised in this context Bulgaria’s international commitment in its capacity as Member of the Education 2030 Steering Committee. He noted the importance of teaching and learning mathematics. Bulgaria co-authored the decision to proclaim 14 March International Pi Day.
In his statement, Ambassador Cholakov praised the initiative of Director-General Azoulay and the active participation of the Member States in mobilising global efforts for rebuilding the Iraqi city of Mosul. Bulgaria supported the Member States and the Secretariat in their search for consensus on the development of the Memory of the World Programme. He highlighted the experience and contribution that UNESCO can make in the light of the development of artificial intelligence and the ensuing ethical consequences and challenges to human activity. Noting this year’s celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Bulgaria asserted UNESCO’s inalienable commitment to defending human rights and freedoms.