Education Minister Gideon Saar Meets with UNESCO Director-General Bokova
Education Minister Gideon Saar, who is representing Israel at the UNESCO General Conference – 36th Session, currently being held in Paris, met earlier this afternoon (Thursday), 27.10.11, with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and briefed her on Israel’s position against the Palestinian move to be recognized as a member of UNESCO.
Education Minister Saar told UNESCO Dir.-Gen. Bokova that the Palestinian move is an attempt to bypass the discussions being held by the UN Security Council and is part of the Palestinians’ continuing effort to circumvent direct negotiations between the sides, which will only push peace and an end to the conflict further away. He warned that such a decision, which contravenes UNESCO’s mandate, would be a peak on the process of politicizing UNESCO and would cause it serious damage.
Education Minister Saar previously met with European ministers who are attending the General Conference and briefed them on Israel’s views in an effort to persuade them to oppose the Palestinian move.
