STATEMENT MADE BY PROF.
GULNUR AYBET, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF TÜRKİYE, AT THE 5TH EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE

Thank you Mr. President,

UNESCO stands as a symbol
of multilateralism, where its members set aside their differences to cooperate,
working towards the preservation of the values inherent in its mandate.

Since the United States
ceased paying its assessed contributions and officially withdrew from UNESCO, Member
States and the Secretariat have made tremendous efforts to mitigate the adverse
effects of this departure.

Thanks to this
collaborative spirit, UNESCO has successfully managed to maintain its prominent
role in the areas under its purview.

Nevertheless, it is fair
to acknowledge that the Organization has not been able to operate in its full
capacity, particularly when we analyse UNESCO's financial figures.

A harmonious approach
with diligence will be key to navigating challenging times and ensuring UNESCO’s
continued effectiveness globally.

In light of this, we
welcome the intention of the United States to return to UNESCO.

We commend all the
negotiations conducted between the Secretariat and US officials, leading us to
this historic Extraordinary General Conference.

The United States with
its rich history of engagement in the fields of education, science, culture,
and communication as well as with its expertise and resources, will undoubtedly
enhance UNESCO's capabilities.

As one of the main architects
of multilateralism after the Second World War, the United States has much to
contribute to tackling new global challenges that require new vision.The UN and its agencies are at the forefront
of this adaptation.

As one of the founders of
post war multilateralism, the United States is in no doubt going to be an
important shaper in the adaptation of international institutions to a changing
World.

In this context there is
an urgency to ensure the United States participates in all multilateral forums
completely.Hence, the call for this extraordinary
General Conference in exceptional times.

There is of course the
question of modalities.We anticipate details
of the draft program and budget will be thoroughly discussed on the way to the
217th Session of the Executive Board, particularly concerning the outstanding
US arrears and their 2023 contributions.

However, it is crucial to
approach this new era in a fair-minded manner, considering the burden Member States
that have shouldered thus far.

While concluding, we
would like to reiterate our support and co-sponsorship to the draft resolution
and extend our appreciation to our Japanese colleagues for their commitment and
hard work.

We wish a successful
meeting with positive outcomes for all.

Thank you.Top of
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