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The President of the Republic participates in the UNESCO Future Forum

Paris, 24.5.2011  |  press release


The President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk takes part in the UNESCO Future Forum (photo: Stanko Gruden/STA)The President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk this afternoon visited the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) where he met its Director-General Dr. Irina Bokova, as well as members of its International Collegium. He then took part in the UNESCO Future Forum on the topic of "Challenges of a Green Economy and Green Societies: Attitudes, Policies, Governance", where he was one of the speakers in the forum’s second panel.
The President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk meets the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Dr. Irina Bokova (photo: Stanko Gruden/STA)President Türk talked to UNESCO's Director-General Dr. Irina Bokova about UNESCO’s reform efforts and the challenges related to reorganisation and rationalisation it is currently facing. The Director-General cited UNESCO’s cooperation with the European Union as a positive experience with great potential, which however until recently did not take place often enough. In her opinion, UNESCO also has an important role in the transition of Eastern European countries into modern democracies. President Türk took the opportunity to invite the Director-General to Slovenia. He noted Slovenia’s efforts in preserving cultural heritage both in Slovenia and the wider South Eastern European region, where Slovenia is currently successfully cooperating with UNESCO. He also drew attention to the candidacies of Slovenian sites of special interest which await entry into UNESCO’s World Heritage List. He noted Slovenia’s awareness of the importance of caring for its cultural heritage, which is also one of the fundamental missions of UNESCO.
The President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk meets members of the International Collegium and its President, the former Prime Minister of the Government of the French Republic Michel Rochard (photo: Stanko Gruden/STA)Before taking part in the UNESCO Future Forum, the President met members of the International Collegium, currently headed by the former Prime Minister of the French Republic Michel Rochard. Members of the Collegium presented the Organisation’s mission which mainly relates to environmental protection and developing green technologies enabling sustainable development.

President Dr. Danilo Türk gave the opening address titled "The Challenge of Global Governance: the Time to Think or the Time to Act?" to the second panel discussion of the UNESCO Future Forum, which was moderated by the President of the International Collegium Michel Rochard. In his address, President Türk echoed the International Collegium’s warning that the world is experiencing a serious governance crisis. In the Collegium’s opinion, sovereign states should continue the required reforms of the whole international system as a key factor of state and international governance. He warned that economic imbalances and ineffective global governance can result in various global risks and hamper our capacity to respond effectively. At the same time, the President recalled the unsuccessful trade negotiations in Doha and climate change talks in Copenhagen.
The President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk takes part in the UNESCO Future Forum (photo: Stanko Gruden/STA)The President went on to emphasize the significance of greening the economy and judged that despite past failures, a necessary awareness has formed of the dangers of global climate change that will act as a catalyst for various urgent changes. As he explained, the number of states advocating change has increased, as has the number of states who have taken measures that can act as a model to others.

Therefore, the President expressed his opinion that future action should be a combination of state and international efforts, however, global goals should still be defined and an improved coordination mechanism established, if possible as part of the United Nations. For these efforts to succeed, it is – in the President’s opinion – equally necessary to retain strong public pressure from the economy, non-governmental organisations and the media.

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