Dacic: Serbia will submit a candidacy for the UNESCO Executive Board

Serbia will submit a candidacy for the UNESCO Executive Board, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said today.

Speaking at the 42nd session of the General Conference of the organization in Paris, Dacic emphasized that he expected the support of other UNESCO members in this endeavor, adding that Serbia would justify that trust.

Discussing the global situation, Dacic noted that, in the light of growing turmoil, mutual understanding and readiness for compromise were gaining importance.

In his speech, he also addressed the endangered cultural heritage in Kosovo, which is under UNESCO protection.

"One of our priority tasks is to raise awareness of the increasing vulnerability of world heritage due to various factors such as climate change, armed conflicts, and often the lack of adequate measures recommended by normative instruments in this field. The peak of Serbian medieval art is represented in the most representative way in four Serbian monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija, inscribed on the World Heritage List: Decani, Gracanica, Patriarchate of Peja, and Our Lady of Ljevis. Serbian cultural-historical heritage in Kosovo and Metohija, where 1,300 sanctuaries are located, is of immeasurable importance, not only for Serbia's national identity but also represents a part of valuable European and world heritage", Dacic emphasized.

As he stated, this heritage is constantly subjected to attempts of renaming, revision of indisputable historical facts, and physical desecration.

"International forces, tasked with safeguarding Serbian and global cultural heritage, are deployed only at certain cultural sites. I believe that you are well aware of the tragic facts concerning our cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija and its constant endangerment", Dacic said.

He said that Serbia would continue to advocate against the politicization of cultural heritage and other issues within the jurisdiction of that organization, as well as against causing new divisions, tensions, and confrontations within UNESCO itself.

"We believe that our common task is to strive for the reduction of tensions and divisions that have marked the past period. What we need, especially in times of divisions, turmoil, and conflicts in the world, is greater understanding and a willingness to compromise. In this regard, our cooperation with UNESCO is equally important for today and all future generations. Be assured of the readiness of the Republic of Serbia to continue actively contributing to this important organization, and I hope through the continuation of our work in the UNESCO Executive Board", Dacic concluded.

Serbia's Ambassador to UNESCO, Tamara Rastovac Siamashvili, recently stated to Kosovo Online that Serbia had a great chance of being re-elected to that body and that the candidacy officially submitted by Belgrade for membership in the UNESCO Executive Board had been well received by member countries.

She also stated that the endangerment of Serbian cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo was one of the absolute priorities in the activities of Serbia's permanent delegation to that organization. She added that UNESCO did not question that cultural assets in Kosovo belong to Serbia.

Begovic on the role of science in accelerating the achievement of sustainable development goals

Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation Jelena Begovic spoke on a panel during the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris on the topic: "How science can truly help accelerate the achievement of the 17 sustainable development goals?"

She believes that science can contribute to solving universal problems on which the entire humanity has agreed.

"Only 15 percent of the indicators measured to achieve these goals have been realized. This means that we have slowed down and need to change our approach", the Minister emphasized in a statement to Tanjug.

According to her, this new approach should involve young talents, and scientists who should accelerate the process of achieving sustainable development goals.

Begovic pointed out that Serbia had contributed to addressing this issue by initiating the Resolution "International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development 2023-2024", which had been unanimously supported and adopted by the UN.

The Minister also noted that the formation of various bodies and the development of plans were currently underway to apply science much more in Serbia, both nationally and locally, to achieve sustainable development goals.

"These are global problems that require international cooperation", Jelena Begovic concluded.