Lavrov to preside over ceremonial meeting of RF Commission on UNESCO Affairs to mark 60th anniversary of USSR's accession to that organization

MOSCOW, April 21 (Itar-Tass) - A ceremonial meeting of the Russian Federation's Commission on UNESCO Affairs will be held here on Monday under the chairmanship of Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Soviet Union's accession to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Russia's Foreign Ministry official said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, as well as officials of the presidential administration and government staff of Russia and the heads of the diplomatic missions of the member-countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and of the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, will participate in the meeting which will take place at the cultural center of the Ministry's Diplomatic Corps Directorate. The Ministry official said the RF Commission on UNESCO Affairs was established in 1992. It comprises officials of government ministries and agencies, representatives of region authorities, non-governmental organizations, prominent Russian scientists, and people prominent in culture and the arts. The panel's committees and commissions actively work in a number of regions of Russia. "Participation in UNESCO programmes enables Russia to draw on the potential of the Organization in a quest for new approaches, in creative activities, and exchanges, promotes mutual enrichment of cultures, and makes it possible to use international experience in safeguarding material and intangible cultural heritage, and promotes the establishment of mechanisms for attracting extra budgetary resources at international level," the Ministry official pointed out. Ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the USSR's accession to UNESCO were held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris in the middle of April. A Russian delegation, led by Sergei Naryshkin, Speaker of the State Duma lower house of parliament, attended the ceremonies. A photographic exhibition on the theme of "60 Years with UNESCO" opened in Paris within the framework of the programme of events. Unique archival photos and documentarian materials were provided by Itar-Tass news agency with assistance from Russia's Foreign Ministry and the Aeroflot company. "We see in UNESCO a tremendous potential as one of few non-politicised organizations, which have a high prestige in the world," Naryshkin said. The House Speaker said Russia would continue to meet its commitments to UNESCO responsibly and support its programmes and projects. UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova pointed out, for her part, "The 60 years are a fine span of time which enables one to look back on the results of fruiful cooperation between UNESCO and Russia. Every achievement is a building block in the foundation of our Organization". Learn more on itar-tass.com