[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 103 (Thursday, September 7, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1433-E1434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




UNESCO'S NEW SECRETARY GENERAL VISITS CONGRESS--NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE 
                        UNITED STATES TO REJOIN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2000

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to invite my colleagues in the 
Congress to join me in welcoming to Capitol Hill today His Excellency 
Koichiro Matsuura, Director General of the United Nations Educational, 
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Mr. Matsuura--a 
distinguished Japanese diplomat who formerly served as Deputy Foreign 
Minister of Japan, who is a graduate of Haverford College in 
Pennsylvania, and who served for a time at the Japanese Embassy here in 
Washington--assumed the leadership of UNESCO last fall. Under his 
leadership the organization has made remarkable progress in dealing 
with many of the criticisms that have been leveled at UNESCO in the 
past.
  UNESCO was established in 1945, at the same time the United Nations 
itself was created. Under terms of its charter, the organization is 
``to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among 
the nations through education, science and culture in order to further 
universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human 
rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of 
the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by 
the Charter of the United Nations.''
  For valid and sound reasons the United States withdrew from 
membership in UNESCO in 1984, along with the United Kingdom and 
Singapore. At that time the organization suffered from mismanagement at 
the highest levels, and some of its leadership urged a poorly-conceived 
scheme to establish a ``new international information order'' which 
appeared to many to be no more than an attempt to regulate the press. I 
supported the decision of our government to withdraw from membership.
  Since 1984, UNESCO has made important changes to address the 
criticisms leveled by the United States and other nations. Under the 
leadership of Director General Federico Mayor Zaragoza of Spain a 
number of essential changes were made. In 1993 the General Accounting 
Office conducted an extensive review of UNESCO's efforts to implement 
changes to solve the problems cited by the United States in our 
decision to withdraw from the organization. That report concluded that 
the leadership of UNESCO has demonstrated a commitment to management 
reform. Britain rejoined UNESCO in 1997. Now under the leadership of 
Mr. Matsuura, further fundamental management reforms are being made.
  Mr. Speaker, in recognition of the transformation of UNESCO, I 
introduced legislation earlier in this Congress directing the President 
to develop a strategy to bring the United States back into full and 
active participation in UNESCO. My legislation, H.R. 1974, recognizes 
the important contribution which the organization can make in 
constructing ``the defenses of peace'' against intolerance and 
incitements to war.
  It is important for the United States to participate in UNESCO. We 
can make significant contributions in shaping and implementing the 
worthy goals of this organization. The legislation I have introduced, 
Mr. Speaker, recognizes the cost implications of our participation in 
UNESCO and that is why it directs the President and Secretary of State 
to develop a strategy for our returning to full membership.
  Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that we are not now active members of 
this organization. I invite my colleagues to join me--not only in 
welcoming His Excellency Director General Koichiro Matsuura here to 
Capitol Hill--but in cosponsoring H.R. 1974 to bring the United States 
back into full participation in UNESCO.

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